Attaching aquarium rocks. What fasteners do you use?

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Does anyone have any suggestions on fasteners for attaching aquarium rocks? Where can I order some and it would be greatful if you have a part number. I'm looking at sizes from 1/4" to 1/2" fasteners.

I'd rather has fasteners that are not manufactured in China. I'm willing to pay a little extra for fasteners made somewhere beside China. Any help would be appreciated.

I especially would like to hear from reefers whom have already tried and tested fasteners that have lasted over time with no ill effects on their reef environment.

Wannabee

 

[ripped tide]

What are you trying to fasten? I have used epoxy in the past to build rock structures

 

[acroholic]

Don't use anything metallic. Threaded nylon rods, acrylic rods, and PVC pipe are your choices for mechanicaol fasteners in a saltwater evironment. You would use potable water safe epoxy and synthetic mortar for bonding rocks to each other.

Here is an online souurce for reef safe mortar: http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx">http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx</a>

Marcorocks used to also sell the threaded nylon rod, but I didn't seen it on their website. [IMG]http://www.usplastic.com">www.usplastic.com</a>.

If you decide to try the MarcoRock Dry Key Largo rock, it stacks and locks pretty well together without needing any mortar or fasteners.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Ripped Tide;836966 wrote: What are you trying to fasten? I have used epoxy in the past to build rock structures

I'm currently getting ideas down for a rock setup. I will probably go with dryrock and I want to assembly some pieces outside the aquarium to get a preview of my artisitic abilities before I place the dryrock into the aquarium. I feel safer with utilizing some type of plug/fastener to assembly the puzzle pieces [dryrock] for my preview of the new home for my "little ocean" instead of just randomly stacking rock inside an aquarium.

Wannabee

 

[hiimsean]

Acroholic;836971 wrote: Marcorocks used to also sell the threaded nylon rod, but I didn't seen it on their website. http://www.usplastic.com">www.usplastic.com</a>.
[/QUOTE]

i havent used it but i plan to on my next build, acrylic rods from us plastic
[IMG]http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/search.aspx?search=3/8%22%20acrylic%20rod&page=1">http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/search.aspx?search=3/8%22%20acrylic%20rod&page=1</a>

 

[morganatlanta]

People also use the rods from driveway markers from Lowes or HD. I used acrylic rods from Tap Plastics and the cement from Marco Rocks. I like the Pukani Rock from BRS better than the Marco rock. I found it is lighter per volume so you get more for your $$ and it has more holes for rods.

 

[acroholic]

MorganAtlanta;836992 wrote: People also use the rods from driveway markers from Lowes or HD. I used acrylic rods from Tap Plastics and the cement from Marco Rocks. I like the Pukani Rock from BRS better than the Marco rock. I found it is lighter per volume so you get more for your $$ and it has more holes for rods.

There have been multiple threads on Reef Central about BRS Pukani leaching phosphates into tanks. Not sure if this is true or not, but something to be aware of. Many folks go through a type of curing process with it before setting up their reefs with it. Sounds bad enough that I would stay away from it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2145395">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2145395</a>

[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855</a>

[IMG]http://www.chicagoreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?8016-BRS-Pukani-leaching-Phosphates">http://www.chicagoreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?8016-BRS-Pukani-leaching-Phosphates</a>

 

[morganatlanta]

It worked great for me. It has a lot of organics stuck in the holes and crevasses, so I'm not surprised people found phosphate. It's not mined dead rock like some others.

 

[serpent]

Acroholic;837062 wrote: There have been multiple threads on Reef Central about BRS Pukani leaching phosphates into tanks. Not sure if this is true or not, but something to be aware of. Many folks go through a type of curing process with it before setting up their reefs with it. Sounds bad enough that I would stay away from it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2145395">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2145395</a>

[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2049855</a>

[IMG]http://www.chicagoreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?8016-BRS-Pukani-leaching-Phosphates">http://www.chicagoreefs.com/forums/showthread.php?8016-BRS-Pukani-leaching-Phosphates</a>[/QUOTE]

Agreed with the leaching. I am in the process now of curing some Pukani in a trash can.

I checked the phosphates yesterday and they were at 0.4, only after a few hours of adding salt water to the can.

After all the reading of the RC article, I am dosing Lanthanum Chloride (PhosFree) in the holding tank to bring the phosphates down. I will check again tonight to see what the readings are, but as soon as I put the LC into the holding tank, it clouded up to a milky white and could watch the precipitate drop to the bottom.

 

[jj ocean]

I just setup 6 large base rock structures for my new tank. It will be the foundation for live rock coming out of my current DT. Probably about 220 pounds of base rock in total. 100 lbs macro rock, 100 lbs brs eco saver rock and 20 lbs natural pukani rock that was dried out and cured. I used the basf 400 mortar and acrylic rods. To be honest, I don't think I could see doing it with zip ties. I used zip ties to temporarily hold in place a couple tricky overhangs while I cemented, but they were in spots you'd see them if left permanently. Not sure how they'd hold up long term either.

I also anticipated using a lot more rod than I actually ended up using. The problem was that the macro and brs rock split a lot while drilling holes for the rod. Unless there was already a somewhat natural hole where I wanted to mount the rod or I was going through the center, those were the only spots I could reliably drill. The pukani was really the only rock that was stable enough to drill consistently - mainly due to its density.

If I was to do it again, I'd probably just use the mortar. Be warned the mortar sets REALLY quick. Need to use it within 15-20 minutes. Holds a lot stronger than I imagined.

Best of luck with your new aquascape!

 

[frankenbakon]

What kind of bit are you using to drill? I couldn't get any I have to do didley to my rocks


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[jj ocean]

Masonry bits. Drill with flowing water to cool (or underwater depending on size/shape of rock). Not a quick process either way. If you have a hammer drill that will speed the process.

 

[jef4y]

If you're using dry rock outside the tank, the Marcorocks Mortar is ABSOLUTELY the way to go in my opinion. It is the strongest thing I've used, and the rocks STAY PUT.

Outside of that I've used fiberglass rods from

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

FrankenBakon;837685 wrote: What kind of bit are you using to drill? I couldn't get any I have to do didley to my rocks


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You have to use a masonry bit and a hammer drill helps.

 

[frankenbakon]

Thanks!.. Now I need to look up what a hammer drill is and then maybe I'll just look into some mortar lol
Sorry to hijack


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