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The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
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Before I cut it I wondered if it would spike and need to cure again. I guess I was right. The rock I made at the same time is hanging out in the 8 range. The slab is only 11.5" x 7.5" x 1.5" so it should cycle quickly.
Because this is for such a small tank I am taking it very slowly. I really am not in any rush to start the other tank because of my other tanks. This is more of an experiment as anything else.
If necessary I can stick the slab in either my 95 system or my 29 just to see if it spikes in the salt water before I start the 2.5. Thanks.
Because this is for such a small tank I am taking it very slowly. I really am not in any rush to start the other tank because of my other tanks. This is more of an experiment as anything else.
If necessary I can stick the slab in either my 95 system or my 29 just to see if it spikes in the salt water before I start the 2.5. Thanks.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Woohoo! Thread Split!!!
coyoteseven
New member
You know you made the 'big show' when you make the split.
:celeb3: Congrats, Travis! :celeb1:
:bounce1: WOOHOO!!! Post #1234 for me! :bounce1:
:celeb3: Congrats, Travis! :celeb1:
:bounce1: WOOHOO!!! Post #1234 for me! :bounce1:
ODOG
New member
Travis thanks for looking that up,
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=618586&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
It's a project I've been wanting to try since I first read it. I have some homemade rock sitting in my back yard. It's only a few pieces I was playing around one night. I think I used 4 parts sand, 1 part caribsea aragonite and 1 part quikrete. I was happy with the density but didn't like that every piece has 1 flat side, lol. I'm gonna try another batch using some rock salt and do it in conjuction with making the cement wall on a 75 I have in my garage. Sounds like a good garage project for this winter when it's to cold to go out side. Maybe if anyone else tries the rock they can try the yeast method of curing to see how well it works.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=618586&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
It's a project I've been wanting to try since I first read it. I have some homemade rock sitting in my back yard. It's only a few pieces I was playing around one night. I think I used 4 parts sand, 1 part caribsea aragonite and 1 part quikrete. I was happy with the density but didn't like that every piece has 1 flat side, lol. I'm gonna try another batch using some rock salt and do it in conjuction with making the cement wall on a 75 I have in my garage. Sounds like a good garage project for this winter when it's to cold to go out side. Maybe if anyone else tries the rock they can try the yeast method of curing to see how well it works.
I have been thinking about the yeast and sugar method too but wonder if the yeast would not work when the pH was high such as 10+. If all we are doing is making CO2 available wouldn't macro algae work too? Use some water from a WC and set up an aquarium with some Cheato and a grow light.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Well, you could do what some people do on freshwater planted tanks. Take yeast and sugar in a two liter bottle. The waste from the yeast is CO2, get the CO2 to be bubbled into the Kuring bin to keep the pH down.
If having a low pH is what really helps Kure the rock faster, than that would be the way to go. But I really don't know what chemicals are coming out of the rock, how they react to CO2, and what the saturation limit is of the water that the rocks are being Kured in.
I guess this goes way beyond my high school chemistry, but theoretically if things go smoothly, it could work. But the odds would be against our favor.
If having a low pH is what really helps Kure the rock faster, than that would be the way to go. But I really don't know what chemicals are coming out of the rock, how they react to CO2, and what the saturation limit is of the water that the rocks are being Kured in.
I guess this goes way beyond my high school chemistry, but theoretically if things go smoothly, it could work. But the odds would be against our favor.
Now I just need to brew some beer and stick my exhaust tube in an aquarium. I would think that the CO2 would be reacting with the carbonate ions from the cement. Basically the carbonate buffering cycle as seen in freshwater systems is occurring. By adding the CO2 to the system, the chemical reactions should continue and the pH should change. Isn't this one of the reasons for WC during the curing process isn't it? It is just as easy to do WC's but it would be interesting to see which would be faster: Daily WC vs. CO2. They would probably both be about the same though. With the CO2 just keep adding more sugar/yeast when the bubbling has slowed. Yeah this all goes back to the science geek.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
That's the impression that I was under. But, I'm consulting with Randy Holmes-Farley to clear up any possible misinformation that could be presented. Most of my "suggestions" are speculative at best. I don't know much about the detailed, chemical side of what is going on, nor do I remember much of my high school chemistry 
thriceanangel
Active member
what about mixing in baking soda in the dry mix, and then before it hardens, add some vinegar for some unleavened live rock, or ULR as I call it...
speckled trout
New member
Dang, I'm sure glad I have a river to put mine into to cure.
