Warnock316
Member
did any one hear how specaled trout made those intricate branches ie pvc inside or some support structure not seen from the outside?
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter Travis L. Stevens
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Insane Reefer
New member
Yeah Warn, not positive how he did it, but this is the common way:
Get your pvc - very narrow gauge, and some zip ties. Drill a bunch of holes all over the pvc - decent sized ones, cut your main stem and branches (miter cuts join best), then, holding on with pliers and working outdoors with protective gear, use a torch or heat gun and gently melt the pvc so you can bend it a bit - make it look more natural. Join all pieces with zip ties.
this next part can be done one of two ways.
1. slop a thinish sand only mix over the whole, wrap in window screen fabric and smoothe another coat over that, repeat if you feel like it.
2. make a thicker pasty sand mix, and cover the piece, pushing the cement into the holes you drilled - allow to dry and recover with same type mix.
Hope this helps.
Oh, and good idea Scrager
Get your pvc - very narrow gauge, and some zip ties. Drill a bunch of holes all over the pvc - decent sized ones, cut your main stem and branches (miter cuts join best), then, holding on with pliers and working outdoors with protective gear, use a torch or heat gun and gently melt the pvc so you can bend it a bit - make it look more natural. Join all pieces with zip ties.
this next part can be done one of two ways.
1. slop a thinish sand only mix over the whole, wrap in window screen fabric and smoothe another coat over that, repeat if you feel like it.
2. make a thicker pasty sand mix, and cover the piece, pushing the cement into the holes you drilled - allow to dry and recover with same type mix.
Hope this helps.
Oh, and good idea Scrager
Insane Reefer
New member
Oh, Warn - just noticed. Durango, eh? My family is originally from Cortez - from the old family farm, you can see Mesa Verde just to the south, so close you could almost throw rocks at it.
My mom and her friends used to ride their horses up and camp on weekends.
My grandmother use to go dancing at the seniors center in Durango, but that was 15 or 20 years ago.
Times like these make the world seem so much smaller, lol
My mom and her friends used to ride their horses up and camp on weekends.
My grandmother use to go dancing at the seniors center in Durango, but that was 15 or 20 years ago.
Times like these make the world seem so much smaller, lol
I've been watching this thread for awhile and am amazed with the rocks that you guys are making. I have to fill a 120 tank and wanted to do it as reef friendly and as cheap as possible.
Travis thanks for doing the research for us!
I made my first batch yesterday. It was a breeze. Next batch I'll do the shaping like Bart did.
Travis thanks for doing the research for us!
I made my first batch yesterday. It was a breeze. Next batch I'll do the shaping like Bart did.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
No problem! The other guys are doing all the test runs for me
Stronger Branch rocks can be made with plastic hangers in the center . heat them and bend into the shape you want then use them for reinforcement in the center of the branches. The other thing you can do with your broke peices is drill a 1/4" hole and glue them together using the hanger for a connector plate this way you can have taller peices
speckled trout
New member
Insane Reefer, there's no pvc inside the rocks.
I posted complete instructions on how to make these rocks a month or so ago. It included step by step pics with instructions. They're really not that hard to make once you get the idea.
The thread was titled "DIY Live Rock Recipes?" Tons of good info from a lot of people. The pics below were made utilizing the method I outlined.
I posted complete instructions on how to make these rocks a month or so ago. It included step by step pics with instructions. They're really not that hard to make once you get the idea.
The thread was titled "DIY Live Rock Recipes?" Tons of good info from a lot of people. The pics below were made utilizing the method I outlined.
speckled trout
New member
BigSkyBart, Where is that pic of the river taken? Man, I love the mountains. I love fishing for trout in streams and it drives me nuts to see that stream. I cure my rocks in a river behind my house down here in Texas. It works great and is hassle free.
Also, I'd watch out for too much rock salt to cement ratio. Too many pockets without cement in your rock and they're gonna be brittle. I wait at least 48 hours to disturb mine. I know it's very tempting to pull them out quickly, but don't.
