The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

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You want Pics?

You want Pics?

Remember "Nessy", the giant deformed form? (If not, look in my gallery)
Turned out that the store that commisioned it and I, were talking about 2 different tanks, lol. I built for a 5x5x2 tank, they were talking about a 6x2x2, lol...
Soooo...
Using a diamond masonary blade, we cut it in half, and as we were moving the pieces, a large section came free, but no worries. Patched, touched-up and added some stuff and now this piece fits the order. It is now a 3 piece sectional.
Nice thing too is that base rock can be stuffed in behind it to completely hide it.

I am hard to please, but this pleases me greatly. Next week I will be making this sort of thing for my 75AGA :)
125181Reef-Face-1.jpg


125181Reef-Face-2.jpg


125181Reef-Face-3.jpg
 
Thanks BNPLU :)
From left to right (top pic), weights are approx 45lbs, 25lbs and 60lbs - they have released a good portion of salt, so maybe take 10-15% of their weight for final total.
 
One thing that I have noticed with my rocks is though the salt has dissolved out of most pieces, I haven't noticed a significant drop in weight. Does anyone know the weight of a portion of Rock Salt to the same portion of Portland Cement?
 
Just look at the bags Travis - a bag of salt is close to the same size as a 92lbs of cement, though a bit thinner - but the salt weighs 40lbs - so I would estimate off the top of my head that salts weighs about half as much as an equal amount of cement...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7657874#post7657874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
Just look at the bags Travis - a bag of salt is close to the same size as a 92lbs of cement, though a bit thinner - but the salt weighs 40lbs - so I would estimate off the top of my head that salts weighs about half as much as an equal amount of cement...
Click to expand...

I guess that you have a point. So, would you assume that the final product of a 2:1 ratio would weight as much as the initial amount of cement?
 
yup - that's how I'm figuring - though I have the added chore of guestimating? Sand and crushed coral too, lol
But yes, for your straight salt mix, that would be as close as I can guess unless you actually weighed the stuff as you put it in, and again when you finish...
 
cement hardens by hydrating though. all the cement is absorbing water, which could be offsetting the weight of the disolved salt.
 
But doesn't the water evaporate (or whatever) once all is said and done? You end up with a very dry rock - no water left to my knowledge...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7657913#post7657913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
yup - that's how I'm figuring - though I have the added chore of guestimating? Sand and crushed coral too, lol
But yes, for your straight salt mix, that would be as close as I can guess unless you actually weighed the stuff as you put it in, and again when you finish...
Click to expand...

I've weighed one piece in at 7 lbs. I have it out drying and I will weigh it again soon. Hopefully it won't weigh much :)
 
If you have a digital scale, one could easily determine - use your "measure" (I use a 2qt tupperware clone), get one scoop/part cement and weigh it, and then do the same for the salt. I only have an old bath scale, so not precise enough. I have been known to get on a scale, weigh myself, and then grab whatever I am weighing (dogs, shipping items, cats) and subtract the difference. That is how I know the middle rock is 25lbs +/-.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7658156#post7658156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
If you have a digital scale, one could easily determine - use your "measure" (I use a 2qt tupperware clone), get one scoop/part cement and weigh it, and then do the same for the salt. I only have an old bath scale, so not precise enough. I have been known to get on a scale, weigh myself, and then grab whatever I am weighing (dogs, shipping items, cats) and subtract the difference. That is how I know the middle rock is 25lbs +/-.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm having to do. Luckily my scales are new and digital. Too bad it measures in intervals of 1/2 pounds. :(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7657957#post7657957 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
But doesn't the water evaporate (or whatever) once all is said and done? You end up with a very dry rock - no water left to my knowledge...
Click to expand...
The water does not evaporate. It becomes part of the chemical structure of the concrete, locked into the molecules. To "evaporate" the water from calcium carbonate there is a minimum temperature of 1648 degrees F and the process is more correctly called dissociation.
 
Bizarre. Does that mean the physical weight of the water is locked in too? For example, if you used 1lbs or water, would the rock be 1lbs heavier?

Granted, we use very little water in these mixes, or at least I use little, but pounds do add up...
Curious to know.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7660340#post7660340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
Bizarre. Does that mean the physical weight of the water is locked in too? For example, if you used 1lbs or water, would the rock be 1lbs heavier?

Granted, we use very little water in these mixes, or at least I use little, but pounds do add up...
Curious to know.
Click to expand...
That seems bizarre to me to a little to bizarre, concrete is very porous if the invierment that its in is dry then its going to be dry to.
 
Oh, don't get me wrong - I believe Rhody; no reason not too. I have a friend in college and some of the stuff he spouts is just as weird or maybe more so, lol...
Am interested in the answer to my question - it was asked in complete sincerity and curiousity...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7661010#post7661010 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by captbunzo
It is called a chemical reaction. Dry or wet is really the wrong term once the cement has cured.
Click to expand...
Yes your right. but after its cured it eventually drys, that is if its is a dry place.
 
it is dry in the sense that there is no free water molecules on the surface of the concrete, but there is still water molecules locked into the structure of the concrete.

and yes, any water that is locked into the structure of the concrete will add to the weight of the rock. maybe not all of the water you add will become part of the structure, but a lot of it will. if you make a dry mix, most of the water will remain in the structure. if you make a very wet mix, then some of it will definately evaporate.
 
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