DIY Real Rock (not Aragocrete)
- Thread starter ChemE
- Start date
itstheantitang
New member
I used rocks out of a lake for my tank---bad Idea!!!!!
They must have been leaching phosphates, cuz I had cyano non-stop for 5 months. I guess they are out of phosphates
Back to the thread: A pressure washer does get a LOT of crud off- I used it on all the rocks-except lr- that has gone in the tank. It will remove any tough green mildewy funk you find on those "soiled" rocks!
They must have been leaching phosphates, cuz I had cyano non-stop for 5 months. I guess they are out of phosphates
Back to the thread: A pressure washer does get a LOT of crud off- I used it on all the rocks-except lr- that has gone in the tank. It will remove any tough green mildewy funk you find on those "soiled" rocks!
sales weasel
New member
I have 65lbs of reeferocks in a 55g. They look like the same stuff that ChemE is getting. They're full of holes and actually pretty light. My 65lbs consists of 21 rocks. They're great!
REEFKEEPA
New member
Hey Chem E I checked on E-bay and found some sweet uncured Hatian rock for about 2.25 lb.
FREE SHIPPING. It might be cheaper for me than taking a road trip.
If you want to come to Jazz fest, we can let you stay in our FEMA trailer. LOL.
Just kidding. There are plenty of hotel rooms in the city.
FREE SHIPPING. It might be cheaper for me than taking a road trip.
If you want to come to Jazz fest, we can let you stay in our FEMA trailer. LOL.
Just kidding. There are plenty of hotel rooms in the city.
newreef8584
New member
Recently did a lot of research into dead reef rock and its curing process. What you are planning is more then enough. I found that with the liberal use of my power washer out in the driveway then a minimum 20 minute boil in my big outdoor corn pot and a couple of days in the sun the rock came out squeeky and has been in my tank for over 8 months and is well encrusted with coralline. Even the new stuff that has only been in for about 2 months is starting to get a few purple spots.
Now the stuff I used was from an arts and craft place that went out of business so may have been exposed to cleaners and glues and such so probably no pesticides though as yours may have been.
But I would have to say that the bleach would get rid of just about anything though.
Just FYI, if you are going to a car wash beware. As I my family used to own a coin wash I can tell you first hand how much oil is used to lubricate the inner workings of those pumps. And if you are going to use a store bought pressure washer just make sure it has got a couple of hours of use on it as they to are quite heavily oiled to prevent the parts from corrodeing during shipping. So my aunt learned the hard way when she cleaned the liner of her new pond prior to filling it. Next day there was alot of dead Coy(spell check) floating out there.
Now the stuff I used was from an arts and craft place that went out of business so may have been exposed to cleaners and glues and such so probably no pesticides though as yours may have been.
But I would have to say that the bleach would get rid of just about anything though.
Just FYI, if you are going to a car wash beware. As I my family used to own a coin wash I can tell you first hand how much oil is used to lubricate the inner workings of those pumps. And if you are going to use a store bought pressure washer just make sure it has got a couple of hours of use on it as they to are quite heavily oiled to prevent the parts from corrodeing during shipping. So my aunt learned the hard way when she cleaned the liner of her new pond prior to filling it. Next day there was alot of dead Coy(spell check) floating out there.
itstheantitang
New member
Koi
Yeah, do the above and use no!!!! soap for any of it. I pressure washed and soaked my rocks in FW for a week and there was no problems.
BTW, you'll know if there is metal or rust on any of the rocks because it (in my case) will leave a small spot of oil type slick on the surface.
Yeah, do the above and use no!!!! soap for any of it. I pressure washed and soaked my rocks in FW for a week and there was no problems.
BTW, you'll know if there is metal or rust on any of the rocks because it (in my case) will leave a small spot of oil type slick on the surface.
Mr James
Premium Member
Chem E,what type of rock would you classify that as?? If I were to walk into a rock quarry or a yard that sells landscaping rock, what would I ask to see?? I used to live over near Ormond Beach and there was a lot of Cocquina Rock <spelling??>. Anyone know what this type of rock is that Chem E is collecting??
ChemE
New member
I don't know Mr James, it is definetely reef though. The test I use is to break off a little piece and drop it in white vinegar. If it goes totally away, its calcium carbonate (aka reef) and it appropriate to use in reef tanks. Maybe ask for calcium carbonate (which isn't a rock but a chemical compound).
ChemE
New member
Yup, I'm hip to that (as are most here on RC). That is the planned last step in my cleaning process. What rock cooking won't do is get rid of any pesticides the rocks may have been exposed to inland as others have pointed out. Thus all the preliminary steps (boiling, bleaching, etc).
Mr James
Premium Member
This is more exciting than the DIY calcium reactor AND 5g jug skimmer out together!! I went out at lunch and looked at a place that sells rock for landscaping and such. All they had was a few limestone pieces and some "sponge rock" as they called it; looked like red clay mixed with a bunch of other stuff. Reefer Rocks is going to get a call from me when the time comes.
brokentusk
New member
I personally buy my base rock at a local lapidary. I get white limestone for $.20 a pound. It's been in the tank since the start and my 3 year old agorapora is not only 3 times bigger than when I got it, there is also a spot where it has spawned onto the bought rock.
