Keeping your aquascape together

How do you hold your rocks together?

  • Friction / Gravity

    Votes: 368 69.0%
  • Super glue / Epoxy

    Votes: 153 28.7%
  • Drill and post

    Votes: 40 7.5%
  • Mortar (ie: Marcos)

    Votes: 46 8.6%
  • Other

    Votes: 13 2.4%

  • Total voters
    533

Twodogsnnc

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What is your preferred method to hold everything safely in place... is gravity and friction enough for simple scapes?
 
Mostly in my large tanks I use gravity and large rock. For corals I will use the superglue or epoxy at times. In my smaller tanks I have used mostly gravity, but for one tank I used the Marco 400 stuff and it worked well. I may use it for my rebuild on the rocks that are not cooperating.
 
I used gravity only.

C319EB65-86DE-4028-8D03-1D0425D52980.jpeg
 
It depends on what you are trying to do and what livestock are going to be in your tank. A large over hang or archway might require some fiberglass rods. Smaller stuff you can use the putty and/or superglue or epoxy. Since my rock pieces are between 25 to 45 lbs, gravity is fine.
 
I used the marco cement on most of my rock work. Aquastik putty in a few spots, but that has failed in spots. I only use the aquastik or superglue for frags now.
 
Your so right Crabs. I sweat & worry how it will look . Iplace the 4 big pedestal rocks & just stack the rest turning & swapping until it's sturdy & take a look . Always come out fine to me !
 
All previous tanks I have used gravity and interlocked the rocks for friction. On my new build I used Nyos Reef Cement. It sets up in 2 minutes and worked very well. Just use small batches to work with!
 
It depends on the look I am going for and what I have to work with. If the pieces are large and interlock well together with minimal ability to shift then I will free stack them. If I am going for a more artistic or intricate design I will use a combination of hot glue, super glue, and epoxy putty to secure the rock together. I usually start with superglue to get the pieces to hold in the position just long enough to get the epoxy putty in place. Then I sometimes will come back over it with hot glue filling in the small holes and then across around the bond joint forming a clamp of sorts to help keep it all together.
 
The hard part for me is coral placement. Bunch of frags i guess won't look good till they grow.
 
I use mostly Nyos reef cement and super glue. I also use some epoxy.
My newest build will be trying Marco mortar.

Two different tank I have done.


20160501_100143_HDR_zpsy7dcdbup.jpg



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IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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