To Drill or not to Drill

[Deezill]

R2R,
I hope everyone is having a swell reefing day. My question is when should I drill my rock to insert the acrylic rods for aquascaping before or after curing? I don't want to risk having rock out of the water too long while drilling but I could be wrong please shed light. Thanks.

 

[Modest]

What risks do you see when having rock out of the water too long while curing has still to be done?

 

[Deezill]

After the curing is done I should have been more clear and elaborated on that. So drill before or after cure
before hand, there should be no risk. I have never drilled rock so I wanted the advice of the community

 

[HCl+NaHO=]

After the curing is done I should have been more clear and elaborated on that. So drill before or after cure
before hand, there should be no risk. I have never drilled rock so I wanted the advice of the community

What kind of rock do you have?

Some is very porous and drills easy

Some is harder than concrete

 

[Deezill]

BRS reef saver

 

[lavoisier]

It won't really matter if you do it before or after your cure. Probably easier if you do it after your cure so you can begin to Aquascape as you drill.

 

[Deezill]

Ok thanks

 

[jd371]

When they ship live rock it's wrapped in a wet newspaper to keep it from drying out. If you're worried you can do the same, but I don't think you need to.

 

[Johnnybananas]

I’d do it before just in case it takes longer then you think that way there is no worry about losing any bacteria

 

[Deezill]

@Johnnybananas thats what I was worried about bacteria dying off.
I don’t know how long the rock can stay out of water without die off

 

[Steve_Skullsplitter0]

R2R,
I hope everyone is having a swell reefing day. My question is when should I drill my rock to insert the acrylic rods for aquascaping before or after curing? I don't want to risk having rock out of the water too long while drilling but I could be wrong please shed light. Thanks.

I take mature pieces out and drill them only takes 5 or 10 mins. In low tide alot of rock and corals are exposed in ocean for hours. I say do it.even have feather dusters, zoas, shrooms on it they act like no big deal after couple mins.

 

[Deezill]

I take mature pieces out and drill them only takes 5 or 10 mins. In low tide alot of rock and corals are exposed in ocean for hours. I say do it.even have feather dusters, zoas, shrooms on it they act like no big deal after couple mins.

Thank you very much now that makees really good sense.

 

[mrjoev]

I have yet to start drilling my rock. enough for a 210 and 150 gal. I read some place that if you start with a stepper drill bit then your main long hole bit you can control the location of the hole more accurately

 

[Deezill]

I have yet to start drilling my rock. enough for a 210 and 150 gal. I read some place that if you start with a stepper drill bit then your main long hole bit you can control the location of the hole more accurately

I just googled that bit and I am going to use it I will also be using driveway markers instead of the acrylic rods BRS sells.
I hear they are stronger anyways.

 

[TheHarold]

@Johnnybananas thats what I was worried about bacteria dying off.
I don’t know how long the rock can stay out of water without die off

Hours and hours in a reasonable temperature, assuming we are talking about the majority of bacteria. If anything get a spray bottle of salt water and give it a squirt every now and then so it doesn't dry out.

 

[MikeWatts]

The bacteria should be fine. I have heard keep it moist and it can live for 24hrs. Might be broscience

 

[Deezill]

The bacteria should be fine. I have heard keep it moist and it can live for 24hrs. Might be broscience

I will keep a spray bottle and spray while drilling. I will definitely keep it moist.

 

[Tjm23slo]

Is it easier to drill through wet rock or dry rock or really the same?i have some new caribsea liferock. It’s taking time to grind through the dry rock. I hear people say 5 minutes, I’m thinking for a single joke?

 

[Deezill]

Is it easier to drill through wet rock or dry rock or really the same?i have some new caribsea liferock. It’s taking time to grind through the dry rock. I hear people say 5 minutes, I’m thinking for a single joke?

I have never drilled so it will be quite the experience