Aquascaping-The process of arranging rock, sand, corals, and equipment to develop a functionally aesthetic appearance in a aquarium. Focused on mimicking the beauty and functionality of the natural coral reef.

Overview Safety Aquascaping Shapes Aquascaping Techniques Putting It all together

Safety First Goggles Gloves Old Clothes Common sense

Shapes One giant mound Walls Caves Spires Shelves/Overhangs Other- be creative, bonsai styles

One Giant Mound Most common Pros- extremely easy, filled look, hides back wall(no cleaning back wall), hides power cords Cons- greatly limits water circulation/flow, hard to clean detritus in the rockwork Methods–stacking against walls of aquarium

Walls Pros- filled look, hides part of aquarium walls(no cleaning), hides power cords Cons- lack of hiding spots Methods–stacking against walls of aquarium, new ceramic insert or foam technique

Caves Pros-swimming paths, natural homes/protection Cons-detritus buildup, limit circulation/flow Methods- stack rock to make caves, zip ties, acrylic rod

Spires Mini island of stacked rock. Pros-swimming paths, filled look with less rock, not touching aquarium walls, 360 degree coral placement Cons-heavy, stability issues Methods- drill hole and stack rock on pvc or acrylic rod

Shelves/Overhangs Pros- hide outs, natural cleaning stations, natural location for non-photosynthetic coral placement Cons- heavy, stability issues, shaded area Methods- drill hole and stack rock on pvc or acrylic rod, zip ties

Other- be creative, bonsai styles Just be creative

Methods/techniques Stacking Rock Shelves Drilling, rods, zip ties Foam

Stacking Self explanatory

Rock Shelves Made of egg crate and pvc pipe Stake rock on top or ziptie rock to structure Pros: Supports rock from falling, allows better flow and swimming paths Cons: Can be hard to hide all pvc pipe from all angles

Drilling, rods, zip ties Show how to drill rock Materials to be used as rods can be pvc pipe or rod and acrylic rod. Stack in a pyramid shape from heaviest/largest to smallest/lightest Show how to drill small holes and use zip ties

Foam Various uses Spray directly on aquarium walls, permanent background Fill in gaps Pros: Can get away with less rock, easy to use Cons: Must be covered in epoxy to protect from uv rays (unless you are using the black pond version), not yet proven to be stable with the use of ozone. Show how to make foam structures

Putting it all together Layout before you begin Tip: To help with layout cut out cardboard sheet the size of area to be aquascaped. Draw several different layouts before you decide on the final layout. Tip: Try to hide power heads and other equipment in your aquascaping. This will give a more finished look.

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