I'm going one step further with my latest rocks. I'm taking them out to the Gulf and dropping the whole batch off for several months to allow them to be colonized by critters/macro-algae/coral. Should be interesting to see how they look after that.
Also, I'd watch out for too much rock salt to cement ratio. Too many pockets without cement in your rock and they're gonna be brittle. I wait at least 48 hours to disturb mine. I know it's very tempting to pull them out quickly, but don't.
I'm going one step further with my latest rocks. I'm taking them out to the Gulf and dropping the whole batch off for several months to allow them to be colonized by critters/macro-algae/coral. Should be interesting to see how they look after that.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Here is the thread. It's 13 pages. I'll look through it to see where Trout's version starts. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=617445
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Here is a link to Trout's first post in that thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5617352#post5617352
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Finally, I found it. Just start from the very top of this page and work your way down. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=617445&perpage=25&pagenumber=12
Barto
Alleged Lounge Moron
2 Question for those with experience with "mature" DIY live rock:
1) What ratio of DIY to real live rock, let's say I make 100# diy, how much real would I seed with?
2) What is a reasonable time frame to expect to see coraline growth and coverage, min & max?
min = just noticable
max = full coverage
speckledtrout
Thats just a little stream, (name is: Duck Creek)currently running about 150% due to snow melt, on the Western face of the Big Belt Mountains.
Yes I have some concern about the salt to cement ratio and strength, but it's all about practice, I plan to try many mixes & methods till I find what I like best. You didn't hit your mix and technique on the first go either, did you? (not trying to be rude)
Good luck soaking in the Gulf, that sounds like a great idea to cure & seed at the same time! I worked offshore oil there, late 70's early 80's
1) What ratio of DIY to real live rock, let's say I make 100# diy, how much real would I seed with?
2) What is a reasonable time frame to expect to see coraline growth and coverage, min & max?
min = just noticable
max = full coverage
speckledtrout
Thats just a little stream, (name is: Duck Creek)currently running about 150% due to snow melt, on the Western face of the Big Belt Mountains.
Yes I have some concern about the salt to cement ratio and strength, but it's all about practice, I plan to try many mixes & methods till I find what I like best. You didn't hit your mix and technique on the first go either, did you? (not trying to be rude)
Good luck soaking in the Gulf, that sounds like a great idea to cure & seed at the same time! I worked offshore oil there, late 70's early 80's
captbunzo
Premium Member
While I don't have experience with "mature" DIY Live Rock, I did start my tank out with a good bit of dead base rock. I would assume that to work about the same. So here are my guestimates.
1. Dead to Live Rock Ratio
I would guess that anywhere between 1:1 and 2:1 ratios of Dead:Live rock is ok. I started with about 25# dead and about 30# live. In the long run, the more live, the better. But, for us on a budget, dead is GOOD.
For 100# dead rock, I'd add anywhere from 50# to 100# live, minimum. Of course, part of that depends on the size of tank you are setting up.
2. What is a reasonable time frame to expect to see coraline growth and coverage, min & max?
Min - Just Noticable: 1-2 months
Mid - Rocks Looking Good: 2-4 months
Max - Full Coverage: 6-12 months
Sorry for the ranges, but this depends on your tank conditions. With better lighting (MH or T5HO) and decent Calc/Alk/Mag levels, you'll see faster coraline growth. With midrange lighting (PC or VHO) and/or less optimal C/A/M levels, less so.
3. How long will it take for the rock to become seeded with bacteria?
Weeks. See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fauxrkfaqs.htm
captbunzo
Premium Member
Sorry for so many posts. I ran across one more piece of information that I thought might be HIGHLY relavent.
Low Alkalinity Cement
I have been coming across multiple references to low alkalinity cement. One site referred to it as "Type 3 Portland Cement". I was thinking this might make a decent impact on the curing timeframe of our DIY rock.
Anyone have any information about this?
Low Alkalinity Cement
I have been coming across multiple references to low alkalinity cement. One site referred to it as "Type 3 Portland Cement". I was thinking this might make a decent impact on the curing timeframe of our DIY rock.
Anyone have any information about this?
Insane Reefer
New member
Excellent idea!
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