PVC aquascape build with pukani

[gotwake89]

I recently bought 20 lb of Pukani rock from BRS and am very satisfied with what arrived. I'm planning on using these rocks to build the first of two towers for my 75g reef tank. I'll be using the PVC stand method with 1/2 in. PVC and I'll be drilling the rock with a 7/8" masonry drill. I've labeled the rocks below so I can explain my plan and get feedback from you guys at RC. For size reference, piece A is just over 1 ft tall.

I'm planning on drilling straight up through the bottom of A as the base piece so it forms sort of an upside down pyramid shape when it's upright. Just above where I have labeled A the rock has a slight indent where I will be attaching B. B is sort of a layered shelf piece with two shelves at slightly different angles. I'll be drilling horizontally (at a slight upward angle) into the back of B where it will attach to A as well as a matching drill hole in A and then coupling the two pieces with a short piece of PVC. I haven't really decided on the other pieces yet of if they will become part of this tower or not. I think I'll determine that once I have A and B together and see how the height looks inside the tank.

Any advice or ideas before I begin the build are much appreciated!

 

[sirreal63]

My only real suggestion is to do an acid bath on that rock before you do anything else. It is known for having a lot of PO4 bound in it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1914426

 

[gotwake89]

Of course. I'm going to get everything drilled and glued first and then I'm going to let it all cure/cook before I put it in water

 

[gotwake89]

*before I put it in the tank water that is

 

[gotwake89]

So I decided not to wait for RC to respond since I was itching to get this built. Here's my progress so far:
I drilled rock A first, which went smoothly for the most part. My advice to anyone doing this for the first time is to go very slowly and push very gently with the drill, especially with pukani since it is so brittle. I then tested to make sure the pvc would hold the weight on it's own, and it does:

I then constructed the stand following a pattern similar to one I saw on another thread:

and with rock A on it:

next I drilled rock B at a slight angle so that it would sit freely in a second hole drilled in rock A:

Finally, inserting B into A and cutting the pvc plug to the proper length:

I have to say I'm very happy with how this turned out since this is my first time doing this. After the rock has had it's acid bath and has cured I'll epoxy it all together and fill in the small gaps. I'm also planning on drilling a few holes in the tops of the two shelves on rock B for frag plugs. Anyone know the standard size the plugs are?

 

[gotwake89]

No one knows what the standard size for coral plugs are?

 

[gotwake89]

Bought some muriatic acid and mixed it with water in a 10:1 solution with the rocks in a plastic bin. All I can say is I'm very glad I didn't do this inside because it reacted violently:

This was only in the first 30 seconds. The foam got to be 2ft higher and about 2ft surrounding the bin. Hopefully the acid didn't damage the balcony too badly. A ton of crap came off the rocks though and even more after thoroughly washing them in fresh water (which I probably should have done once before the acid bath). Now they are cooking in the bin with freshwater and a powerhead and a heater until the phosphates are at an acceptable level.

 

[sirreal63]

I did the same the first time I did an acid bath so don't feel bad, it happens. Don't be afraid of doing a second acid bath, some of my rock has been through 4 and all of it at least three times.

 

[gotwake89]

I think I probably will do it again. Next time probably out in the woods or something though

 

[sirreal63]

Use a bigger tote or a trashcan.