joining rocks with rods... what type is good?

Chin_Lee · #1 10-04-2006, 04:27 AM

I am planning to joing rocks together by drilling rocks and inserting plastic rods.

Does anybody have any recommendations on what material rods I should use? I am looking for something that is strong yet slightly flexible and not brittle. PVC, ABS, Acrylic, other???

And what size rods should I consider using? 1/4", 3/8", 1/2"?

dirtyreefer · #2 10-04-2006, 04:32 AM

Chin I've heard of using plastic ties to join the rock. I think Fudge did that with his rock.

trilinearmipmap · #3 10-04-2006, 05:09 AM

I've heard of using acrylic rods, I think there is information about this on Reef Central, I have never done it though.

mr_alberta · #4 10-04-2006, 06:03 AM

Titanium rods!

J/K. I think 1/2" rod is a bit overkill personally unless you are stacking huge rocks together. 3/8" and 1/4" is probably good enough.

Tarolisol · #5 10-04-2006, 06:36 AM

Could you heat and bend acrylic rods to form arches and stuff?

Nate · #6 10-04-2006, 06:51 AM

Hey Chin Lee,

For my new 150 gallon, I decided I could not go without a sandbed, so I put an area sectioned off by 3 inches of glass, in the middle of the tank. I put sand around the tank, and in the middle of the tank, I built a small, oddly shaped structure made out of 1/2 PVC as it bends a bit, but is still fairly strong. The structure I made is kind of odd looking, but with the rock on top, it looks fantatsic...

Now I know what you are thinking...detritus buildup in the middle section...

Well, to counter act that, I have done two things. I have left holes, in the live rock, just a couple, where flex tubing and a powerhead could easily push the detritus out, and I drilled holes along the bottom of the "support" pvc, and have it rigged so it is a closed system with a maxijet 1200 shooting out these holes.

I dont really think this is really what your question is, but I was also toying around with the idea of running one of the sections of 1/2 inch PVC out for an arch, but found taht I was able to create a really nice one, without.

I would suggest 1/2 inch PVC, its cheap, easy to work with, and can be found anywhere.

G/l and let mek now if you have any questions.

Nate