diy rock half way there

[sunkool]

well I have been working on my rocks for my upcoming project and I think I'm about halway there.

 

[sunkool]

anyone know how much dry weight rock per gallon? I would assume from 3/4 to 1&1/2lbs per gallon should be good.

 

[BankerJohn]

Great looking rock! I made my rock homemade too. It will take a while for the rock to cover with algae and corraline, but once it does, one can barely tell that it is homemade.

You know by now that the rock is lighter and less dense. This means that there is more surface area and spaces, nooks & crannies for beneficial organisms to live and breed.

As for the amount of rock (weight) per gallon using homemade rock, I do not know a definitive answer. Because of the porosity of the homemade rock and extra surface area, less weight is needed than normal but how much is a crap shoot. I would personally rock scape the tank with what is appealing to the eye and add as much rock as you are comforable with, considering the livestock (both fish and corals) that you intend to keep.

I hope you will host a club meeting soon. I'd be happy to donate sand to seed your sand bed along with crushing a rock I have made to help seed the tank with corraline along with the needed bacteria for the nitrogen process in the tank.

Banker John

 

[sunkool]

thanks for the offer. I have a 125g set up for the past 2 years and is well seeded with rock and sand. this new rock is for a new tank I am setting up. 96x36x30 it will be a predator tank no coral. It will be another 3 months before I even get the tank. I hope to have it up and running and stocked by christmas.

 

[reefrubble]

Sunkool , your rock is looking awesome . By the time it's cured , your tank will be here . I'm going to start making the sections for my back wall soon . Ted

 

[sunkool]

need help? I'm free most days. i'm working midnights this month.

 

[sunkool]

I just ran the tracking number for my lights they will be here by noon tomorrow.

 

[reefrubble]

Thanks sunkool , I may take you up on the offer . The two 250 watt Ice Caps , I traded my 400s for will be here tomorrow also .

I will have to make three sections , if I make them outside of the tank . Ted

 

[adnup]

Sunkool - I see the rock is on your boat. Are you planning on curing it in the gulf?

 

[sunkool]

no my boat has not left the driveway in awile. I just put it up there to dry. I plan on letting it dry for about 30 days then soak for 30, then test.
Got my lights today. I will hook them up on friday morning. Can't wait.

 

[reefrubble]

sunkool , Be sure to take pics . Ted

 

[sunkool]

of what? installing the lights?

 

[sunkool]

I'm thinking of doing them on a new board with the balasts on top like I saw someone do in the diy section. then the board would slide into the canopy. how high off the water should the bulbs be? I'm thinking about 6 to 8 inches.

 

[reefrubble]

That sounds good ,and 6" would be good also . Some people put them closer to the water , but I don't think that's wise . Ted