nylon rods and marco rock

[Editour2]

Spoke with you at Friday's meeting regarding construction of the rock using pvc as a base and nylon rods for connecting the rock, (I appologize since I again forgot you're name). You mentioned that you might have additional nylon rods for sale and that you would post how you constructed the base. Would appreciate the info.
Frank

 

[dougwilliams]

I heard part of that conversation - I know Chuck (aka eboonaman) was saying he did that ...

 

[pyro383]

OK, I was going to wait till I had finished the last bit of construction before posting the build thread, but here are a few pics regarding the rock.

First I picked up acyrlic rod from usplastics, it was the 3/8" size
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=21315&product_id=18413

next I laid out the rock

next I took 2" -4" pvc pipe and cut lengths from 1" - 4".

 

[pyro383]

Next I started to place the rock on top of the pvc pieces. The idea with the pvc was 1) support the rock from being undermined by the yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp and 2) not waste rocked being buried behind other rock or in the sand.

Next I took the rod and cut it with my pvc pipe cutter and placed it into the holes of the very porous rock. If I needed a hole I used a masonry drill bit.

 

[Justjoe]

AGWAY should have fiberglass rods for the electric fences that would work well, I use fiberglass rods in the reef tank here at AMW. It would be worth calling them first to make sure they have it.
Joe

 

[LI_JoeC]

One suggestion, I did the same thing in my tank. You may want to cut four 3/4" x 3/4" slots in each base ring. One on each 90 degree of the ring. You will get good circulation without any dead spots.

Joe C

 

[eboonaman]

Eric, Nice Job!! What size tank is that? it looks nice and wide.

Frank, You were talking to Eric... I (chuck) was the one who kept butting in....

 

[Spracklcat]

Also if you have trouble finding the acrylic rods, the rods that you use to open and close venetian blinds (they are clear and about 1/2" diameter) work well and can be found at any place that has blinds--they are sold as replacement rods.

Christine

 

[eboonaman]

but since I'm known for butting in .. I did the same thing with the PVC, ( The acrylic rod is a excellent Idea, but I didn't think of that)
this is a picture of my tank (55 gal) with the pvc about 7 mo. old the pvc that is exposed above the sand is starting to get encrusted with coraline algae.

 

[Spracklcat]

Hey Chuck that looks great!