Reef Aquarium Rock Wall Aquascapes can be interesting

By Rich Ross on Apr 12, 2010

This deep reef tanks rock wall is on the left side of the tank, making it feel like the wall extends upwards and like there is more water space than there actually is

Reef Aquarium ‘Rock walls’ have gotten a bad rap over the past , as Adam Blundell recently pointed out. This reputation is not necessarily undeserved as there are plenty of rock walls that are unappealing, flow stopping, detritus collecting piles of ugh. Quickly stacking rock against the back wall of a tank is not something we advocate or enjoy looking at. However, with a tiny bit of thought and effort, its not all that hard to make unique and interesting looking rock wall reef aquarium. Continue reading to learn more about two creative reef rock walls on display at the California Academy of Sciences.

The reef rock walls were constructed the same way in both tanks – a bottom plate and back wall of fiber grate onto which rock is affixed with underwater epoxy and cable ties. The fiber grate armature prevents the rock structure from touching the walls of the aquarium, allowing water to move around and under the wall. Instead of filling up the back wall of the tank, these tanks use the empty space on the back wall to create a feeling of depth and openness. In the case of Matt Wandell’s ‘Deep Reef’ tank pictured above, the rock wall is on the left side of the tank, instead of the back wall. This allows for good, fast vertical flow against the rock wall that not only brings food the non photosynthetic corals, but gets the anthias all swimming in a very natural vertical orientation.

The Rhinopias exhibit is one of mine, and the rock wall is in one of the back corners of the tank. This tank has intermittent high flow to help the SPS thrive, but also has ‘eddy’ spots to allow the display fish spots to hang out. The point is that rock walls are not bad things in and of themselves. If you are willing to spend a little time planning the build instead of just stacking rock, you can make a rock wall, well, rock.

This rock wall is in the back left corner of the tank giving a visual focal point.

patrickb

Rich Ross–Fighting for rock wall enthusiasts everywhere. Rise up and be heard!
patrickb

Rich Ross–Fighting for rock wall enthusiasts everywhere. Rise up and be heard!
Gresham

I still need to get up there to see Rich’s Rhinopias exhibit. Matt’s deepwater was one of my favorites last trip!!!!
Gresham

I still need to get up there to see Rich’s Rhinopias exhibit. Matt’s deepwater was one of my favorites last trip!!!!
Matt Wandell

Heh, had I known my tank was getting its photo taken for ReefBuilders I would’ve cleaned it up a bit, and given the fish a shave and a haircut.

Fight for your rights Rich!
Matt Wandell

Heh, had I known my tank was getting its photo taken for ReefBuilders I would’ve cleaned it up a bit, and given the fish a shave and a haircut.

Fight for your rights Rich!
Chris

Any pics of the fiber grate structure?
Chris

Any pics of the fiber grate structure?
Rich Ross

Hey Man, the tank looked great today – that shot was pushed to make it usable (yay d300!)

I’ll see if I can find a shot of the grate.
Rich Ross

Hey Man, the tank looked great today – that shot was pushed to make it usable (yay d300!)

I’ll see if I can find a shot of the grate.
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

I have had the pleasure to watch this tank mature over four visits since the opening of the Steinhart and it has become an iconic display for me at CAS. Great job on this tank Matt, and I really hope you take the concept over to the tank which currently houses all of those eels, over by the functional flashlight fish display.
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

I have had the pleasure to watch this tank mature over four visits since the opening of the Steinhart and it has become an iconic display for me at CAS. Great job on this tank Matt, and I really hope you take the concept over to the tank which currently houses all of those eels, over by the functional flashlight fish display.
Matt Wandell

Thanks Jake

@Chris,

If you do a google image search for “FRP Fibergrate” you’ll see the stuff we use. There are also numerous shots of it in TRA Vol3 from Charles’ Waikiki tank. It is fantastic stuff, but only available in really big sheets (like 6′ x 12′) and costs something like $1000 per. It would be fantastic for some enterprising LFS, online store, or even reef club group buy to cut it down and sell it by the square foot.
Matt Wandell

Thanks Jake

@Chris,

If you do a google image search for “FRP Fibergrate” you’ll see the stuff we use. There are also numerous shots of it in TRA Vol3 from Charles’ Waikiki tank. It is fantastic stuff, but only available in really big sheets (like 6′ x 12′) and costs something like $1000 per. It would be fantastic for some enterprising LFS, online store, or even reef club group buy to cut it down and sell it by the square foot.
Jeremy

Gresham, I think you may somehow get a cold on Thursday, and the only cure is for you to meet me at CAS….
Jeremy

Gresham, I think you may somehow get a cold on Thursday, and the only cure is for you to meet me at CAS….
Matt Wandell

