Anybody have experience on DIY rock?

[Deuce67]

I already read up on Garf.org and threads on the DIY forum. I just want to know if anybody here have experience on DIY live rock they can share. Recipe's, curing time, positives and negatives or anything they may share. I know that it takes a long time to cure DIY rock but that would not be a problem for me since the new tank wont be ready till around fall. TIA!

 

[normanviking]

Hey Russ. I have some in my tank that I made. I just followed GARF's instructions. Good luck. Oh I did the putting it in the toilet resvoir to flush out new water. I would like to make some more one day.

 

[Deuce67]

LOL! Unfortunately, I cant use my toilet since Nancy sometimes drop that blue tablet thing in there.

 

[calvin415]

Toilet Reservoir!? That's a great idea! Now I just need to get a toilet that can flush 60 gallons at a time.

 

[normanviking]

WHy 60?

 

[murfman]

Russ, check with Brian, Misfit6669, he made a bunch, when he lived here in the springs and added pasta shell noddles to it. I have one large, dense piece in my tank. It took about 9 months to cure as the pasta decomposes. He used water changes from his 55 in a big bucket with power head to cure it.

 

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191172#post9191172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by normanviking
WHy 60?

Because I'd need 60 gallons to cover all the rock I'd need to cure.

 

[normanviking]

LOL, I just did small pieces at a time. I think the better way to do it is to use tank water. Like Paul said. Paul I need to get you some frags still for the posphate reactor.

 

[reefkoi]

9 months to cure!?!? wow thats dedication, I think I'd rather hitchhike to the caribbean and haul my own rock back home in a wheel barrow. Or better yet go down to the LFS and buy some lace rock for a buck a pound. Unless its free to make or something?
Chris

 

[Darknes]

There are several benefits to making your own liverock, if you have the time to wait.

It's much cheaper than buying rock, especially if you need a lot of it. Also, you can make the rock into whatever configurations you want.

I saw one person that made a tank out of their own rock that would fit together like puzzle pieces. It ended up forming a back wall, with terraces that would stick out to place corals on. It was really neat. They also made it so that the rockwork would lay over a spraybar and some powerheads, making them invisible.

 

[Darknes]

Here's a thread from another forum with lots of recipies for making your own rock, and some really neat pictures:

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=172864&page=1&pp=50&highlight=diy+rock

 

[Deuce67]

Chris, it does take a long time for the rock to cure due to the Ph. DIY rock will have a Ph of around 11-14. I am not doing the pasta method. I have read that that can get really messy. I can get 100lbs of dry fiji rock for around $260. Thats not really that bad of a price. But since I have the time, Im going to attempt to make my own rock. There is just so many recipes out there that I am still trying to decide which is best.

 

[castorpollux]

I would talk to ki hong from key's island, he sells primarily diy rock and i swear just a 1-5% addition of that stuff will make your coralline go INSANE. He is usually more than happy to share his recipe, he doesn't work fridays so don't try tomorrow but sat or sun or when ever you should be fine. if you have the time I would recommend coming in and he will show you his coolers with aragonite that he uses to set his rock.

 

[reefkoi]

Russ, how will you mix the new man made stuff with what you already have? will you just build new random pieces or specifically build them to fit together? I think the amount of rock you have is more than enough, but then again I like to plan for the 5 year growth and leave plenty of open space, maybe you will plan on a bigger tank by then and its not a concern?

 

[murfman]

found this on GARF, Russ;

http://www.garf.org/news12p3.html#UPDATE

 

[Deuce67]

Chris, I am not going to use my existing rock. Ill have 2 tank set up for a while till the new one cycles. Ill seed the new one with a little bit of live rock with the man made rocks(if it does happen). Then Ill frag my existing corals and transfer them to the new tank.

 

[reefkoi]

I see then. I forgot you were going to keep the tank running while the new one is up. So what about lights? all new for the 150? all new filtration? pretty much a complete new setup?
Sorry to derail the thread I wont bug you about the setup anymore. I think as someone suggested before go see KI in denver and check out his molds and materials for making rock, thats what i would do.
Chris

 

[Deuce67]

Lights from the 90 will transfer to the 150. I dont need any lights to cycle the new tank do I? Ill prolly just slap some normal outputs on there till Im ready for the transfer. Ill be using the same skimmer I have.

 

[rekn]

i made some of this stuff for my tank in the keys, only took mine about 2 1/2 months. had to throw first batch out cause when i took it out of the back of the toilet, i guess theres metal in the water, the rock had rust on it. my toilet wasnt plumbed to recieve purified water =p just normal city stuff.

 

[BLUEMANDJ]

Why not look in to aqua-cultured rock. I have a 50 gal that is nothing but florida live rock. There are several large pieces in my 180. I have really liked the "free" corals that grow on it.

Enviromentally friendly, economical, and really cool.