Building a Zoanthid Rock

[groan]

OK, this technique is nothing to write home about but i thouht i'd get it up here anyways.
I went to Pat's to take part in his $20 zoa sale and he had some really nice pieces. I wanted him to sell me a nice branching peice of live rock but he told me to get lost (not his exact words). Actually he was holding onto it for a special project.

What to do...build my own!

This looks nothing like his super zoa tree he has in his tank, but it's what i did and I'm proud of it.

Step 1. Buy some rocks. I chose randomely mostly, but i wanted lots of nooks and crannys. Alongfortheride (Trina) was a great help in picking out some good pieces (and i got a cute-guy discount too).




Step 2. After deciding what shape they were going to be in...



Step 3. Using some Epoxy Putty (available at Pat's Super Crazy Fish Shop (i suggested that as a new name but he shot me down)) start arranging the pieces. Once you have 2 peices together, get out some form of device to keep them tightly together. I found that a few zip ties pulled together worked perfectly.
   As a tip, when using this putty, before you ball up your pieces put them in the microwave for a few seconds, it makes them MUCH more pliable. Oh and expect to go through alot of it. I need more. sigh...



step 4. Throw it in the tank overnight and by morning you have a larger rock arranged how you need them. I chose to peice them together with the smoothest sides facing inwards so that i had as much realestate with bumps and holes on the outside to make it easier to mount to.


This shot is of the rock the next day after mounting the pieces i got from pat. See another coming-up thread of the pieces open.

[Vallely4]

Nice, some good finds?  ...looks like I see a patch of possible pink palys closed up, buts thats a guess

I was by Pat's aswell yesterday and had to go for the $20 zoa sale, picked up a really nice sized plug.
Can't wait to see your pics when its looking in its prime i'm sure it looks great

[groan]

Here's the thread of them opened.
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=26952.msg180044#new