plastic rods for building aquascape?

My aquascape is going to be over 3 feet tall so I'm concerned about the impact that an accidental rockfall would have. I would rather not epoxy the rock together just in case I ever need to change things around or remove rock to get at a nasty hitchhiker. I like the idea of using acylic or plastic rods to stabablize the rock work and I have a long 1/2" masonary bit to drill the rock.

Can anyone suggest a good product and source to use for my dowels? I looked a bit at 1/2" acrylic rods but these are more than $1.25/ft. PVC pipe would be a lot cheaper but as far as I know the smallest size is 1/2" i.d. and that translates to over 3/4" outside diameter. I'm worried about turning my live rock into gravel if I try to drill holes that big through it.

 

nylon rod is pretty cheap.

Quadrant Nylon 101 and Nylatron® GS Rod - US Plastic Corporation

They have various sizes. 1/2" is $1.02/ft but you probably wouldn't even need it that large.

edit: They also have acrylic tubing that is even cheaper. It is hollow though I am not sure whether that would be desirable or not. 1/2" OD is $.48/ft with 1/4" wall thickness. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=21315&product_id=11231

 

Acrylic Rods?

Try: MarcosRocks.com

 

This place has acrylic rods and the more you buy the bigger the discount,it's where I get my acrylic tubes.
eStreetPlastics - plexiglass store

 

Aquascape supplies - Fasteners

 

If you have a farm supply store,they should have fiberglass poles for electric fencing.They will not break down or break in water.They come in various diameters and are about 5 feet long.And best thing they cost me about 3 dollars total canadian each.

 

You da Man! 4' ROD POST FIBERGLASS - Agri Supply= 4 foot long 3/8" diameter for $1.69 US. This is what I was looking for. K+++

 

Yup those are them,i used 3/8th. inch diameter and have a 15 pound rock mounted vertical and leaning.Been in the tank a year and a half,looks like the day i cut it.

 

I went to walmart and bought plastic clothes hangers. One thing to remember when building that high, is to use a large pad for the rocks to set on. If you just have points of rock or tips of a plastic rod holding the weight of the rock, it puts pressure points on the bottom glass.

 

How about PVC..?? If worried about flow.. Drill holes in it..
If you want it solid.. fill with sand and cap it..

Good Luck, Larry