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Planning my next tank looking for tips on how to create this look

1722 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  filipem, 
F
Hi everyone,

This will be my third planted tank and I would rather keep it as a low maintenace low tech tank. I recently saw this picture online and I would like to create something similar using downoi. I'd like to keep it low tech just lighting and dose whatever is needed.

How would I go about creating those towers? Is it a matter of just finding rock with a flat bottom or could I use something more stable and safer? I'm cringing just thinking about knocking something like this over while doing maintenance on the tank.

The tank size would be 20l x 10w x 14

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jcmv4792
You can silicone lava rocks together to make them more stable. Or if you have a really nice and big piece, you can grind it on cement or other abrasive until the bottom is flat.
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F
Thanks for the tip. I wonder if downoi would fair well glued to the rock. I'm not sure if it oiwld need substrate for the roots to feed on
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T
Not sure if downoi will grow attached to wood/rock but once heard that in addition to buce and Anubias, most crypts and hygro pinnatifida will grow attached to wood
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G
I plan on doing something similar with these dragon stone rocks. Except leaving about half of the stone exposed. I plan on using riccia fluitans tho

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I have a Rubbermaid tote full of Dragon stone but I'd rather not damage the stone. I also noticed that the dragon stone or at least mine has a tendency to peel which is not ideal to silicon together.
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FisheriesOmen
Epoxy combined with super glue makes a strong attachment. Also placing eggcrate on the bottom of the tank before adding substrate is a good method for placing your rocks, instead of directly on the glass.
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Freemananana
Lava rock and silicone is pretty stable when it sets up. You can't transport it or anything, but it will stay together inside a tank without issues in my experience. I would find a larger, single, rock and use egg crate though. Local rock yards are a good source of decent stone for a fair price. You can hammer away or use a grinder to get the desired shape and such as well.
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Yeah I always use egg crate when I'm working on larger tanks. smaller ones I tend not to use it.

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FisheriesOmen said:
Epoxy combined with super glue makes a strong attachment. Also placing eggcrate on the bottom of the tank before adding substrate is a good method for placing your rocks, instead of directly on the glass.
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Could you explain epoxy combined with super glue I'm assuming using them separately expos for the rock and superglue for the plants correct? What epoxy would you recommend?

Freemananana said:
Lava rock and silicone is pretty stable when it sets up. You can't transport it or anything, but it will stay together inside a tank without issues in my experience. I would find a larger, single, rock and use egg crate though. Local rock yards are a good source of decent stone for a fair price. You can hammer away or use a grinder to get the desired shape and such as well.
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Is the lava rock found in the local yards safe to use? Is it the same as the stuff found at the lfs?
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F
Maybe using African water fern might be a better option instead of downoi
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