The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7483794#post7483794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bnplu
I am confused about one thing when making this rock with salt. When curing this in the water I know that the salt will dissolve if exposed to the water but what about the salt that is in the rock. Will it dissolve while it's curing or will it eventually leach into the water six months down the road?

If you read back at the beginning, I explain that almost all of the salt dissolves. Only a few granules here and there will remain. And if it does leech back out over time in the aquarium, it's not going to hurt anything.

 

[bnplu]

Thanks Travis. I must have missed that. I made my first batch over the last weekend and last night I took a piece out of the tub and broke it. I found some salt still intact and hens my question.
Although it's my first batch it just doesn't look as good as ya'lls. I am just going to keep trying.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I can tell you my first batch of this recipe we are discussing, I was lucky to get some good shapes out of it. But, I did have two other "failed" batches that I worked with making my experience a little better.

 

[ctreefer]

Nice thread here. I'm hoping to give this a try in the coming months.

BigSkyBart, I notice you said you're watering your pine with the water after each run. I'm not sure, but you might be in danger of killing it. Pine's like acidic soil and by dumping really alkaline water over it you may cause harm. I'd hate to lose a 65' tree.

 

[Eggs]

Regarding the last post with Pines, I've heard that's why you can't plant Pine Trees close to houses - the concrete blocks in the basement.

About the % of DIY rock to put in a system - I'm working on a 180 and shooting for no more than 50% DIY rock. Would love to have 100% Live Rock, but as we all know that's not very feasible.

What a great post you started Travis.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7486499#post7486499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Eggs
Regarding the last post with Pines, I've heard that's why you can't plant Pine Trees close to houses - the concrete blocks in the basement.

I thought it was because the root system can break the foundation or blocks of the basement walls. I'm not anywhere near an expert. Heck, I still live in an apartment

 

[Eggs]

I'm not an expert either, but I had a neighbor lose one and someone told me it was from the Calcium from the blocks.
Personally, Pines grow too slow for me so I've never tried planting one.

 

[Insane Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7484175#post7484175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bnplu
I made my first batch over the last weekend and last night I took a piece out of the tub and broke it. I found some salt still intact and hens my question.

I think you minght be confused by time-frame Bnplu.
The salt won't go away over night, it will probably take weeks for it all to disappear, but thats ok, because it will be weeks and weeks before you can use the rock - it will take time to cure. By the time the rock is ready for a tank, most of the salt should be disolved and leeched out.

 

[Insane Reefer]

These are the rocks I made for the LFS using White portland Type 1 (not sure I like this stuff), mixed 1.5 cement, 2 salt, 2 CC.

The "y" shaped rock is around 16" long, to put some perspective on it. The coral was made with a half and half mix of sand and cement, and smoothed onto the PVC base.

The first one I left uncovered by the mold material, and regret it - the "y" rock was completely covered with the CC mold base and it really, really looks convincing.

The LFS has ordered a 2'x30"x18" "show piece", for which I am building the form for - this would be too heavy and dense to be usable (hence my dislike for this white type 1) if it were solid, so I am making a shell of sorts, that can be set over a pile of ugly base rock that is actually going to be benificial to the tank. Like those fake rocks you can get now for your landscape that are hollow...

Making my base with plastic bags and balloons, wrapped in plastic wrap, then duct taped to heck. I will post photo's as I accomplish each step - should be a lot of fun

 

[Insane Reefer]

Quick Question?
Anyone know offhand what would happen if you mixed white type 1 with grey/normal type 2?

Curious...

 

[Barry L]

Is there some kind of dye that can be used to tint the rock? Or even some kind of white tint, to make it look more natural?

 

[captbunzo]

Barry L - Yes. I don't know what, though...

Insane Reefer - Nice rocks!!!

 

[Rhodophyta]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7487648#post7487648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Barry L
Is there some kind of dye that can be used to tint the rock? Or even some kind of white tint, to make it look more natural?

If you start with white Portland cement, you will get a very light natural look. If you want mixed shades of brown, you can add a bunch of oak leaves to the leaching process, and the rock will absorb color in a random very natural looking pattern. I have some which has been in the aquarium for a year and the pigment has not faded. It may have discouraged nuisance algae growth on the rock too.

 

[Barto]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7484727#post7484727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctreefer
Nice thread here. I'm hoping to give this a try in the coming months.

BigSkyBart, I notice you said you're watering your pine with the water after each run. I'm not sure, but you might be in danger of killing it. Pine's like acidic soil and by dumping really alkaline water over it you may cause harm. I'd hate to lose a 65' tree.

Thanks for bringing up a good point. I spoke to our County extension agent, and asked that same question. The alkali in the overflow water is very diluted and should have no effect. Pines do prefer acidic soil, in fact, pines create acidic soil with fallen needles, as a sort of a defense mechanism to limit the competition for nutrients and moisture (survival) Way down deep in the root system, the acid is much less of an issue. Every Spring I clean all the needles away and treat the ground with lime, to neutralize the ph so my grass will grow under the canopy.

I will try another batch this weekend, but, this morning I'm off to the lake with my boys(24 & 27) to see if they can ski or float.

 

[Insane Reefer]

Anyone know offhand what mixing white type one with grey type 1/2 would do? Create a poison gas? Not harden? Work just fine?

 

[Insane Reefer]

Quick warning.
The white portland, type I made by Lehiegh is not particularly suitable for live rock. I have tried several "recipes", but all come out non-porous, heavy and slick/shiny - sort of like a swimming pool. I does make Pretty rock (see my gallery pics), but I am only going to use it to "Encase" (made with regular grey, cover them with a loose layer of this stuff) my LR and make fascade like shells to go over base rock. My grey portland mixes come out light and fluffy, so it isn't me, hehehe

I'm calling the fascades "Rock Face", lol.

 

[captbunzo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7490103#post7490103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
Anyone know offhand what mixing white type one with grey type 1/2 would do? Create a poison gas? Not harden? Work just fine?

I doubt it. That is what I used. I assume it is a mix of Portland Type 1 and Portland Type 2.

 

[Insane Reefer]

SOme pics while I wait for cement to set...

SOme pics while I wait for cement to set...

Here is what I'm working with. My room-mate named it "Nessy"; says it looks like a beached nessy, lol...

More photos forthcoming.

 

[xdusty6920]

what in the world is that? i can see your using the balloon method but if you cover that with cement, how will you get the contents out? by the way, what is that mass in the center anyways? looks cool of youve already got that part figured out though.

 

[Rhodophyta]

I feel uneasy about the suggestions of substituting rock salt or ice cream salt for an organic such as macaroni or chopped veggie. I wouldn't use either salt. Rock salt is worse than ice cream salt.Three reasons.... Rock salt contains about 2% or so calcium sulphate, a black insoluble rock that is mixed in with the natural salt deposit. It may also contain additives that make it a better ice removal product by protecting the bed and gears of a salt spreader from corrosion, and preventing caking, enhancing the melt rate or other reasons not very compatible with marine life. It is a mined product, potentially containing a number of contaminants, from explosive residue, ammonium nitrate, diesel fuel, conveyer belt dressing and grease, to the underground mine equivalent of yellow snow.