Lionfish01
New member
How do I make my own live rock?
How do I make it?
- Thread starter Lionfish01
- Start date
dummyterminal
New member
garf.org has lot of info on it... they call it agrocrete or something like that
coyoteseven
New member
Go to GARF and you'll find the recipe under the 'How To - Pages' then 'Aragocrete' on the site menu.
Making your own rock is kinda fun, also. You can make all different shapes and sizes that would be hard to find... like interlocking columns, branches, boulders, arcs, caves, shelves, etc. I'm planning my next true reef around aragocrete (oystercrete) structures and have made over 300lbs so far... a little overkill, but a lot of choices.
BTW, 'oystercrete' is a different formula where ground oyster shell you can get at the feed store (used as a poultry feed suppliment) is used instead of the often more expensive aragonite sand from the LFS.
What you get as an end product depends on your ingredients, ratios and construction methods. I've made some oystercrete that's dense as regular concrete (my first tries) and some pieces so porous that water pours right through them (my present products). Also using various types of pastas (rotini, ziti, manacoti, elbow macaroni, shells, etc.) throughout the structure, produces some nice openings, textures and tunnels/tubes.
If nothing else, it keeps me from roaming the streets at night. :lmao:
When making your own rock, experimentation is half the fun (and half the pain).
Making your own rock is kinda fun, also. You can make all different shapes and sizes that would be hard to find... like interlocking columns, branches, boulders, arcs, caves, shelves, etc. I'm planning my next true reef around aragocrete (oystercrete) structures and have made over 300lbs so far... a little overkill, but a lot of choices.
BTW, 'oystercrete' is a different formula where ground oyster shell you can get at the feed store (used as a poultry feed suppliment) is used instead of the often more expensive aragonite sand from the LFS.
What you get as an end product depends on your ingredients, ratios and construction methods. I've made some oystercrete that's dense as regular concrete (my first tries) and some pieces so porous that water pours right through them (my present products). Also using various types of pastas (rotini, ziti, manacoti, elbow macaroni, shells, etc.) throughout the structure, produces some nice openings, textures and tunnels/tubes.
If nothing else, it keeps me from roaming the streets at night. :lmao:
When making your own rock, experimentation is half the fun (and half the pain).
inLOVEwitHEATHER
New member
how do you make your own rock porous? i would love to make my own soon... how long does it take to cure and what is the process? maybe you can give us some tips.... i would like some =)
1234
New member
I followed the advice on GARF and used Carib sea as a mold in a container. Using Portland I cement, crushed oyster shells (feed store) and water mix a ratio of one cup cement to 3 cups of crushed oyster shell and 1 cup of Carib sea sand.
After I made up several rocks, I put the rocks in a tub to soak with a weekly water change. Took twice as long , too lazy to do water changes. Some guys put the rock in the toilet tank, great for water changes
After I made up several rocks, I put the rocks in a tub to soak with a weekly water change. Took twice as long , too lazy to do water changes. Some guys put the rock in the toilet tank, great for water changes
coyoteseven
New member
Making your own rock is an experimental process, everybody has their own formula that probably began as the original GARF recipe. Like cooking, homemade rock is as individual as the 'chef'. Only through trial and error will you come up with a recipe that you'll really like. Considering that you can get the ingredients to make over 600lbs of oystercrete (one 94lb bag of portland, ten 50lb bags of crushed oyster shell) for about $60-$75... that's a lot of cooking you can do, until you find your secret recipe. :lmao:
I use a mixture of 5Ã"šÃ‚½ parts oyster shell / 1 part portland, mixing in just enough water to get a doughy effect... almost like making oatmeal cookies. I use dampened play sand (silica based) in a long rubbermaid container (with lid) as a base mold to form my pieces.
While scooping in the oystercrete, I also drop or lay in some pasta (on the bottom, inside, outer surfaces), forming tunnels, spaces and textures in or on the rock.
After I mold my pieces, I close the lid to keep moisture in... keeping concrete moist during initial setup helps it cure better... letting them cure for about a week. When I take them out of the mold, I rinse them with the hose to get rid of any loose sand/shell/pasta, then soak them in another container of FW for about 8-10 weeks with a powerhead for circulation, changing the water every 2-3 days.
After the FW soak, I empty the old FW and begin the SW soak for the next 4-6 weeks (actually longer in my case, I'm preparing for a 125g in the near future) using regular SW mix (RO/DI & IO salt) to begin with. During this time, I also add in water from my weekly water changes. This begins a seeding cycle of bacteria, coraline spores, free floating pods, etc. By the time I'll be ready to use my rocks, they will be 'live'... some even have a decent coating of coraline now. BTW, because of the long curing process I use, I don't bother with pH measurements... I figure that a bunch of happy pods are a good sign.
I use a mixture of 5Ã"šÃ‚½ parts oyster shell / 1 part portland, mixing in just enough water to get a doughy effect... almost like making oatmeal cookies. I use dampened play sand (silica based) in a long rubbermaid container (with lid) as a base mold to form my pieces.
While scooping in the oystercrete, I also drop or lay in some pasta (on the bottom, inside, outer surfaces), forming tunnels, spaces and textures in or on the rock.
After I mold my pieces, I close the lid to keep moisture in... keeping concrete moist during initial setup helps it cure better... letting them cure for about a week. When I take them out of the mold, I rinse them with the hose to get rid of any loose sand/shell/pasta, then soak them in another container of FW for about 8-10 weeks with a powerhead for circulation, changing the water every 2-3 days.
After the FW soak, I empty the old FW and begin the SW soak for the next 4-6 weeks (actually longer in my case, I'm preparing for a 125g in the near future) using regular SW mix (RO/DI & IO salt) to begin with. During this time, I also add in water from my weekly water changes. This begins a seeding cycle of bacteria, coraline spores, free floating pods, etc. By the time I'll be ready to use my rocks, they will be 'live'... some even have a decent coating of coraline now.
