The Logistics Of Building A Cliff Outcroping

[Gadfly]

Hey there guys I had a question. I'm planning a new aquascape and in my minds eye I have an idea to build a cliff style rock formation with an over hang. Hopefully wanting to plant the cliff face and over hang with Java moss, how could I build a cliff face using slate stow rock while making it structurally sound? Basically I want a parenthesis style shape like this. ) any help would be appreciated I've been racking my brain with this for a bit thanks.

 

[ian]

been thinking about this one since you posted. When you look at the great aquascapes, you'll find there are little secrect they use to give a greater depth of a scape and and greater height. Not wanting to sound like a kill joy, but i personally think having rock and a bit of slate on top won't look very good. I'm sure you have had a look some of the aquascapes out there...

this bloke won the biggest aquascaping contest, this year.

http/bautin-design.ru/aquascape_prirodnyy_akvarium

there is a couple of scapes in there with mountain styles, as you'll notice, the substrate on most of these scapes actually is really high at the back of the tank. So it slopes downwards towards the front. This will give an idea of being 'mountain' esq. If you can get some good sized rocks and do this, attaching the moss without the slate.

hope this helps?

 

[fluttermoth]

You could also stick the rocks together and to the back of the tank, either with aquarium safe silicon, or with one of the putties that the marine people use.

 

[aaronnorth]

The trick is to choose your rocks carfeully and build the substrtae around it and on it - this means a really deep substrate as your plants can then root on top of the rocks aswell. not just near the base of the tank.

Here is Peter Kirwan's "Mountainscape"

and "Mountainscape V2"

Thanks, Aaron

 

[Gadfly]

I'm really digging the mountain scape, and the pictures you guys have posted have blown me away with new ideas. I'm planning on doing this scape with a 10 gallon tank, sadly I don't have the structural integrity on my wooden upstairs floor to hold much bigger. My LFS doesn't have any of this type or rock, it's only slate and lava rock. Would gardening nursery's or other outdoor gardening type places carry a variety of rocks like this? Or would I need to turn to an online source?

 

[aaronnorth]

There are few places that sell good rock like what you see on the internet. There is one place near me which is still about an hours drive away.

Aqua Essentials & The Green Machine are the best online source.