DIY rock to live?

[Raven1645]

I want to make DIY Rock following the instructions on the GARF website, because live rock is so friggin expensive.
I want to follow the 1lb per gallon rule, and as it will be a 200g, I'll need 200lbs (yes, I'm good at maths!).
I want to buy a 25kg box of live rock, and the rest (about 75kg) will be made myself using cement and aragonite.
This is ALOT of DIY rock, but it's also ALOT cheaper than buying that amount of live rock.

Now my questions are:
1. How long will it take for the DIY rock to become fully cured live rock (coraline, critters, etc.)?
2. How long will it take before I can add fish and corals?
3. Will the aragonite sandbed I'll be having become live sand?
4. Is there anything else important?

 

[peppie]

After you make your rock you must put it in a container of fresh water and soak it. change the water often for the first mo. (3 x per week). Then may be once a week for the next 2 mo. Test the water for PH. I belive it needs to be above 7.9 Once you get it to that point you then need to put it in saltwater to to soak for about another mo. Changing the water a couple of times.
If you want it to be alive before you put it in your tank you must add a heater, PH and some cured live rock to the soaking container and let it (cook) as they say for a couple of weeks.
Again test your PH so it is up to 8.0 . Then you can put it in your tank.
You have the right idea. Do some more research.
I have 75% manmade 25% real live rock in my tank.
It was cheaper and I was able to make the shapes I wanted.

 

[tom77sky01]

you can speed up the curing process by adding lots of flow and an air pump without an airstone. definately change the water 2-3 times per week the first month then start to add some saltwater to it to speed up the process mine took about 2 months

 

[geaux xman]

i would try the local reef boards or CL for people getting out the hobby. i see LR going for about $1/lb all the time.

 

[Raven1645]

Thanks guys, I'll indeed do some more research as I've never heard of curing it in freshwater!

As for buying it from ex-aquarists, that'd be difficult as I live in holland and there aren't as many reefers as in the USA. I will still look for it though!

 

[shifty51008]

cureing the DIY rock in fresh water is to basically cure the cement the pH of the cement is very high and can take 2 months to cure and the [pH to come down.

 

[bfoleyiii]

Thanks guys, I'll indeed do some more research as I've never heard of curing it in freshwater!

As for buying it from ex-aquarists, that'd be difficult as I live in holland and there aren't as many reefers as in the USA. I will still look for it though!

Two different typs of curing going on here. You asked about taking your DYI rock and curing it with live rock to make it live rock. Depending on the ratio of live rock to your dyi rock 4 weeks plus and would happen as part of the cycle of your tank.

The other type of curing is the time the cement would take to cure during the creation of your DYI rock. You cure the dyi rock in fresh water for two reasons here: 1) to help slow the process down or you can end up with some pretty weak rock that will fall apart, and 2) help remove anything the cement is going to leach out. This time frame I have heard is much longer (upwards of six month do to properly).

 

[Raven1645]

Ooh thanks, now I get the point of the fresh water.