Show me your Pillar's - Page 7

chkra_hp · #**151** 08/05/2007, 01:23 AM

to attach medium to large size rocks what acrylic rod should i buy? 1/2" or 3/8" or even 1" rod?

Also let say i pick to use 1/2" diameter rod should i use 1/2" masonary drill bit or should i use 3/8" drill bit and force the rod into the hole of therock for tight fit?

how thick should my acrylic base need to be?

stevedola · #**152** 08/05/2007, 10:11 AM

3/8" should be fine. I used 1/4" (i believe). I used the same size bit and snugged it in there...if i need more room i would bore out the hole alittle more.

Dont make the base too big. just enough to ancore it down (no bigger than the size of the rock). remember that it will be burried in the sand and not seen but moving it around in the tank wont be easy if the base is huge.

stevedola · #**153** 08/05/2007, 10:12 AM

o you said thickness... I used 3/8" and it fit nicely. alittle glueor silicone will help keep it in place.

chkra_hp · #**154** 08/05/2007, 11:09 AM

wait so for the acrylic rod 3/8 is fine for large rock also? and whatever size of the acrylic rod i use the same size for drill bit? so 3/8" for drill bit also?

About the thickness of the acrylic base i also can use 3/8" thick base with silicone? the thicker the base the better?

Do i have to worry about the sand and dead things get stuck at the bottom of the base?

chkra_hp · #**155** 08/11/2007, 01:06 AM

bump

chkra_hp · #**156** 08/11/2007, 01:07 AM

bump

stevedola · #**157** 08/11/2007, 08:39 AM

Do i have to worry about the sand and dead things get stuck at the bottom of the base?

not really sure what you mean- I placed the sand on top of the base and it poses no problems for me.

I used the same size bit as the rod diam. If it was alittle tight then Id just bore it out by wiggling the bit back and forth...I didnt want a loose fit by going up a bit size.

If you want to pay the extra money for a thicker base, then go ahead- I didnt see a point in it. Once you get the rock stacked with the rods inplace, the structure isnt going anywhere. I just locked the rods in place in the base with alittle silicone I had.

stevedola · #**158** 08/11/2007, 08:41 AM

you cant see the holes in the base but you get the idea-

finished product

stevedola · #**159** 08/11/2007, 08:42 AM

btw, i ended trimming the acrylic base so it wasnt so big.

mcrist · #**160** 08/11/2007, 08:44 AM

Nice pieces of rock...

Shouse94 · #**161** 09/23/2007, 09:05 AM

-Warning to those with TBS rock-

I was out drilling my TBS rock last night and to put it quite simply,
it's a B*TCH! I don't wth it's made out of but that's some tough stuff.
I have some very high power tools and bits and it's not easy. Just thought i'd offer a warning

erics3000 · #**162** 09/23/2007, 01:51 PM

What are tbs rocks?

Purple Haze · #**163** 09/23/2007, 05:28 PM

"Tampa Bay Saltwater" if i'm not mistaken.

In a few weeks i'll post some pictures of my medium-sized cube. 90 percent of the rock work consists of pillars.

skatezen · #**164** 09/24/2007, 10:45 AM

If I'm not mistaken TBS rock is aquacultured and made mostly of a cement like substance. Not very porous, rather dense and heavy.

GreshamH · #**165** 09/24/2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skatezen
If I'm not mistaken TBS rock is aquacultured and made mostly of a cement like substance. Not very porous, rather dense and heavy.

TBS is mine sourced rock and dumped into the ocean years ago IIRC.

orchidsnfish · #**166** 09/24/2007, 12:43 PM

That is one nice pillar! Looks like reef ceramics. I like it.

Here are my pillars...

When I first set the tank up

And now...

Reefski's · #**167** 09/24/2007, 06:03 PM

i will tell you what i don't like about the man made rock. sure it developes bacteria in a few weeks to process ammonia but the surface doesn't have the rich diversity of life that real live rock has. it is much more prone to algae growth with no competitors on the rock. most people don't give it months in their tanks to develop before adding livestock.

Reefski's · #**168** 09/24/2007, 06:04 PM

i will tell you what i don't like about the man made rock or dry rock for that matter. sure it develops bacteria in a few weeks to process ammonia but the surface doesn't have the rich diversity of life that real live rock has. it is much more prone to algae growth with no competitors on the rock. most people don't give it months in their tanks to develop before adding livestock.

Carl

SDguy · #**169** 11/24/2007, 10:53 AM

We filmed rock drilling/pillar formation demos at our last club meeting. Hope these are useful!!

Thanks Coral Diver for filming and editing!

Part 1:

Part 2:

laserjim · #**170** 11/24/2007, 11:15 AM

Do you know what to use to heat the rod so you could bend it to maybe have a curved pillar. Maybe curve 2 of them and slide them together to make a arch.I was then thinking of putting red and blue mushrooms over the entire arch. Pretty cool.

Thanks, nice video.

SDguy · #**171** 11/24/2007, 12:00 PM

Not sure how you would drill a curved hole through the rock though....

laserjim · #**172** 11/24/2007, 12:08 PM

You would have to use smaller rocks and not make the curve of the rod to drastic. I might try a heat gun to bend the rod. Something to think about anyway.

SDguy · #**173** 11/24/2007, 12:14 PM

Well, actually, the rod can bend to that extent on it's own, depending on span length you are talking about...

gjh289 · #**174** 11/27/2007, 07:25 AM

Lots of great ideas. Keep them comming.

stevedola · #**175** 11/27/2007, 09:08 AM

ty orchid. Its starting to look good in the tank too. fish and shrimp like the arch way alot. Your tank is really starting to take shape...nice color.