txbj PMed me about how I did my rock pillar supports with Acrylic rods, so I thought I would start a thread on it for others. Unfortunately I didn't plan on it being a DIY thread when I did it, so I didn't take any pictures along the way. [smilie=sadsmile.gif]
Tools/supplies:
Hack saw
Cordless drill
3/8" masonry drill bit
5/16" old (dull) drill bit
3/8-16 tap
3/8-16 threaded nylon rod
.220 thick acrylic sheet
(Everything but the rod is stocked at Home Depot)
First of all, let me show you a picture of my tank/aquascaping:
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I used 2 6" rods on each of the 3 pillared rocks pictured (2 on left, one on right). To give you an idea of scale, the 2 on the outer edges are 15" tall and the really big one is 19" tall.
Step 1- Decide the angle you want the rock to stand and then use the hacksaw to cut off about an inch from the base of the rock at the angle you want to give the rock a flat surface to stand on. Depending on the center of gravity created by your angle, the rock may or may not stand on its own. Don't worry if it doesn't.
Step 2- Take a 3/8" masonry bit and drill your support holes in the rock. You want to make sure the holes are not at an angle, are near the core of the rock, and will be at a place where it can go 6" in without popping out the side of the rock. The bit I used was about 6" long and I just kept drilling until I could drill no further. I then test fit the rod in the hole. It was snug, so I went in and out of the whole several times with the drill bit to bore it out a little until the rod would slide in and out easily. In hindsight, I might have experimented with a 7/16" bit, but I didn't have one on hand. I placed my holes about 3" apart.
Step 3- Cut off a piece of Acrylic for the rock to stand on. I bought the 24x18x.220 sheet from Home Depot and cut it into 4 pieces that were each about 12" x 9". I would not recommend the thinner acrylic they sell as you want to be able to get enough threads in there for the rod to screw in to securely. If Marc sees this, he may have more input on size/source for the acrylic. [smilie=wink.gif]
Step 4- Figure out where you want the rock sitting on the acrylic. if the center of gravity has the rock leaning to the left, you want the rock offset to the right on the acrylic to give it more support. With the rock positioned, mark the spot where your holes meet the acrylic. You can do this on the bottom of the acrylic with a sharpie as you look through the acrylic to your drill holes.
Step 4- Drill your pilot holes in the acrylic using a 5/16" drill bit. I had drilled my first hole with an old bit and it went fine. When I bought the tap, it came with a brand new bit for the pilot hole. When I tried the new bit, it caused the acrylic to chunk and crack. I went back to the old bit and had no more problems. I am sure there is a technique reason for my issues with the new bit but I haven't looked around the internet for an explanation. Again, lets hope Marc sees this and comments. [smilie=lol.gif]
Step 5- Tap the holes- Pretty straight forward... you put the tap in the pilot hole and slowly turn it. I would do about 1.5 turns, then back it out 1/4 turn, then repeat and this seemed to work well.
Step 6- Screw your nylon rods in to the holes
Step 7- Test fit rock onto the newly created base. I ended up having to bore out a few rock holes a little more at this point to get them to slide in easier.
Step 8- Tank placement. I first placed all my new acrylic stands with rods in the tank where I wanted them. I then placed my egg crate in, sliding it over the rods. I also tossed a little sand in around the rods (just enough to fill the egg crate in areas that would be covered by the rock). Then it was just a matter of sliding the rocks on to their stands.
Tools/supplies:
Hack saw
Cordless drill
3/8" masonry drill bit
5/16" old (dull) drill bit
3/8-16 tap
3/8-16 threaded nylon rod
.220 thick acrylic sheet
(Everything but the rod is stocked at Home Depot)
First of all, let me show you a picture of my tank/aquascaping:
I used 2 6" rods on each of the 3 pillared rocks pictured (2 on left, one on right). To give you an idea of scale, the 2 on the outer edges are 15" tall and the really big one is 19" tall.
Step 1- Decide the angle you want the rock to stand and then use the hacksaw to cut off about an inch from the base of the rock at the angle you want to give the rock a flat surface to stand on. Depending on the center of gravity created by your angle, the rock may or may not stand on its own. Don't worry if it doesn't.
Step 2- Take a 3/8" masonry bit and drill your support holes in the rock. You want to make sure the holes are not at an angle, are near the core of the rock, and will be at a place where it can go 6" in without popping out the side of the rock. The bit I used was about 6" long and I just kept drilling until I could drill no further. I then test fit the rod in the hole. It was snug, so I went in and out of the whole several times with the drill bit to bore it out a little until the rod would slide in and out easily. In hindsight, I might have experimented with a 7/16" bit, but I didn't have one on hand. I placed my holes about 3" apart.
Step 3- Cut off a piece of Acrylic for the rock to stand on. I bought the 24x18x.220 sheet from Home Depot and cut it into 4 pieces that were each about 12" x 9". I would not recommend the thinner acrylic they sell as you want to be able to get enough threads in there for the rod to screw in to securely. If Marc sees this, he may have more input on size/source for the acrylic. [smilie=wink.gif]
Step 4- Figure out where you want the rock sitting on the acrylic. if the center of gravity has the rock leaning to the left, you want the rock offset to the right on the acrylic to give it more support. With the rock positioned, mark the spot where your holes meet the acrylic. You can do this on the bottom of the acrylic with a sharpie as you look through the acrylic to your drill holes.
Step 4- Drill your pilot holes in the acrylic using a 5/16" drill bit. I had drilled my first hole with an old bit and it went fine. When I bought the tap, it came with a brand new bit for the pilot hole. When I tried the new bit, it caused the acrylic to chunk and crack. I went back to the old bit and had no more problems. I am sure there is a technique reason for my issues with the new bit but I haven't looked around the internet for an explanation. Again, lets hope Marc sees this and comments. [smilie=lol.gif]
Step 5- Tap the holes- Pretty straight forward... you put the tap in the pilot hole and slowly turn it. I would do about 1.5 turns, then back it out 1/4 turn, then repeat and this seemed to work well.
Step 6- Screw your nylon rods in to the holes
Step 7- Test fit rock onto the newly created base. I ended up having to bore out a few rock holes a little more at this point to get them to slide in easier.
Step 8- Tank placement. I first placed all my new acrylic stands with rods in the tank where I wanted them. I then placed my egg crate in, sliding it over the rods. I also tossed a little sand in around the rods (just enough to fill the egg crate in areas that would be covered by the rock). Then it was just a matter of sliding the rocks on to their stands.
