PVC Pipe

[willist0]

Does anyone use short pieces of PVC pipe stuck in the sand to support live rock, and kind of keep it just ever so slightly above the sand? Seems like a good idea, is it?

 

[Jizu Puentes]

I wondered about that as well but it seems like water or detritus would get stuck in them since water couldn't flow through.

 

[bobman]

I wouldnt do it. I would think with it being round any sand sifters might make it shift causing a rock slide.

 

[willist0]

No, he pvc pipes sits up so the rock kind of sits in the hole, the rock would be in he way of anything trying to enter the pipe and the weight of the rock should keep it snugly in place.

 

[Duke4Life]

All structures have a piece of 1/2 inch cpvc running through middle, I do have an eel and the structures are nice and secure. This pic was about 5 months ago, also before sand which went in next. If I could have done over, add water last instead of sand.

 

[ss95003]

I don't see an issue doing it....I've done it to hold things just barely above the sand. Like brains, and plate corals.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

I did it. I am holding the rock on the left with a PVC base frame and a single PVC vertical pipe to hold the rock from falling. I can spin it if I want also.

 

[143MPCo]

Does anyone use short pieces of PVC pipe stuck in the sand to support live rock, and kind of keep it just ever so slightly above the sand? Seems like a good idea, is it?

You can but, run the risk of trapping sediment that you might not want...
some use clear acrylic rods but, are a bit too brittle for my taste, I prefer nylon thread rods like the ones below.

If you shop around you can find them being sold on amazon but, MarcoRocks sells them also... link-->here

 

[ss95003]

the amount of sediment that will settle will be nothing to worry about imo. you get settlement all over the place in tanks, it always finds a calm area to settle. be it in a rock, corner of sump...again we all have some somewhere. If it can settle there then you can suck it out with a hose, if you are that worried about it.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Lol. You guys are not thinking straight today.

As for the sediment, I capped off ALL opening of the PVC frame and vertical pipe with end caps that are glued together by Christy's Hot Blue Glue.

 

[143MPCo]

You guys

What's that suppose to mean?

 

[ReefMadScientist]

What's that suppose to mean?

I meant you can't trap sediment in the PVC if you close the PVC ports.

 

[Harold Green]

I've never supported my rock work but have to wonder about the point pressure on the glass from a vertical pvc pipe holding twenty or more pounds of rock. I would at least place an acrylic pad under the pipe to spread the pressure. If you drill holes in the pipe the water will be able to flow through preventing h2s gas from forming in a closed pipe.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

This is similar to what I did.

PVC Frame, close all openings with end caps and glue, single PVC going vertical from the center of the frame.

 

[Duke4Life]

I blocked off the tops of the cpvc in my setup with a mounting cap used for frags, 1 more easy placement of coral. Nothing gets in, simple and easy and no worries of a rock slide.

 

[Jizu Puentes]

Edit: nevermind haha