DIY Real Rock (not Aragocrete)

one thing to keep in mind is that florida's second biggest export is phosphates for soaps, etc. they mine it from the calcerous rock in south florida. keep a test kit handy.
 
They've been a lot of things in their history (including an RC plane place). The lapidary sign is still out front, but they have a nursery out back.

Lapidary is more geodes and stuff like that. (at least the ones I've been to)

I'm in Kansas, so the whole freaking state is ancient seabed. Just avoid the yellow limestone. You would have a massive diatom outbreak with it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7051566#post7051566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by douggiestyle
the phosphate is not from fossil reefs.
Click to expand...

perhaps not, but there's a phosphate mine just off I-95 near miami and I've seen the pile of reefrock next to the emerald green phosphate lake, so I assumed it was being pulled from the rock. florida's historic water flow was/is from the north down to the everglades and out to the florida straights/bay, making all the rock suspect IMO. I've always recommended a freshwater soak of a month or two with water changes to leach it back out.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7054142#post7054142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
I've always recommended a freshwater soak of a month or two with water changes to leach it back out.
Click to expand...

Mine is going to be a week with bleach and then a few months with RODI and salt. I plan to test for silicates and phosphates the whole time. I'll keep this thread updated with the test results so we can evaluate these theories.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7054142#post7054142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
perhaps not, but there's a phosphate mine just off I-95 near miami and I've seen the pile of reefrock next to the emerald green phosphate lake, so I assumed it was being pulled from the rock. florida's historic water flow was/is from the north down to the everglades and out to the florida straights/bay, making all the rock suspect IMO. I've always recommended a freshwater soak of a month or two with water changes to leach it back out.
Click to expand...

I only meant that the phosphate deposits are not "in" the rock.
You are correct in your observation and it is detailed in the above link.
 
what about aging the rock in the ocean? i for one do not have this luxery. but i know if i was near the shore i would be putting the rock in a mesh bag and hanging it from a dock or something.
 
from what i know, that's one of the benefits of placing it in the ocean for a couple of years. almost all of it is leached back out by then.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7054507#post7054507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RicksReefs
from what i know, that's one of the benefits of placing it in the ocean for a couple of years. almost all of it is leached back out by then.
Click to expand...

I actually like starting with base rock rather than live. There has never been an ich outbreak in my tank; everything always spends 4 weeks in QT; there are no redbugs or gorilla crabs...You get my point. The system is clean and I don't have to sweat any pests. If I introduced cured live rock I would have to keep my eyes pealed for nasties.
 
This week's update

This week's update

The dog and I stepped up our gathering efforts this week since I'll be out of town next week. I'm up to 202 pounds of Florida lacey rock now. I'm quickly closing in on my goal of 300 pounds.

Bucket Full O' Rock
bucket.jpg


30 Pounds This Week (yes I tared the scale with the bucket)
scale.jpg


Shapes of Individual Rocks
pieces.jpg


Front of Reef Structure
front.jpg


Top of Reef Structure
top.jpg


I think I'm done getting smaller rocks now. I need another 100 pounds of larger rock and I'll be all set.
 
Base Rock

Base Rock

Hey would really like to buy some of the rock if you would send me a price and shipping to 61554
thanks Dave
 
not to hijack the thread, but can you use the "texas holey rock"kind of limestone in a reef tank?

I have a fairly large amount of it, I have it in my african cichlid setup as well as my planted tank (the stuff in the planted tank has been underwater for at least 2 years, so it really doesn't drive the PH up anymore)

thanks
 
I can just tell you what has been told to me by several different people. Most limestone in the midwest is ancient coral. Stick with the white stuff and clean thoroughly.

Personally I have had great results from stuff originating in Texas and Arkansas.
 
You wont need to cook the rock if your bleaching boiling etc etc. Cooking the rock wont do anything comparecd to what your already putting it through lol. The only thing I would do is cure it for awhile and test the water to be sure your not getting anything from them. Are you planning on getting some nice precured LR of any kind to help kickstart your system and all this dead rock?
 
This is all super dead (bleach, vinegar, multiple boils) but I'm going to seed it with LR from our 55. Our current system has been totally hitchhiker free for 8 months so there is practically no chance of introducing nasties into the next tank.
 
i see a problem with avalanches, all those rocks look pretty small and you have to pile them together like that. im just wondering how good it will hold up. or you could buy 50 pounds of epoxy. lol
 
Hehe. I've got large rocks too. These will be for filling in gaps between larger rocks, pod piles, and frags. I prefer fiberglass rod to epoxy for rock work. That worked like a champ in my current tank.
 
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