Should all rocks get glued

[an411]

My rock is coming in tomorrow and I want to start aquascaping and I think that I am going to make a complete wall toward the back of my tank. Is there any so's or don't that anyone can recommend?

The other question is do all the rocks have to be glued together when forming a wall?

Also correct me if I am wrong but none of the rock should be touching the glass?

There is also sand in there already I was planning on just moving a little of the sand this should be fine?

 

[Avi]

What you do with the rock is largely up to you and your taste. You can....and I do have a lot of rock going right up to the back wall of the tank. But, I would suggest that you have a very high amount of good quality water-flow if you should chose to do that, so that the water movement in the tank reaches behind the rockwork.

You don't have to glue the rock together. But, make sure that you have some larger pieces that will serve as the base and will stabilize your overall rock-work. Just placing smaller pieces of rock on top of each other will ultimately lead to some falling down and a disruption of your plan. If you do decide to use something to hold the rocks together, I'd suggest using an epoxy that is made for reefs or you can use Aquamend Epoxy that's available at Home Depot and probably other similar places. Using some of that between the rocks will prevent movement once it's cured so it can come in very handy of some if the rock you want to use won't "fit" on the other rock onto which you want to place it, and you want to be sure it doesn't shift.

As for the sand, there's no problem at all in "moving" it.

 

[reeffreak1]

If you use epoxy, how hard is it to take it apart if you need to re-scape the tank?

I assume as well that the rock against the glass is just a myth?

 

[Jalgar]

I didn't use any epoxy on my rock. I just made sure the pieces fit together tightly. It is pretty easy to do with the rock.

Also, I have had no problems with the rock touching the glass.

 

[an411]

Yeah that is another thing I was wondering reeffreak1. I dont want to be stuck with whatever I caome up with at first and not be able to change it if its glued

 

[reeffreak1]

I would almost think that drilling pits in the rock, and using PVC pipe as connectors would work best...even provides more surface area on the rock...

 

[an411]

Yeah I have heard of that method being used. I am going to at first try and set them up with out anything and see how everything fits together maybe I will get lucky and all my rocks will fit together like a puzzle LOL highly doubtful but you never know. I think with the epoxy that since the rock is kinda brittle that you will be able to break the rocks apart with minimal effort by twisting a little. Correct me if I am wrong my fellow reefers.

 

[Avi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10410268#post10410268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeffreak1
If you use epoxy, how hard is it to take it apart if you need to re-scape the tank?..... I think with the epoxy that since the rock is kinda brittle that you will be able to break the rocks apart with minimal effort by twisting a little. Correct me if I am wrong my fellow reefers.

There are different ways of using epoxy but I think that primarily it's used for mounting coral frags or even big colonies onto rockwork, and also to maybe a lesser extent for making rockwork more stable.

If you want a surer, permanent bond, some crazy glue gel between the epoxy and the surface onto which it is mounted will provide that. But, if all you want is to make a more stable bond between pieces of live rock, the glue gel isn't necessary or even preferable. So, if you just use the epoxy, while it does provide solidity to where the rocks meet and sit on one another, it is easily undone.

 

[reeffreak1]

So the epoxy is really more of a reinforcer than an adhesive?

 

[meco65]

I myself drilled holes in my rock and used CPVC pipe to join the rocks togther and if I need to take the rocks apart it is easy to do.

 

[reeffreak1]

Does drilling the rock actually provide more surface area filtration?

 

[Avi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10411822#post10411822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeffreak1
So the epoxy is really more of a reinforcer than an adhesive?

The epoxy will serve as an adhesive but it isn't an absolute bond. The seal it makes can be broken fairly easily with some twisting of the surfaces or using a screwdriver or nail remover to shimmy the epoxy off of what it's connected to.

Drilling and using reef-safe rods is a good way, too I'd guess but don't count on the drilling getting you more efficient filtration.

 

[reeffreak1]

Well, not so much more efficient filtration...just a little more surface area for the bacteria to come in contact with the water.

I think with the way that I want to build my rock formations, I would almost have to use the PVC and epoxy together in order to hold the shelf up.

 

[an411]

reeffreak1 what size pvc you planing on using