BTW, because of the long curing process I use, I don't bother with pH measurements... I figure that a bunch of happy pods are a good sign.
coyoteseven
New member
You're welcome, jlehigh! 
I began making oystercrete just to see if it would work, and it has. BTW, with the average cost being about 10Ã"šÃ‚¢ a pound, it's a lot easier on the wallet.
The biggest drawback to making your own rock is the curing/leaching time, but if you're patient, the rewards are great! When your friends see your system, you can say with pride, "I made that!" and that also, you may have helped save a piece of a wild reef somewhere.
P.S. ... I'm trying to make the 'lace rock' version, but I haven't quite found the right formula yet. Mine usually fall apart into rubble... maybe I'll just use it to make my own version of Grunge... ... ... ... ... whattaya think about the name Koyote Krapp ? :lmao:
I began making oystercrete just to see if it would work, and it has. BTW, with the average cost being about 10Ã"šÃ‚¢ a pound, it's a lot easier on the wallet.
The biggest drawback to making your own rock is the curing/leaching time, but if you're patient, the rewards are great! When your friends see your system, you can say with pride, "I made that!" and that also, you may have helped save a piece of a wild reef somewhere.
P.S. ... I'm trying to make the 'lace rock' version, but I haven't quite found the right formula yet. Mine usually fall apart into rubble... maybe I'll just use it to make my own version of Grunge... ... ... ... ... whattaya think about the name Koyote Krapp ? :lmao:
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coyoteseven
New member
Lionfish...
For more info on making your own rocks, do a search here on RC for aragocrete and oystercrete.
I'm just one guy that does it my way, but there are dozens of others that have great methods on DIY rocks. PM some of these people for hints and advice, many will be happy to share their knowledge with you.
Once you get hooked, you'll never want to stop seeing what new shapes and styles you can make.
For more info on making your own rocks, do a search here on RC for aragocrete and oystercrete.
I'm just one guy that does it my way, but there are dozens of others that have great methods on DIY rocks. PM some of these people for hints and advice, many will be happy to share their knowledge with you.
Once you get hooked, you'll never want to stop seeing what new shapes and styles you can make.
enforcer8621
New member
I have to admit, when I first heard about DIY LR, I saw it on Ebay. I thought it was a joke, now that I see it's actually in RC, I'm believing it's a good idea. I'll have to consider it for my next project.
coyoteseven
New member
I'm hoping to in the future.
rspar- I think GARF still sells some, not sure though... finding anything on their site is a pain. Last I saw they had some fairly nice pieces, but the price looked to high to me.
coyoteseven- I agree with virtually everything your saying about making one's own live rock. It becomes so personal doesn't it? I almost can't imagine selling any of my pieces. Do let us in on the pricing when you get to that point won't you?
coyoteseven- I agree with virtually everything your saying about making one's own live rock. It becomes so personal doesn't it? I almost can't imagine selling any of my pieces. Do let us in on the pricing when you get to that point won't you?
coyoteseven
New member
RSPAR... like Bene' said, I believe GARF has some for sale... you might email Leroy Headlee ( leroy@garf.org ) and ask. But be ready for a long wait, they're pretty busy and it could take awhile for him to reply.
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Not to hijack the thread, but so far I've made over 300lbs. of the stuff (actually closer to 450lbs. now... it's an addiction, I tell ya' :hmm4: ), again, ranging from solid (first tries) to porous as a sieve (latest endeavors).
I've been doing the final SW cure using my old tank water from WCs... so far, I've got some pretty good coraline growth, boocoodles of pods, and a few other critters like worms and snails, even some GSP and button polyps. I'm using Walmart brand Regent PHs, regular sunlight (gotta LOVE living in southwestern Florida ) and cheap skimmers off eBay in some Rubbermaid stock tanks.
What I don't use, I'll probably sell as base rock (although there will be some life in and on it) on eBay or maybe even here on RC for very low prices (plus standard S&H or local pick up).
To tell the truth, creating various works of "art" :artist: is a blast... but if the price is right, I could be persuaded to let go of my masterpieces. :lmao:
**********************************
Not to hijack the thread, but so far I've made over 300lbs. of the stuff (actually closer to 450lbs. now... it's an addiction, I tell ya' :hmm4: ), again, ranging from solid (first tries) to porous as a sieve (latest endeavors).
I've been doing the final SW cure using my old tank water from WCs... so far, I've got some pretty good coraline growth, boocoodles of pods, and a few other critters like worms and snails, even some GSP and button polyps. I'm using Walmart brand Regent PHs, regular sunlight (gotta LOVE living in southwestern Florida
) and cheap skimmers off eBay in some Rubbermaid stock tanks. What I don't use, I'll probably sell as base rock (although there will be some life in and on it) on eBay or maybe even here on RC for very low prices (plus standard S&H or local pick up).
To tell the truth, creating various works of "art" :artist: is a blast... but if the price is right, I could be persuaded to let go of my masterpieces. :lmao:
mountainfisherman
New member
you said you use pasta how do you get rid of the pasta in the rock?
coyoteseven
New member
It disolves (rots) out during the curing. Any small amount that remains will serve as food for the pods.
mountainfisherman
New member
ok then now i read about vinicur sorry spelling that some said it work other said it don't have you try this and if so what the outcome of it
coyoteseven
New member
The vinegar makes the water acidic and is supposed to accelerate curing time. I tried it and found no appreciable difference... maybe it cut the cure by a week at the most.
mountainfisherman
New member
thanks for the info i guess i need to wait for summer as it is only 7 out side now i think the water would frezzzzz lol
