HOW TO DIY??? Rockwork with cement

[seth16]

I originally when i was doing the rockwork in my aggressive eel tank wanted to have one or two large prices of rock that i would make with PVC tibes in and out of the cement. But i did not know how to go at it, i mean i have seen IDY rocks made from cement that were failry light, like it was pourous and like actual LR. I do not have the slightest clue on to how to do this, can anyone help me, i hva a ton of PVC that i would lvoe to use for this and would love to know how to do it. Thank you

Seth

 

[Sailor_jon]

check out www.garf.org for ways to make live rock base, from argonite.

 

[mflamb]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=952524

 

[cristhiam]

garf.com is a good start point and make sure you CURE IT, high ph out of it can cause lots of problems or kill a tank.

 

[mflamb]

I made 440 lbs of the GARF rock and cured it in my pool for several months.

 

[ben&bobbi]

i made mine from few scoops of oyster shell, scoop of portland cement, couple scoops of rock salt. cured it in fresh water - now i don't need it!

not hard to do, but just takes time to cure!

i have a whole bag of unopened oyster sheel. our i will sell what i have pretty cheap.

 

[seth16]

can you send me some pics of what you have? i am trying to find some bask rock for my 75, and some rock for my eel tank. Thank you

And MFLAMB, I couldnt find anything on that site about making rock, i know i am very imparient and can easily look over everythint, but how did you do it? is there some special process? and is it like solid, or pourous?

 

[cristhiam]

You got some reading to do
http://www.garf.org/howtodoinformation.htm#Aragocrete

 

[seth16]

READING!?!?!?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.............................lol, i will check on that now, thanks

 

[cowboyswife]

I never heard of making rock like that. Seth, if you do give it a shot, please post pics!

 

[seth16]

Will do

 

[lifesworksataol]

to make it porous you have to mix tons of pvc shaving that will later desolve - but its all on the garf website. it cost just as much to make rock as it is to buy it. plus you have to wait for it to cure. might be better off buying live rock and drilling it or just waiting around checking the lfs for the perfect pieces of rock

 

[ben&bobbi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9405441#post9405441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lifesworksataol
to make it porous you have to mix tons of pvc shaving that will later desolve - but its all on the garf website. it cost just as much to make rock as it is to buy it. plus you have to wait for it to cure. might be better off buying live rock and drilling it or just waiting around checking the lfs for the perfect pieces of rock

i have to disagree on the price here. $9 for portland cement 50lbs (plenty and more than 1/2 bag to go, $6 for 50lb oyster shells, $5 for 40lb rock salt. So far i have easily made over 200lbs. some of my older versions used large argonite sand instead of oyster shells. Still have 1/2 bag of cement.

however, if you factor in your time making the rock, you will need to add about 3 hours for the mixing and molding for 200lbs. It is not fair to could time of the curing, but could add the price of the city water changes.
the major set back is the curing time. if you need it in less than 6 weeks, yes buying it is for you. but making it, you canmake it any shape / size you want or need.

how does the pvc dissolve? i haven't read on that or tried it myself, rock salt worked very well for me.

Seth - i will try to get pictures tonight.

 

[ben&bobbi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9406066#post9406066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ben&bobbi
i have to disagree on the price here. $9 for portland cement 50lbs (plenty and more than 1/2 bag to go), $6 for 50lb oyster shells, $5 for 40lb rock salt. So far i have easily made over 200lbs. some of my older versions used large argonite sand instead of oyster shells. Still have 1/2 bag of cement.

however, if you factor in your time making the rock, you will need to add about 3 hours for the mixing and molding for 200lbs. It is not fair to count time of the curing, but could add the price of the city water changes.
the major set back is the curing time. if you need it in less than 6 weeks, yes buying it is for you. but making it, you canmake it any shape / size you want or need.

how does the pvc dissolve? i haven't read on that or tried it myself, rock salt worked very well for me.

Seth - i will try to get pictures tonight.