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

kwirky · #1 10-04-2006, 08:03 AM

i used plastic ties, and it's butt ugly. if you want to take the time to drill it, I'd do that. Or just build a rack to set the rocks on top of, letting gravity do it's thing.

But a note, I don't think solid rods will be strong enough, I think you will need something like PVC. I used 1/2" PVC to hold up my rocks with enough strength. Most people online who drilled through their rocks used the same.

I didn't drill mine, because of the drill and bit required to make 1/2" holes in rock. I think I may down the road make a "pedestal" like structure out of PVC and elbows, and just set the rocks on top.

One piece of advice I have to give, is you can't really make your structure, then buy your rocks. You'd be going through hell trying to find rocks that will work perfect on your structure.

If I was to do it again, and had the tools, I would drill for 1/2" PVC. It would make me feel safe that it won't snap like acrylic rods. Thick enough acrylic rods to support the rock would be EXPENSIVE and not much stronger than slightly thicker PVC pipe. And I would buy my rocks, then build the structure during the curing process, having the rocks handy to make it all jive together.

Dave C · #2 10-04-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwirky

And I would buy my rocks, then build the structure during the curing process, having the rocks handy to make it all jive together.

That's exactly what I plan to do. I've got 140lbs of Tonga coming this week from J&L and while it cooks I plan to pull it out and figure out how it will sit and drill it for PVC.

Some people use Thorite (by Thoroseal) cement to attach rocks together. The cement adds to the rock & becomes part of the rockwork itself. Then you don't need to drill or use acrylic/pvc or anything but the rocks & cement. It's reef-safe and can be found on many threads on RC.

Chin_Lee · #3 10-04-2006, 03:23 PM

Nate
Pics would be great if you post or email to me.

Kwirky Sean
What type of PVC are you refering to? Solid tube, Sch40, Sch80? What about ABS rods?

DaveC
Thanks for the tip. will look into it on RC

DanG · #4 10-04-2006, 03:43 PM

masonary bits are cheap, I bought a 1 inch at canadian tire for about 13 bucks.

Reefer Rob · #5 10-04-2006, 05:09 PM

Thoroseal looks interesting, where can you get it in Canada?

kwirky · #6 10-04-2006, 05:28 PM

don't know which schedule. just standard pvc piping. For elbows/T's, I used slip connectors, and just drilled a hole through the piping/elbows and slipped a pull tie through. No gluing required.

hawk · #7 10-04-2006, 07:47 PM

I used toilet/faucet supply tubes the white not grey. Cost a couple of bucks. They are 1/4" id almost 3/8"od. They have some flex, but are very strong. For very large rocks I used 1/2" cpvc from Cdn Tire.

Dave C · #8 10-04-2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Thoroseal looks interesting, where can you get it in Canada?

I don't know. I was going to try & find it and then decided to use PVC, zip ties and epoxy. What I'm really doing is waiting for the rock to see how big it is and how much work it will take to make it look the way I want it to look.

AndyL · #9 10-04-2006, 11:38 PM

A lot of people on RC use those white plastic coat hangers (found at walmart) Just cut the bent parts out to create pins. Not sure how big a structure I'd build out of them... Seen some 90/120s done using that method.

hawk · #10 10-05-2006, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Thoroseal looks interesting, where can you get it in Canada?

I looked for it awhile back and had no luck. I eventually used another hydraulic cement I got from Rona (King Quick-Plug). I sent the msds to Randy Holmes-Farley at RC, he couldn't see any ingredients that would be a problem. Depending on how much you use and how big your tank is, it can elevate ph like any cement will. When using it to secure rocks you don't use very much so at least in my case ph didn't rise at all.