PDA

View Full Version : Can anyone explain exactly how to do this


awestruck
09/20/2010, 07:39 AM
I will be upgrading to a 65g. soon and will be re-aquascaping. This tank will have a minimal sandbed. I want to drill some holes in the rock and insert rods so that nothing falls over.

So, questions and concerns:

1. If I take the rock out of the water to drill, the coralline will die (and everything else growing on it). What do you do? Won't there be a massive die off?

2. What type of drill bits do you use?

3. Where does the epoxy come into play? Do you drill the holes, epoxy the rod and then insert the rod into the rock?

4. What type of rods and epoxy are reef safe?

5. What am I forgetting that I need to know, and what else do I need besides rods and epoxy.

Thanks in advance.

awestruck
09/20/2010, 08:08 AM
Anyone?

Sam2000001
09/20/2010, 08:20 AM
I am also interested in hearing from someone who has done a re-aquascaping using existing established live rock. And how much die off to expect etc etc. Thanks

julie180
09/20/2010, 08:31 AM
You can use pvc or acrylic rods. A masonry drill bit is the best. Some rock that is porous will just crumble when you attempt to drill it. Epoxy does not stick to wet rocks very well. I have always just used the HD or Lowes plumber stuff. If you use superglue on the rock to hold the epoxy it helps. I have always just used the HD or Lowes plumber stuff

Rod and not worry about epoxy, I think might be a better way. Things will still be much more stable than just stacking.

Another way to achieve this is to fine pre-existing holes in the rocks and ziptie them together. Or drill much small holes to ziptie.

I did not have much die off. Just don't keep the rock out of water to long. A bucket of tank water is a good way to keep things wet and also to rinse off if you drill.

Having tried to re-aquascape with the tank up and running, I would probably not do it again. It was a big pain, and did not work out well for me.

Hope this helps. If you want more info, do a search for aquascape and you will get millions of ideas.

Patterson117
09/20/2010, 08:42 AM
if you are drilling regular live rock (not lace rock, etc.) it will drill easily, like butter, with a masonry bit (few bucks at HD, Lowes, etc.).....drilling near the edges of a shelf rock will crack the rock.....go slow.

I would fill a 5 gallon bucket with saltwater, pull the rocks out you want to drill....drill a hole, put it back in the bucket.

I generally drill my holes, soak, cut my rod to desired height......place rod in bottom piece or rock, epoxy around that, then start stacking....I generally only epoxy the bottom rock as that is your anchor.....if you don't epoxy the rest you can take them off of the rod easily later if you need to catch a fish, scrub off algae etc.....obviously, more elaborate layouts will require more epoxy and cable ties.....remember, larger heavier rocks at the bottom.

Give it a try, it isn't as hard as you think, we all made mistakes the first time. :)

awestruck
09/20/2010, 08:43 AM
Thanks Julie180,

I think using existing holes as well as drilling smaller holes is a good idea.

Since I have to transfer to a new tank, well, I gues now's the time to get the rods in the rock.

I've always had a dsb so didn't worry quite so much about a rock falling because it least it had a cushion. Now not so much.

Yes, I've read where many people use rods and zip ties.

So, please explain again where you use the epoxy. And, are you saying to superglue the epoxy to what, the rock, the rods, what? :)

Thanks.

Patterson117
09/20/2010, 08:54 AM
Here is a pic of rod epoxied in the live rock hole that I just drilled. That is a driveway marker from Home Depot that I cut down to size.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii121/Patterson117/DSC_1510.jpg

awestruck
09/20/2010, 09:15 AM
Thanks Patterson117--the picture helps a lot. Ok, I CAN do this :rollface:

julie180
09/20/2010, 01:35 PM
I would suggest drilling holes that are very close to the size of your rod. Larger causes things to get "sloppy" for lack of a better term.

Go for it. You really don't have anything to lose. If a piece breaks, then you have 2 rocks :)

Here is a link that will explain it much better than I can. Even though its for gluing frags, it applies to this also.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1342011

awestruck
09/20/2010, 02:20 PM
Thanks Julie180 :)

Northern Sensei
09/20/2010, 02:29 PM
great ideas everyone, another thing too AWESTRUCK, it may help to have another set of hands around.
Keep in mind too, you are upgrading to a new tank, so do it RIGHT and take your time or else you'll end up regreting a rush job.

Cheers and good luck, post some pics so we can see how things turned out for ya.