The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

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Thanks. I will try a small project using the extra crushed coral I have. Also had anyone tried using crushed ice and/or small ice in the mix? This is a technique I used with my daughters when we made wax candles. When the ice melted it left some very interesting voids and crevasses. Just a thought.
 
only problem i see with ice is that as it melts it will make the cement wetter, no idea if this will mess it up or not. water softner salt works good and is cheap.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8264986#post8264986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kurt03
only problem i see with ice is that as it melts it will make the cement wetter, no idea if this will mess it up or not. water softner salt works good and is cheap.
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Anyone try dry ice?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8258822#post8258822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DOGBONE
Bleach will not effect the color of the rock. Cement is gray in color and can not be changed. You can get coloring to add to your concrete to make any color you wish for. Our local concrete seller can mix any color you chose in a liquid form. So if you were to call around to your concrete dealers they could possibably sell you a little. I will tell you that a tablespoon of color will do a bag of cement. And also you can buy white cement if you can find a dealer that can get it for you but you will also have to use a really light colored sand to get the white you want.
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will any type of dye work? just the stuff off of the shelf from lowes?
 
Does the pH slowly drop or does it just stay high and then overnight drop? I've been soaking rocks for about 4 weeks and my pH is still off the chart purple.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8268859#post8268859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mskohl
Does the pH slowly drop or does it just stay high and then overnight drop? I've been soaking rocks for about 4 weeks and my pH is still off the chart purple.
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What is the starting ph of your water you using? It might be high to start with and not let alot leach out. I added vinegar and it made it work alot faster for me, I was just curing frag plugs but its the same thing.
 
Ok I made some frag plugs, about 15 and I test the ph every week, I put the plugs in fresh water and let sit for 24 and than I test. it comes out 8.8 ph
My question is how much water do i put the frag plugs in and let them sit for 24 hours before I test?
If I put them in a gallon of water the ph will be higher than if I put them in two gallons.
 
i would guess the larger water volume you put them in the less they will need to be changed. Same goes for ph. The lower ph the water starts out at the less often you would need to change it. I think once it hits some ph the leaching stops and your not getting anywhere. prob around the 8.8 your getting. For plugs what i do is put them in the tank on the toilet. i wouldnt do this though unless your sure there arnt any chemiles in there or havent been for a while.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8266642#post8266642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by blakeoe
will any type of dye work? just the stuff off of the shelf from lowes?
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Yes, if you can buy concrete dye at Lowe's it will work! Never even thought of looking at a hardware store. I must be working too much!
 
Has anyone used the quikrete portland cement successfully. Made the rock, kured it, and it has now been in their tank for a month or so with no problems? I have added a few small pieces to the tank and they seem to just crumble after a month or so. They are strong enough that I cant break them but once they sit in my tank they break into small pieces.

I have done 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1 (salt : cement) and all rock cured (cement hardened) for over 48 hours.

Just curious if anyone else had this problem. Like I said they were only smaller pieces maybe they just werent tough enough. I need to place a larger piece in to try but i figured Id ask.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8277994#post8277994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kurt03
i would guess the larger water volume you put them in the less they will need to be changed. Same goes for ph. The lower ph the water starts out at the less often you would need to change it. I think once it hits some ph the leaching stops and your not getting anywhere. prob around the 8.8 your getting. For plugs what i do is put them in the tank on the toilet. i would do this though unless your sure there arent any chemicals in there or have been for a while.
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yes they stay in the toilet tank than i put them in a bucket with some water and let sit for 24 hours to test.
 
Here is my first attempt.

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