creating rockscapes with small rocks

[pompeyjohn]

Hi all,

I have a 24 gallon cube, and lots of medium to small pieces of liverock.

I'd like to build interesting structures like suspended shelves. However, the rock is too small to drill without splitting. I have tried using putty without pvc and it doesn't hold. Would superglue gel alone be sufficient? Are there an other options?

Thanks in advance.
John

[Frick-n-Frags]

if you have an LFS that sells LR, maybe cherry pick like one or two really branched out light pieces. use those and maybe you can still use some of the smaller pieces.

or create structures with aragocrete or plasticrete w/e


superglue isnt for gluing LR together. SG is for gluing tight fitting surfaces.

[drcarr]

agreed, the super glue will not hold rocks together. i used epoxy for mine and it seems to hold the rock pieces together pretty well. it does require quite a bit of epoxy for larger or heavier connections tho. you may have to brace them while the epoxy sets...

[autopro]

When I had small rocks I used a small drill bit, only big enough of a diameter for a zip tie to go through the hole. This way the rock didn't break into smaller pieces, after drilling the holes zip tie them together and put some foam between the joints. Let it sit and it should hold. Make sure you use a good quality massonry bit to drill your rocks.

[jcolletteiii]

black pond foam.

[franklypre]

I have had no problem with this. The trick is to use the aquamend or whatever putty you choose, you just add the superglue to both sides and put the rocks together. I usually try to grind them in a little. I have atleast 10 pounds glued together in my 10 hex, I can actually pull the entire stack out just by holding on to the top rock.

[RVANANO]

Make sure you use a mask when drilling and only do it outdoors. A local member drilled indoors with a few people over and we all got really sick. Some almost went to the ER :(

[pompeyjohn]

black pond foam.

I am curious. Do you have a link?

[pompeyjohn]

The trick is to use the aquamend or whatever putty you choose, you just add the superglue to both sides and put the rocks together. I usually try to grind them in a little.

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that this evening.

[jcolletteiii]

No on the link, but you can get it at Lowes or Home Dumpster. If you do a search here, you'll see many people use if for attaching things to other things, including LR. I used it, along with zip ties to make islands in my 135. Aquamend/superglue will work well too, but will be tedious and way more expensive.