Wait until Friday and you can meet up with Mark Poletti…
Matt Wandell

Wait until Friday and you can meet up with Mark Poletti…
Scott Fellman

THAT is a rock wall that I can believe in! Biotopically correct and purposeful! Totally different than the usual “fruitstand” that we see so often. Bravo, Rich!
Scott Fellman

THAT is a rock wall that I can believe in! Biotopically correct and purposeful! Totally different than the usual “fruitstand” that we see so often. Bravo, Rich!
Rich

Thanks Scott! And thanks for reminding me about Fruitstands – I have an opinion about them too, so in the spirit of Adam, I’ll write about them in the future!
Rich

Thanks Scott! And thanks for reminding me about Fruitstands – I have an opinion about them too, so in the spirit of Adam, I’ll write about them in the future!
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

Biotopically correct? Puh-lease
Tuka Anthias from the Phillipines
Ventralis Anthias from Cook Islands
Helfrichs firefish from marshall Islands
Sun Coral from Indonesia
And let’s not forget the Diogorgia from the Caribbean. What a biotopic disgrace!
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

Biotopically correct? Puh-lease
Tuka Anthias from the Phillipines
Ventralis Anthias from Cook Islands
Helfrichs firefish from marshall Islands
Sun Coral from Indonesia
And let’s not forget the Diogorgia from the Caribbean. What a biotopic disgrace!
Mark Poletti

Matt’s tank rocks!!!

See you guys on Friday
Mark Poletti

Matt’s tank rocks!!!

See you guys on Friday
Jeremy

@ Matt, then Rich won’t be there though. Mark needs to come on Thursday too! I have a ballast for him..
Jeremy

@ Matt, then Rich won’t be there though. Mark needs to come on Thursday too! I have a ballast for him..
Mark Poletti

I forgot about that Jeremy; I found a 430 in my garage
Furlough Fridays…
Mark Poletti

I forgot about that Jeremy; I found a 430 in my garage
Furlough Fridays…
Chris

Thanks Matt. I guess that means I won’t be using for my reef, at least for now.

@Jake,

there are 2 types of biotopes; those that mimic a geographical location, and those that mimic a section of the reef. For best results, however, combine both.
Chris

Thanks Matt. I guess that means I won’t be using for my reef, at least for now.

@Jake,

there are 2 types of biotopes; those that mimic a geographical location, and those that mimic a section of the reef. For best results, however, combine both.
Matt Wandell

I make no apologies about the shallow water tuka anthias and the Caribbean corals–I like the pretty colors and figure at least one of our exhibits can be like a hobby tank.

@Chris,
I found some more reasonably priced pieces. Check Grainger Supply for “Fibergrate”, I saw a 4′ x 4′ piece of 1″ grating for $300. Not cheap, but a drop in the bucket for a big tank, and once you get it it will last forever.
Matt Wandell

I make no apologies about the shallow water tuka anthias and the Caribbean corals–I like the pretty colors and figure at least one of our exhibits can be like a hobby tank.

@Chris,
I found some more reasonably priced pieces. Check Grainger Supply for “Fibergrate”, I saw a 4′ x 4′ piece of 1″ grating for $300. Not cheap, but a drop in the bucket for a big tank, and once you get it it will last forever.
Matt Wandell

Mark, come on Thursday so you can see Jeremy and Rich!
Matt Wandell

Mark, come on Thursday so you can see Jeremy and Rich!
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

Matt you know I am just poking at you. As a biotope this tank represents the pinnacle of a thematic marine aquarium display.
http://coralidea.com Jake Adams

Matt you know I am just poking at you. As a biotope this tank represents the pinnacle of a thematic marine aquarium display.
Mark Poletti

Sorry Matt…Emma has her heart set on Friday. I’m already wondeing what is on the menu at the cafe
Mark Poletti

Sorry Matt…Emma has her heart set on Friday. I’m already wondeing what is on the menu at the cafe
joel1234567

Both beautiful tanks! But I’m not convinced that either of them falls into the “rock wall” category. All of the components of the rock wall- “unappealing, flow stopping, detritus collecting piles of ugh” seem to be absent, putting these into a quite different category altogether. Apples to oranges. I’ll never be sold on the rock wall.
joel1234567

Both beautiful tanks! But I’m not convinced that either of them falls into the “rock wall” category. All of the components of the rock wall- “unappealing, flow stopping, detritus collecting piles of ugh” seem to be absent, putting these into a quite different category altogether. Apples to oranges. I’ll never be sold on the rock wall.
http://achristianmommy.com/ Mom of three

Thoughtful and interesting, thank you. I grew up in manilla but moved to england at such a young age I can hardly remember anything apart from the delicious food. I finally found some authentic Filipino recipes if you want to have a look, I thought I’d share it with you!
http://achristianmommy.com/ Mom of three

Thoughtful and interesting, thank you. I grew up in manilla but moved to england at such a young age I can hardly remember anything apart from the delicious food. I finally found some authentic Filipino recipes if you want to have a look, I thought I’d share it with you!

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