The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

[Rhodophyta]

Raising the percentage of richmortar and using the least amount of water that will provide workability will speed curing (setting) and later will speed the removal of excess alkalinity by locking more of the lime into the structure of the newly created rock (hydration).

 

[Urban_Squrill]

How long do you guys leave the rocks on your trays or molds before you remove them?

 

[Barto]

I had my best results keeping hands off for something like 72 hrs (3 days) I always broke something if I looked sooner than that

 

[Rhodophyta]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8940988#post8940988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigSkyBart
I had my best results keeping hands off for something like 72 hrs (3 days) I always broke something if I looked sooner than that

That's in line with the idea you don't drive your car on your new concrete driveway until it's had time to set.:mixed:

 

[Insane Reefer]

I haven't been following this thread in a while, but have a question. Probably been covered here somewhere, but dialup stinks, lol.

Anyway, Toilet Tank curing? I have some thin "back wall" pieces in my tiolet tank curing for my new nano. They range from .25in to 1.5in in thickness and are about sandwitch bread sized. How long before I check the pH and Alk? I'm thinking with all the flow, and being so thin, they might cure really quick. I didn't use any salt in the mix, but did use puka, crushed coral and southdown, so sort of dense.
Thoughts?

 

[sharrison1]

just buy some. it's alot easier.

 

[sharrison1]

just buy some. it's alot easier.

 

[Insane Reefer]

Some things you just can't buy - like custom wall pieces. Besides, it is more responsible to use man made rock as opposed to ripping tons out of the ocean for our amusement...
Maybe we can leave a little behind for our kids.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8978730#post8978730 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sharrison1
just buy some. it's alot easier.

My nephew (7yrs old) made one of my nices pieces of DIY rock so far. So, I have to say its gonna be much eisier to spend $20 and have him make me 90lbs of rock than going to work to earn the $300 for the real deal.

 

[Barto]

Pito,
That sounds great, getting the little ones involved, have a pic of his work (rock) for us to see?

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Sure look on pg2 after you click on my red house.
Don't forget that I'm helping him.

 

[Insane Reefer]

Any ideas on toilet curing time???

 

[Aqua Keepers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8979498#post8979498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
Any ideas on toilet curing time???

I would think it would very like everything else in the hobby. It's gonna depend on how often you poop and flush, how big the rocks are, etc.... I've heard of peoples rocks takeing longer in a lake than in a bucket. Your best bet is to just buy a test kit and start testing after two weeks.

 

[customcolor]

it took me almost 3 hours to skim and to read the highlights of this forum. im planing to turn my 55 in to a bigger tank and i have 90 lbs of lr and now after reading this i can add to my rock by making it for pennys on the dollar. i hope soon i too will be adding pics to this to show off my work.

 

[iceman5]

isn't this hobby $$ enought and then everyone wants to go cheap and make your own rock ( i did AND deicided not to and spend the extra $ which isnt that much ! )i love the idea of making your own rock so you sAVE the natural resources but by the time you buy the tank , stand, skimmer, lights ,bulbs, substrate, sump, pumps hose , and live stock, then you want to chance phoshate rich man made rock. like i said i made some but why chance it you make some cure it then it cracks or breaks then your phos. goes up? live rock is not that $$$ and if you think it is you should find a different hobby . this is all just my opinion . some one once told me buy the right thing right away or you will buy something twice! good luck everyone if you try it but dont cry when you have problems

 

[Aqua Keepers]

iceman, If you cure your rock right (in RO/DI), you should'nt have to worry about phosphate. If you make them right, you should'nt have them crack on you. I can stand on mine and I weight 170. I can DIY a stand way stronger and a bit cheaper than I could buy one. So, should I get out the hobby for saveing a buck? People have been DIYing LR for years my friend. Yes, you should buy the right stuff first or you will end up upgrading. That just means you need to know what your goal is. It's the same with DIY. You need to DIY the right stuff for the over all goal of your tank or you'll need to make something over or bigger.

 

[Barto]

Pito,
very well put

 

[Michael Mota]

Very good thread, gave me some nice ideas for my diy rock this time around for the new tank. Thanks to all.

 

[impur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8983195#post8983195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iceman5
isn't this hobby $$ enought and then everyone wants to go cheap and make your own rock ( i did AND deicided not to and spend the extra $ which isnt that much ! )i love the idea of making your own rock so you sAVE the natural resources but by the time you buy the tank , stand, skimmer, lights ,bulbs, substrate, sump, pumps hose , and live stock, then you want to chance phoshate rich man made rock. like i said i made some but why chance it you make some cure it then it cracks or breaks then your phos. goes up? live rock is not that $$$ and if you think it is you should find a different hobby . this is all just my opinion . some one once told me buy the right thing right away or you will buy something twice! good luck everyone if you try it but dont cry when you have problems

Buying LR doesn't ensure there are no phosphates. Just skim some of the threads in the general forum. Not to mention the difficulty stacking the rock to get the look you want does not always work out perfect.

With DIY rock you get exact shapes you want, save LOTS of $$$(100lbs at 3-5 bucks a pound is a lot of $$ to most ppl, maybe not you), and help by not taking it out of its natural place.

 

[thriceanangel]

Maybe because in his sig line that he has only just recently converted to reef hobby, he underestimates all the costs that go into it. (Salt, electricity, bulbs, salt, chemicals, tank cleaners, and salt) I think I listed salt once too much, but being that water changes export my phosphates and nitrates, and etc. it's better than 7/ lb for LR especially when my DIY isn't leaching PO3 anyway.

Tank and equipment are one thing, live rock is another. It's VERY expensive to most of the world. IMO the biggest single investment. I have made this rock, and I am VERY happy with it. I am currently building a 240 gal cube, and it will have predominantly DIY rock. And I don't expect any problems with it.