I used two methods for attaching rock around the PVC and shelves. The first is to simply super glue the rock to the PVC and to other pieces of live rock by using reef glues and accelerator. The second is to drill a three-eighths-inch hole in the back of the live rock with a 3/8-inch masonry drill bit and glue in a short length of three-eighths-inch nylon threaded bolt. Here’s a little bit about each technique.
Super Gluing
When I first began to attach the rock to the PVC, I tried to bolt everything to the PVC. I soon found out that this involved so much time that it would probably take days to complete one frame with all of the rock bolted on only. So I started attaching more and more rock using Super Glue with the accelerator. This stuff sets up almost instantly and will hold even a relatively large piece securely against the frame. Once started, you can glue live rock to other pieces of live rock, making a kind of lattice. However, you should try to keep at least one glue point on the PVC. By the time I was working on the fourth frame, I rarely bolted rock to the PVC. But you will still need to use the threaded-bolt technique for some heavier pieces.
Bolting the rock to the PVC
Plan where you will put the live rock on the PVC. You may want to make a pencil mark on the spot. Drill a hole in the live rock with a masonry bit at the right spot. Using accelerator, super glue a short length (1 to 2 inches) of three-eighths-inch nylon threaded rod into the hole. This should set up quickly.
Hold the rock with threaded bolt next to the frame at the spot where you want to attach it, and mark the spot with a pencil. Using your variable speed drill, drill a “slightly larger than three-eighths-inch hole” into the PVC. Super glue the threaded bolt to the PVC at the point it meets the bolt.
Remember that the more frames you make, the better you’ll get at attaching the rock to them. After a few frames, you will feel quite comfortable. Remember not to get hung up on thinking and planning where each piece is going to go. Putting the rock on the frames is easily the most tedious and demanding of any of the steps. Movement and speed are more important than planning. Somehow it all comes together and looks great in the end, if you just keep gluing and bolting.
Every hour or so, take a break and pour small amounts of water on the pieces of live rock still laying about on the towels on the floor to keep them moist. Resist the urge to rescue amphipods and little starfish from the towels; you don’t have time.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you work. Try to keep thicker, heavier pieces toward the bottom of the frame. You should save lighter and thinner pieces for coverage toward the top. As you go along, you will begin to highly prize very thin, broad, light pieces of coral and live rock. Try to start at the bottom and work up when possible. I found myself just kind of working all over the place, like a jigsaw puzzle. From time to time, step back and look at the frame from the angle that it will be viewed. Just keep filling and gluing until there is no more PVC visible.
The key is keep moving and not to spend too much time planning. Everything will end up dandy if you just stay in motion. Fill little gaps at the end with your small rubble pieces of live rock.