JMCAquarium
They are among us!!
hey did New England make it 17-0 or did they get stomp yesterday they were losing last I saw
DIY Rocks
- Thread starter ADA33
- Start date
JMCAquarium
They are among us!!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11484597#post11484597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widefx
definitely still doing it will post more info later today.
Just rapped up in football at the moment.
ADA33
Active member
Food
Soni - hamburger meat (80% lean for juicy burgers)
JMCAquarium - Lettuce, Tamato, Pickles, Onion.
JeffKirk - Pepsi,
Widefx - Buns and chips
Rock stuff
1. WideFx (Cement or Grout and PVC)
2. JMCAquarium ( ??? ) I'll take the day off that weekend
3. Dream54ing (15-20 lb of oyster shells)
4. jasonh and maybe mrsjasonh (lots of perlite, maybe some rapidset cement and oystershell)
5. soni (my m3 and 40lbs of aragonite)
6. Amd30 (some other materials to be used?)
7. JeffKirk (I'll stop by HD on my way)
8. Badfish (Sand?) I have about 40 lbs.
Well not sure how accurate this list is but let me know. Also if we agree on a recipe for the rock then i will be easier to figure what we will need.
Soni - hamburger meat (80% lean for juicy burgers)
JMCAquarium - Lettuce, Tamato, Pickles, Onion.
JeffKirk - Pepsi,
Widefx - Buns and chips
Rock stuff
1. WideFx (Cement or Grout and PVC)
2. JMCAquarium ( ??? ) I'll take the day off that weekend
3. Dream54ing (15-20 lb of oyster shells)
4. jasonh and maybe mrsjasonh (lots of perlite, maybe some rapidset cement and oystershell)
5. soni (my m3 and 40lbs of aragonite)
6. Amd30 (some other materials to be used?)
7. JeffKirk (I'll stop by HD on my way)
8. Badfish (Sand?) I have about 40 lbs.
Well not sure how accurate this list is but let me know. Also if we agree on a recipe for the rock then i will be easier to figure what we will need.
Last edited:
ADA33
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11455725#post11455725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moore_rb
Well....
I was planning to head to Denny's on the 5th for the rock making shin-dig, but a close friend of 20 years is having a family/friends gathering that day, so I am gonna have to pass on the DIY rock fun....
Will probably see you all at the Jan Frag/PROP meet.
Bummer Wish you could make it. Hey got a rock solid recipe for us?
jasonh
New member
you mean recipe?
Anyway, I think recipe will vary depending on what you want your rock to be like in the end.
I'll try to bring a couple bags of salt for molding material, but others might want to bring salt or sand as well (as I intend on making a couple bigger pieces for my tank)
Anyway, I think recipe will vary depending on what you want your rock to be like in the end.
I'll try to bring a couple bags of salt for molding material, but others might want to bring salt or sand as well (as I intend on making a couple bigger pieces for my tank)
moore_rb
New member
Yeah, I wish I could make it too. I was looking forward to it.
Here's how I made my rock. Hope it helps:
Mix your cement thick and heavy like oatmeal, you want the consistency to be a little more fluid than modeling clay, but you don't want it to run like liquid. Add a bunch of rock salt to the mix to act as both an aggregate, and to add porosity while it cures. I added crushed styrofoam to my mix also, but I don't recommend that. it makes a mess, and doesn't really save any weight
I molded my rocks in rubbermaid containers, and I used sand, crushed coral, rock salt, snail shells, and whatever other rubble I had lying around to act as the mold. I would add a 2-3 inch layer of mold mix to the bottom of the mold box, then I would dribble in the cement mix. Then I would add more mold mix, and I would steadily work my way upward, alternating the mold mix and the cement mix. Eventually the mold box is full of the mold mix and the cement rocks are encased within it. Let the cement set up in the mold box overnight and then dump it all out and hose the rocks off to expose your unseen sculptures.
Then soak it for a month or so in clean, clear water to leach out all the lye and other hydroxides. Soak it until the ph of the curing water does not rise above 8.2
I see this is on the 5th, but I can't seem to find a location or time.
