Zip Ties

[ezdive]

Hey Guys,
With my new system, I have been using zip ties on the aquascaping to get the right look. I wanted to know if anyone out there is doing the same thing and mainly if they wear out and break. I am worried that this may happen after some time in the saltwater. I was thinking of buying a boatload of the aquasticks and start puttying them all together.

Thought?

 

[mrx66699]

take a look at my rock work in my 540 ....0 ties or rods or anything glued ....or come by and see it and I can help you with a few tips if you like.......the zip tie plastic will eventually harden and get brittle ...now that's no guarantee they will break but they will eventually harden ....even out of water they will harden when around the DT over time...

<a href=http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/mrx66699/?action=view&current=VIDEO0057_zpsb00b5af0.mp4 target=_blank><img src=http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid17.photobucket.com/albums/b70/mrx66699/VIDEO0057_zpsb00b5af0.mp4 border=0 alt=></a>

 

[S13<3]

ive used ALOT of zipties in my life and like 98% of them are made in china and are of very poor quality, like mrx said they will get brittle no matter what, ive had plenty of brand new ones break and some not even zip up. i would not trust them to hold my rock structure

My .02

 

[mpfeiffer1]

I even have arches. No zip-ties. Eventually the calcium and coraline algae seals the rock together anyway. I do like porous live rock that helps. The last thing you want is a big rock falling in your tank. Game over.

 

[ezdive]

Thanks Gents for the feedback. What I think I am hearing is that I am far better off using putty to get everything fit together. mrx66699, do you have any pics of what you have done?

Thanks again. Got some work ahead of me.

 

[nivram]

I used fiberglass rods for my rocks. If I were using zip ties. I'd use it to hold rock work together and then mortar them together.

 

[betamed]

I use acylic rods. they are cheap and strong if you don't mind drilling the rock

 

[mrx66699]

mrx66699, do you have any pics of what you have done?

Thanks again. Got some work ahead of me.

sure here you go, couple slight changes since this but 99% same .......

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[ezdive]

Thank you. Lots of help. I have already used some aipties in my tank and they are looking a littel beat up already. I think that I will use some putty to reinforce the joints and hopefully hold everything together. I am looking to have branches of tonga rock reaching over the far side of the aquarium and help together only by the putty and zip ties which is what sparked this whole conversation. I have to make sure to be liberal with the putty.

Thanks for the input again. This has been helpful.

 

[blackthunda77]

If you do use them use the black ones as they are more UV resistant.

 

[ezdive]

good tip. And they probably hide in the rockwork better. Will do. Thanks.