| Create a stable rock wall, using Live Rock, dead | | | | Depending upon the size of your aquarium and |
| rock, or a combination, by placing a framework of | | | | the needs of your pet fish species, you could |
| PVC piping under the substrate, and then placing | | | | setup your rock wall into various shapes that |
| substrate (sand, or gravel) around the PVC, but | | | | balance out your aquascape visually while |
| have the rock wall rest on the PVC so that | | | | considering weight distribution. Arranging your Live |
| tunnelling pet fish can still tunnel without | | | | Rock wall into a "W" when viewed from above |
| undermining the rock wall support. Be careful not | | | | would be ideal, but would require more space than |
| to use PVC glue. Use aquarium sealant, or other | | | | if you setup your rock wall into a "V" when |
| glues designed specifically for fish tanks. Another | | | | viewed from above. If you have sufficient space |
| option is using a hammer to drive the PVC piping | | | | and have more free swimming pet fish than |
| and PVC "T's" and other connectors together. Or | | | | tunnelling fish, or cave dwelling fish, you could |
| assemble the PVC piping and connectors then drill | | | | setup your rock wall into two "L's" (when viewed |
| through them both and apply plastic strips as | | | | from above), one on the left side, one on the |
| though you would a plastic nail to lock the | | | | right side, of your aquarium, leaving free space in |
| connectors and pipe together. Do not use metals, | | | | between. This is an ideal way to "bracket" your |
| such as wire, or screws as they are very toxic | | | | aquascape and accentuate the aquarium |
| to your aquarium fish. Distribute the rock wall | | | | environment. If you have a 90 gallon fish tank, or |
| weight as evenly as possible along the length of | | | | larger, you may be able to incorporate a |
| your fish tank. | | | | combination of two or more of these shapes. For |
| Assemble, hammer and/or drill the PVC support | | | | instance "L's" on both sides, with a "V" or a "W" in |
| structure outside of the fish tank, then | | | | the middle. |
| reassemble it inside the tank after all the drilling, | | | | Be sure to leave holes extending front to back |
| cutting and sizing, is completed. You can | | | | throughout your rock wall, especially if you will be |
| disassemble a large rock wall support system into | | | | using Live Rock, or Live Corals, to eliminate any |
| two or more smaller pieces that fit into your tank | | | | dead spots in water circulation. These aquarium |
| easier. Do not drill the PVC while it is under water | | | | inhabitants depend on water circulation to provide |
| (sorry, couldn't resist ;-). | | | | food, and sweep away waste. |
| Position the rock wall away from the sides of the | | | | You should consider the habitats of the types of |
| fish tank so that you have sufficient room to | | | | pet fish species that you will be keeping in your |
| clean off the algae that will eventually grow there. | | | | fish tank before beginning the aquarium design. |
| Leave sufficient space to permit vacuuming up | | | | These suggestions apply for saltwater fish tanks, |
| the debris that accumulates on the bottom. TIP: | | | | or freshwater fish tanks alike, regardless of |
| experts aim some water circulation to push debris | | | | whether you have 20 gallon fish tanks, or 200 |
| into specific fish tank locations designed to be | | | | gallon fish tanks. |
| easy to access for maintenance. | | | | |