Synergy's 12gal zen nano

[Synergy]

After I had the base built I added on using the same method. Acrylic rods for the bulk support and zip ties to hold everything tight. The zipties are rated for 40lbs each, the total structure cant weight more than 10lbs.


Here is the underside of the almost complete structure. This is before the rods and zipties were trimmed. I added way more support than I probably needed but they are pretty much all hidden and I like the extra peace of mind.


Rock work was done at this point. As you can see my foot is holding it up. I wanted the rock to stand like it was in the pic so had to find a way to support it. I thought about adding more rock to the bas to act as a counterweight, bit the small footprint of the JBJ kept that from being a realistic option. I wanted a half arch so adding a rock to support the structure was also out.


My solution. I picked up a $2 polypropylene cutting bord (aka starboard) and drilled some holes.

[Synergy]

The holes on the bottom are in the shape of the base rock. I stuck zipties through pre-drilled and existing holes in the base of the rock and then threaded the zipties through the holes in the cutting board. Drilling numerous holes made threading the zipties through super easy.


Here's a view from the back of the structure. You can see the zipties going into the rock and then through the cutting board.


Here you can see the rock structure being suspended from just the zipties. Like I mentioned each can support ~40lbs and I used around 8. Also used the black zipties to help them hold up to the UV exposure from the lights.


Here is the finished product. I glued some sand to most of the exposed zipties to conceal them better. I also used two-part epoxy to attach pieces of rubble over some exposed acyrlic rod and zipties. I also used epocy between the main pieces for added strength and security. Probably epoxied 7-8 small pieces to the main structure.


The cutting board turns the structure into a cantilever of sorts. The rock structure wants to tip, since its attached to the cutting board it pulls the cutting board up at the base which pushes down at the far end. The cutting board presses against the glass preventing it all from tipping over. Maybe this picture will help show how the force is transferred from the structure to the glass