Drilling rock structures

V

v320

I will be drilling my rock and using acrylic or fiber glass rods pretty soon.
Is there an advantage to using one over the other?
Any tips?

Also, I know someone answered this on another thread awhile ago, but I can’t find the thread…
What kind of base ‘rock’ should I use to attach the live rock to (I think something flat will be the way to go)?
I was going to check out HD or Lowes this week, and pick up a few blocks.
Is just good ol’ concrete ok, or should I use something else – I want to make sure nothing leaches into the water. When I looked last, there were a ton of different types of material used to make those blocks…
I believe, Sanjay mentioned it in his presentation @ next wave?!
 
i believe it was the pavestone type pavers.

i would go with fiberglass as you could get a smaller diameter rod and it has flexing properties, acrylic is pretty ridgid.
 
@dp1416 wrote:
i believe it was the pavestone type pavers. i would go with fiberglass as you could get a smaller diameter rod and it has flexing properties said:
I agree with Donnie on the fiberglass rods. It will be more flexible than acrylic and will be able to handle more weigh before breaking.
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sounds good... i didn't give too much thought to flexibility!

Anyone know a good place to purchase some of these?
I am thinking of about 3-4 structures in a 25" tall tank...

What area would the paverstones be? What color are they?
HD had their stones distributed throughout gardening, the last time I was there.
 
i have heard of people going to a gun store or cabellas and using fiberglass arrows and cutting of the tips and ends...
 
i ordered the fiberglass rods online for mine and used 12x12 cinder block material stepping stone squares from home depot for my base. they worked well and are the same material sanjay said were safe. the fiberglass are definately alot stronger, i had 1/2 inch of each and the fiberglass ones were almost like steel bars they were so stout and the acrylic bent really easily.
 
@Wes wrote:
i ordered the fiberglass rods online for mine and used 12x12 cinder block material stepping stone squares from home depot for my base. they worked well and are the same material sanjay said were safe. the fiberglass are definately alot stronger said:
Wes, where did you get your fiberglass rods?
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i ordered 2 of each, 1/4, 3/8. and 1/2"


on my tank i used only 1/2"

i used this same stuff on hanks tank, and we used almost only the 3/8"

i have all the 1/4" left
 
I would also suggest at the same time that you drill your rock for pegging your corals. It involves drilling 1/4" holes all over your rock so as you get corals you can attach the coral to a 1/4" hard airline tubing and stick the coral in one of the holes you drilled.

You can see a video of what I am talking about at www.reefvideos.com . Look at the mounting/pegging video as well as carl's 150g video to see examples.
 
drilling rock structures is really easy i am going to post a few pics of what i used and did in a few days.

fyi i do have the masonry drill bits to borrow in the dfw coop section in the misc section. If you have really porous live rock it takes cuts like butter, but if it is the dense stuff alittle elbow grease and water is what i suggest

i used solid acrylic rods that i bought from another member and concrete pavestones walmart has them for less than a dollar
 
@kuyatwo wrote:
fyi i do have the masonry drill bits to borrow in the dfw coop section in the misc section. If you have really porous live rock it takes cuts like butter said:
That sounds good - I was wondering which drill bit to use.
Can someone take a pic of the paverstone... or read me off what the label says. I am assuming it will just say concrete paverstone right!? I just don't want to grab the wrong stuff... :lol:

Thanks for the links! Yes, I will definitely be pegging the new corals…

Wes, why did you use that particular diameter and not the others? Was it just a judgment call based on size or am I missing something?!
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i had it and simply wanted the most secure rock structure i could get. i also did a bridge between two pillars and wanted to make sure it was as stout as possible. live rock drills very easily so i figured it to be best to go as big as possible. also, i have a 2+ foot eel that i wanted to make sure couldnt cause any rock slides. one other thing i thought about using if you wanted some flex or didnt need anything really rigid was PEX manifold pvc plumbing that is 1/2". i know some who have used it for making arches and such.

i used 3 of these
 
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=19183-215-23601&lpage=none

but i bought the round ones
 
@kuyatwo wrote:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=19183-215-23601&lpage=none but i bought the round ones said:
Ah, that will help - thanks!
When I last checked, there was everything from some made of charcoal, to some other stuff that appeared to be dyed!?

Why the round ones?
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i am going bare bottom and round ones look more natural as i can epoxy live rock rubble around the edges...


i went with plain gray cheap concrete blocks
 
sent these direct to v320, figured i would share here too in case anyone wanted to see...just a few shots of henry and I workin on my rock work...not a finished product in any of them, but it gives you some idea of the process of drilling and rodding

www.webereefin.com/images/DIY/arch.zip
 
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