The water is constantly being "changed so to speak" by the flowing water. No effort is required on my part beyond placing it into the river in crates.
I can't imagine trying to change water or speed up the process with the several hundred pounds that I've got going right know.
The water is constantly being "changed so to speak" by the flowing water. No effort is required on my part beyond placing it into the river in crates.
I can't imagine trying to change water or speed up the process with the several hundred pounds that I've got going right know.
perhaps a recap is in order??
perhaps a recap is in order??
let me get this straight.. for those not wanting to re-read the entire thread.. the newest recipe is as follows?
Portland Cement
Morton's Rock Salt (water softner salt)
Sugar
Brewer's yeast..
Now, you are mixing all this together and then forming rocks? correct me if i'm wrong.. but it sounds like a good deal, if the yeast doesn't die from the cement heating up, or doesnt die from the salinity.
Someone wanna edit this down?
perhaps a recap is in order??
let me get this straight.. for those not wanting to re-read the entire thread.. the newest recipe is as follows?
Portland Cement
Morton's Rock Salt (water softner salt)
Sugar
Brewer's yeast..
Now, you are mixing all this together and then forming rocks? correct me if i'm wrong.. but it sounds like a good deal, if the yeast doesn't die from the cement heating up, or doesnt die from the salinity.
Someone wanna edit this down?
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
There is no new recipe at the moment. It's still Rock Salt and Cement. There is a proposal to use yeast and sugar in the water to help speed up the Kuring Process. Not added to the rock itself.
speckled trout
New member
Not everyone uses rock salt, either. Very porous rocks can be created using a relatively dry cement mixture. The whole process can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to become. I prefer simple.
I haven't priced the salt, but I know that I can make my rocks for pennies on the pound without using it and still have all the porosity that I need.
By the way, I'm not trying to knock what you guys are trying to do with the rock salt. Experimentation is fun. :rollface:
I haven't priced the salt, but I know that I can make my rocks for pennies on the pound without using it and still have all the porosity that I need.
By the way, I'm not trying to knock what you guys are trying to do with the rock salt. Experimentation is fun. :rollface:
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Well said and good to clear up that point.
$5/50lb bag. The same price as sand. A straight salt/cement mix is just as cheap as a sand/cement mix and possibly slightly cheaper than a sand/CC/cement mix. All in all, the money in it isn't much no matter what type of rocks you make.
By the way, I'm not trying to knock what you guys are trying to do with the rock salt. Experimentation is fun. :rollface:
No offense was taken. It just goes to show that there is more than one successful way of making rock. And no matter what method you choose, you are still saving rocks from being taken directly out of the ocean. Which is the whole purpose of DIY Rocks; conservation. The fact that they are cheap and fun to make is the icing on the cake.
drauka99
Member
since the thread has been split can someone repost the basic instructions. I have a 180 I am working on (upgrade from a 55 gallon) and I was thinking I might make a couple batches of rock, get it cured and then add in my "real" live rock and let it get colonized. Also I live close to a bayou off of the Gulf of Mexico, has anyone tried curing in salt water? better results, about the same, or did you get bad stuff hitchhiking?
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
People started to have better results with the unofficial improved recipe. More or less if you start out with 3-4 parts of salt and are mixing the water by hand, unless you are really lucky, you'll probably get too much water and have to add more cement to thicken it back up. Eventually you'll get down to the unofficial improved recipe's range.
Original Recipe: 4:1 - 3:1 / Salt:Cement
Improved Recipe: 3:1 - 2:1 / Salt:Cement
Other additives that have been used include salt, crushed coral, crushed oyster shell, biodegradable packing peanuts, macaroni, etc.
Original Recipe: 4:1 - 3:1 / Salt:Cement
Improved Recipe: 3:1 - 2:1 / Salt:Cement
Other additives that have been used include salt, crushed coral, crushed oyster shell, biodegradable packing peanuts, macaroni, etc.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
I think that some has cured in saltwater, but I don't think that they have reported back yet. Because of Florida Waters, I would check state and local laws and check with any wildlife management groups or game wardens just to make sure.
Yes, while still wet.
Yes, while still wet.
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