Acrylic rod aquascaping

aqualab · 08/09/2009, 08:17 AM

I am trying to find a thread in the nano forum but it seems the search function is not functioning again - it was a great guide on how to heat an acrylic rod and then forming it to whatever shape you want. He attached a wire hanger to the rod to maintain the rod's shape until it cooled enough to hold the desired form. The acrylic rod was attached to an acrylic base plate that he drilled a hole through and glued them togethor. I need to know what the suggested oven temp is for heating the rods to bend them - I don't want to have a molton acrylic mess in my wife's oven - she would kill me.

cherubfish pair · 08/09/2009, 09:34 PM

If you can find pictures, please post them.

Jeremy386 · 08/09/2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aqualab
I am trying to find a thread in the nano forum but it seems the search function is not functioning again

FYI, on the Homepage there is a link on the left side of the screen, Search Tools. Get's you to a google search page for ReefCentral. Not as cool as the other search, but it's never down and has worked well for me in the past.

Jeremy386

lovetoreef · 08/12/2009, 12:07 AM

yep - that is a very cool thread and i had to search for it about 3 weeks ago, but, fortunately, i remembered to suscribe to it

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1528694

aqualab · 08/12/2009, 09:51 AM

Thanks lovetoreef - thats the one. Beautifully done and clean looking. I am attempting to aquascape my Elos mini similar to his. The weldon 16 is very runny though, would have preferred a cement with a heavier/thicker consistency. The softening and shaping of the acrylic rod went smoothly using the oven at 300 F. I couldn't exactly match the rod's diameter with a drill bit for the insertion hole into the plate, so was a little larger which is causing some ongoing problem with set-up between the rod and plate. Just going to keep adding layers of goop to strengthen interface area. I am hoping that my spacing between the tank's side panes and the rod is sufficient enough to allow the mag cleaner enough space to glide between them. Once it is set up enough I will test the fit/clearance in the tank, I don't want to take any chances with glue possibly dripping in/on the tank until it is cured enough - that would suck royally if it dripped.

lovetoreef · 08/12/2009, 10:47 AM

sounds great - it may be too late now, but, you could add additional layers of acrylic at the base of the rod ... small squares would work and give some additional strength

russell_wiley · 08/12/2009, 04:54 PM

Could you do this if your tank was already established? Like, if I wanted to re-aquascape it?

aqualab · 08/13/2009, 06:57 AM

I don't see why not. Getting the acrylic plate under the existing sand may prove to be tricky though. The plate should be stable and you want to minimize trapped material below it. Depending on how high your rod or rods angle up and out will dictate how much of an angle you will be able to try and shovel the plate below the sand bed when placing it in the tank. Sturring up the sand may cause a sand storm, ammonia/nitrites spike, and issues with the fish?

08/09/2009, 08:17 AM	#1
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 704	Acrylic rod aquascaping I am trying to find a thread in the nano forum but it seems the search function is not functioning again - it was a great guide on how to heat an acrylic rod and then forming it to whatever shape you want. He attached a wire hanger to the rod to maintain the rod's shape until it cooled enough to hold the desired form. The acrylic rod was attached to an acrylic base plate that he drilled a hole through and glued them togethor. I need to know what the suggested oven temp is for heating the rods to bend them - I don't want to have a molton acrylic mess in my wife's oven - she would kill me.

08/09/2009, 09:34 PM	#2
cherubfish pair Sasquatch hunter Join Date: May 2004 Location: MONTANA - - Big Sky Country Posts: 6,100 Blog Entries: 1	If you can find pictures, please post them. __________________ Are we having fun yet? Are we having fun yet? Are we having fun yet? I'm a card-carrying member of the Weekend Water-changing Warriors! Current Tank Info: Nano -> 50G in a health food store. (upgrade)

08/12/2009, 12:07 AM	#4
lovetoreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canton, TX Posts: 739	yep - that is a very cool thread and i had to search for it about 3 weeks ago, but, fortunately, i remembered to suscribe to it http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1528694 __________________ Planning SPS AIO tank Canton, TX Reefing on and off since 2001 Current Tank Info: planning nano AIO

08/12/2009, 10:47 AM	#6
lovetoreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Canton, TX Posts: 739	sounds great - it may be too late now, but, you could add additional layers of acrylic at the base of the rod ... small squares would work and give some additional strength __________________ Planning SPS AIO tank Canton, TX Reefing on and off since 2001 Current Tank Info: planning nano AIO

08/12/2009, 09:51 AM	#5
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 704	Thanks lovetoreef - thats the one. Beautifully done and clean looking. I am attempting to aquascape my Elos mini similar to his. The weldon 16 is very runny though, would have preferred a cement with a heavier/thicker consistency. The softening and shaping of the acrylic rod went smoothly using the oven at 300 F. I couldn't exactly match the rod's diameter with a drill bit for the insertion hole into the plate, so was a little larger which is causing some ongoing problem with set-up between the rod and plate. Just going to keep adding layers of goop to strengthen interface area. I am hoping that my spacing between the tank's side panes and the rod is sufficient enough to allow the mag cleaner enough space to glide between them. Once it is set up enough I will test the fit/clearance in the tank, I don't want to take any chances with glue possibly dripping in/on the tank until it is cured enough - that would suck royally if it dripped.

08/12/2009, 04:54 PM	#7
russell_wiley Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ashburn, VA Posts: 96	Could you do this if your tank was already established? Like, if I wanted to re-aquascape it?

08/13/2009, 06:57 AM	#8
aqualab Moved On Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Syracuse Area Posts: 704	I don't see why not. Getting the acrylic plate under the existing sand may prove to be tricky though. The plate should be stable and you want to minimize trapped material below it. Depending on how high your rod or rods angle up and out will dictate how much of an angle you will be able to try and shovel the plate below the sand bed when placing it in the tank. Sturring up the sand may cause a sand storm, ammonia/nitrites spike, and issues with the fish?