FYI - (In case you have not already thought of this)
Its a good idea to have some cheap rubber (Janitor Type) gloves. I found it was easier to put on a rubber glove and stir the mixture by hand.
I don't need any more DIY rock, but I have some left over Portland White (mabey 1/2 bag left) and mabey 1/2 bag of rock salt I will bring.
What about mixing buckets and sand "form" buckets????
If someone has room in a truck or SUV...If you grab one of those polotition signs laying on the side of the road....(pastic honycomb materail) they give you a nice big area to make big or multiple rock formations and you can slide it around to get it out of the way...When it sets up in 24 hours the rock comes right up...(no stick)....
FYI - (In case you have not already thought of this)
Its a good idea to have some cheap rubber (Janitor Type) gloves. I found it was easier to put on a rubber glove and stir the mixture by hand.
I don't need any more DIY rock, but I have some left over Portland White (mabey 1/2 bag left) and mabey 1/2 bag of rock salt I will bring.
What about mixing buckets and sand "form" buckets????
If someone has room in a truck or SUV...If you grab one of those polotition signs laying on the side of the road....(pastic honycomb materail) they give you a nice big area to make big or multiple rock formations and you can slide it around to get it out of the way...When it sets up in 24 hours the rock comes right up...(no stick)....
jasonh
New member
I find that using a rapid-setting cement rather than standard portland, and leave it out of the water for as long as you can - really helps speed up curing time.
Also, who needs gloves for mixing with your hands?! Use your bare hands, they'll come out nice n soft and your wife will thank you for it
Also, who needs gloves for mixing with your hands?! Use your bare hands, they'll come out nice n soft and your wife will thank you for it
JeffKirk
Premium Member
I'm sure you all saw the Tribal heads someone made for their tank using DIY Rock.
I've got a crazy idea of trying to make the bow of the Titanic.
Any ideas as to how I could pull that off???
I'm thinking about carving the mold out of styrofoam and, uh thats about as far as I've gotten so far.
Building the stand for the 90g is a little more important right now.
I've got a crazy idea of trying to make the bow of the Titanic.
Any ideas as to how I could pull that off???
I'm thinking about carving the mold out of styrofoam and, uh thats about as far as I've gotten so far.
Building the stand for the 90g is a little more important right now.
JMCAquarium
They are among us!!
Mr. Moore that some nice looking rok you made there.
I'm looking foward to this somthing fierce
I'm looking foward to this somthing fierce
ADA33
Active member
Hello all here is a link with some good info. I am going to pick up about 150# of
Type I white portland cement today from HD. If someone can get oyster shells from a feed store that would be very helpful. Also we will need the salt in the article below. I will also pick up some cement color that it says is safe.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11058572#post11058572
Type I white portland cement today from HD. If someone can get oyster shells from a feed store that would be very helpful. Also we will need the salt in the article below. I will also pick up some cement color that it says is safe.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=11058572#post11058572
jasonh
New member
I've got about 8 or so pounds of oyster shell left over that I can bring. Just need to be careful to not use too much in your rocks - they make for some wicked jagged edges and are super easy to cut yourself on.
The salt is only a few bucks a bag...it's in the brown bag at HD. It makes a great mold material as well as being used inside. I personally don't use it in my rocks, but I mold with it.
The salt is only a few bucks a bag...it's in the brown bag at HD. It makes a great mold material as well as being used inside. I personally don't use it in my rocks, but I mold with it.
i'm guessing we should bring our own tubs? are we going to be able to leave the rock there to let it cure? or are we going to have to take the rock with us back to our own places to let it cure?
i would like to make mainly large pieces for my tank.
is it ok to make these rocks out of fine grade sand instead of the more course sand?
i would like to make mainly large pieces for my tank.
is it ok to make these rocks out of fine grade sand instead of the more course sand?
ADA33
Active member
It would be helpful if we can get as many tubs as possible. I was hoping to find some kiddy pools to put them in but am having a hard time finding some. I am fine with leaving the rock at my house to cure since I have plenty of space in my back yard.
Not 100% sure about the sand but I dont see a problem with fine sand. What I was thinking is making medium rocks to form into large rocks with pvc. I would think that this would make it more sturdy.
