DIY Rock questions

[jtesdall]

So as to not to hijack dascharisma's thread:

Can Covey or someone else summarize the DIY rock recipe and curing plan from the 40+ pages in the DIY rock thread? Might be too much to ask, I don't know. It seems like Covey has had really good luck with it so it might be worth trying.

Although, I know, I know, you get what you pay for .... ;0)

 

[Ball]

I made my own rocks that are going into my new tank. I used about a 1:1 ratio of solar salt to portland Type I cement. If anything, I used less salt then that. It seemed to work out better that way. They turned out well.

I cured them in a tank of freshwater with a huge amount of circulation. I changed water about every 2 days. It took about 3 months to go from 11+ pH to about 8.4 pH.

Here are a couple pics:

 

[Nykademus]

I made some and think it was probably the best money saving idea I have tried yet. You can hardly tell the difference anymore.

If I remember correctly, the mix was

1 part cement
3 parts sand
1 part crushed coral (or crushed oyster shells which can be found at livestock feed stores and is much cheaper)
1-2 parts water softner salt

I read about a lot of people using pasta in the mix to help create a porous type rock. I would highly recommend that you do NOT use pasta as its a pain to wait for it to disolve or spray out. Just use rock salt or water softner salt. You can break up the pellets if you like as well. They disolve out much easier over the curing process.

Make sure you use enough sand as the cement will need the agrogate to set up properly.

Once the rocks are set (within 24 hours usually) you will need to place them in a container (large rubbermaid trash can works great), fill it with water and change that water everyday for about 6 or 8 weeks to bring the pH down to proper ranges.

I wouldnt start checking the pH until at least week 4 or you are just wasting tests.

Seed it with some good live rock that has good coraline growth and in a few months you can hardly tell the difference between them... a year later and it will all look like purchased live rock.

At least that was my take on it

 

[waverz]

If anyone is interested we are having a rock making party at my place here in evansdale June 23rd. Making your own rock is a great way to save money, i have had some in my tank for a few months now and its getting alot of coraline on it.

Anyone is welcome to come.

 

[waverz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10081875#post10081875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
If anyone is interested we are having a rock making party at my place here in evansdale June 23rd. Making your own rock is a great way to save money, i have had some in my tank for a few months now and its getting alot of coraline on it.

Anyone is welcome to come.

Ball: that rock is wild looking, it looks like you were able to form yours pretty well.

 

[jtesdall]

I was thinking of maybe trying to come up. Don't know if I can yet. Thanks for the invite.

 

[Nykademus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10081875#post10081875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
If anyone is interested we are having a rock making party at my place here in evansdale June 23rd. Making your own rock is a great way to save money, i have had some in my tank for a few months now and its getting alot of coraline on it.

Anyone is welcome to come.

I have about 60-70 lbs of Portland cement (type I) left over and 1 or 2 50lb bags of fine grade play sand to donate for the party if anyone from the DSM area would like to pick it up and bring it along. I probably will not be going myself, but the rest of you guys are welcome to these supplies.

 

[jtesdall]

If I go I can take it up.

 

[glaspie69]

the best mix i have found is around a 3 part salt to 1 1/2 to 2 part cement mix....sand adds weight and makes the rock loose some porosity.....it's kind of tricky to get the mix right until you've seen it done and been able to hold the mix in your hand and feel it. Feel free to come up on the 23rd should be a good time

 

[waverz]

Is it me or does that 2nd pic look like a dog takin' a poop....

 

[Jojoyojimbi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10084573#post10084573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
Is it me or does that 2nd pic look like a dog takin' a poop....

it's you

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10084573#post10084573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
Is it me or does that 2nd pic look like a dog takin' a poop....

I can see it but you had to point it out:lol:

I might have to look back thru the DIY rock thread but I think it was 3 parts solar salt to 1 part portland.

Start with the portland in the tub and slowly add water and mix, add water and mix, until you get a Play-dough like mix then add the salt.

It is fairly stiff to begin with so you can stack quite easily into plies. Some of the rocks I worked out to exactily the size I needed for a given space so in a way it worked out better than LR.

Something I have noticed on that thread since I made mine. One keeping extra salt and piling it up to break up the flat spots and two piling the some of the mixture add thin lines of salt then adding more rock mix to make tunnels all seem like good ideas. My rock turn out good but I am thinking that I could make some pretty sweet rock now.

Curing. Give it the time it needs. You get like 100# of rock for like $15 you know there has got to be a catch. 1.5 to 2 months and the rock is tank safe as can be. Daily water change at first and then whenever the pH starts getting to high. The more water changes the better but you still won't get it under a month. I ran my RO waste water thru the rock cure tub so it was very little work at that point.

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10084573#post10084573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
Is it me or does that 2nd pic look like a dog takin' a poop....

or like weird creatures from a Tool video!

 

[jtesdall]

Thanks everyone.

Can the water to cure in be plain tap water then? Do you just wait until the PH gets down to a certain level?

 

[Nykademus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10085909#post10085909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtesdall
Thanks everyone.

Can the water to cure in be plain tap water then? Do you just wait until the PH gets down to a certain level?

I think it would be a waste to use anything other than tap water since you will be changing out 30+ gallons of water everyday or ever other.

Some could argue that you may get unwanted minerals in/on the rock by using tap water I suppose, but I would think that would be such a small amount that it wouldnt make much difference, and temporary as well.

Yes, once the pH is right, the rock will be ready to use.

 

[jtesdall]

Are we looking for the normal PH of a reef, say 8.1 - 8.4,? I hope that is right since I maintain at 8.3.

 

[vvolfe1]

I used a mixture of 3 parts crushed oyster shells, 2 parts cement, 2 parts rock salt, and a lot PVC pipe I shaved on my jointer. Turned out great and people have complemented how nice it looks. I have about 50 pounds in my 90 and nobody knows.

 

[jtesdall]

This is great! I can't wait to try some this weekend!!! Sorry I don't think I can wait until the 23rd, but I still want to come up.

 

[reeffreak1]

I'm curious why the shavings of PVC pipe?

 

[vvolfe1]

I used the PVC after reading the GARF site. It kinda makes sense what they say. Coraline algae sticks to it like crazy. Plus concrete does not stick to it very well causing more holes and it also makes the rocks lighter. When you make it becareful you don't make to big of pieces. I have three pieces still in my basement that might not fit in the ocean they are so big.:lol: