Insane Reefer
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double post - sorry.
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
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Insane Reefer
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Hi D,
The important thing would be how this admixture affects the cements chemical composition. For our rock, we need it to be able to complete the cycle and turn to calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide - if it doesn't, well, it will still be rock, but not nearly as beneficial. Another thing to be concerned about is just what is this stuff made of? Will it be left behind in the molecular structure, and if it is, will it be safe for the aquarium? If your cement friend can answer these questions and the answers are positive, then I'd be willing to at least check it out.
But it might come down to price in the end. A 40lbs bag of salt is $5, and will make a lot of rock. We know all about how salt retards curing and weakens the cement, but as someone pointed out way back in the thread, we aren't building houses with the rock we make - as long as your rock is tough enough to stand the pressure from the rest of your reef rock and doesn't just mush when you go to kure it, you are good to go.
I'd still be interested in that info though...
Pattylucylaura
New member
Did I see somewhere in this thread that adding an airstone will speed up kuring time?
Rhodophyta
New member
I think one of those additives is powdered aluminum which produces "air" in reaction to the wet concrete mixture.
http://www.geckostone.com/lwc.html and http://www.litebuilt.com/ present some useful ideas. This is old technology but as good as ever. Remember your WWII history. If the Normandy Invasion had failed, the next step planned would have been to build huge troop ships from lightweight concrete and regular concrete for a frontal invasion.
I think white portland is made from a different color of limestone. You can go darker with dyes but not lighter. If you use a white aggregate and then hit the almost hardened rocks with a power washer, you can expose the aggregate, giving the illusion of white.
officerbogus
New member
color
color
I have made my rocks with portland- white grout - salt and Red or Terra cotta dye mix. I use about 3 tablespoons of dye and it makes the rock a nice dark red. The white grout and dye ended up to pink, and the straight portand was a drab grey. I also mix a little of the white grout into the mix, I think it lets the dye come through a little better by lightening up the grey.
PIC http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/75644P5290003__250_x_188_.jpg
color
I have made my rocks with portland- white grout - salt and Red or Terra cotta dye mix. I use about 3 tablespoons of dye and it makes the rock a nice dark red. The white grout and dye ended up to pink, and the straight portand was a drab grey. I also mix a little of the white grout into the mix, I think it lets the dye come through a little better by lightening up the grey.
PIC http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/75644P5290003__250_x_188_.jpg
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speckled trout
New member
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the initial color your agrocrete rock when you first put it in the tank. White rock or purple rock isn't going to stay that color anyways. However, if you just can't wait, you can color your rock with regular old spray paint if you wish. But it doesn't really matter because it'll eventually get completely covered in coralline.
In the past, I've used burgandy and purple to create artifical coralline. It looked fairly convincing but was quickly covered by the real thing and is no longer even visible. Also, I read somewhere that coralline likes to start growing on things that are "darker colored." However, I don't know if this true or not.
Here's some that's been "assimilated" by coralline.
By the way, these rocks have been in my system for years without causing any problems. I have sps, lps, and softies that are doing fine.
In the past, I've used burgandy and purple to create artifical coralline. It looked fairly convincing but was quickly covered by the real thing and is no longer even visible. Also, I read somewhere that coralline likes to start growing on things that are "darker colored." However, I don't know if this true or not.
Here's some that's been "assimilated" by coralline.
By the way, these rocks have been in my system for years without causing any problems. I have sps, lps, and softies that are doing fine.
Holmez221b
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9180399#post9180399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speckled trout
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the initial color your agrocrete rock when you first put it in the tank. White rock or purple rock isn't going to stay that color anyways. However, if you just can't wait, you can color your rock with regular old spray paint if you wish. But it doesn't really matter because it'll eventually get completely covered in coralline.
In the past, I've used burgandy and purple to create artifical coralline. It looked fairly convincing but was quickly covered by the real thing and is no longer even visible. Also, I read somewhere that coralline likes to start growing on things that are "darker colored." However, I don't know if this true or not.
Here's some that's been "assimilated" by coralline.
By the way, these rocks have been in my system for years without causing any problems. I have sps, lps, and softies that are doing fine.
Your rocks look great!! Did you just use portland type one to make them?? I tried using Hydraulic cement for mine, they'll go in the tank within the next week, I hope they get covered with coralline loke yours...
speckled trout
New member
That's right. I used Portland Type II cement and crushed oystershell to create these rocks. Using oystershell creates a unique shape to the rocks and lots of porosity if done correctly. By correctly, I mean that the rocks are made with a fairly dry mixture and porous.
I'm in the process of creating a whole new rockscape for my tank. Everything will fit together and have a certain place within the tank to create a certain look and feel for the tank. It'll look like a ledge with an overhang. The top layer of the ledge will be for the more light demanding corals and the lower tier will be for more light tolerant specimens.
The overhang will project from the rear of the tank towards the front but a little less than half way to the front. There will also be a rock wall on the back of the tank from the bottom to the top ledge. This will create the overhang and slight cave-like appearance that I'm going for in the tank.
Below this, the rock will extend naturally out from underneath the overhang providing a base to accomadate the other corals that I don't want competing with the upper corals for real estate. I will use this area for corals like star polyps, anthelia, galaxias, and ricordias.
I'm in the process of creating a whole new rockscape for my tank. Everything will fit together and have a certain place within the tank to create a certain look and feel for the tank. It'll look like a ledge with an overhang. The top layer of the ledge will be for the more light demanding corals and the lower tier will be for more light tolerant specimens.
The overhang will project from the rear of the tank towards the front but a little less than half way to the front. There will also be a rock wall on the back of the tank from the bottom to the top ledge. This will create the overhang and slight cave-like appearance that I'm going for in the tank.
Below this, the rock will extend naturally out from underneath the overhang providing a base to accomadate the other corals that I don't want competing with the upper corals for real estate. I will use this area for corals like star polyps, anthelia, galaxias, and ricordias.
speckled trout
New member
1. This is cement mixed with oystershell
2. This is dampened oystershell to create a mold from to build up the subsequent layers or pieces.
2. This is dampened oystershell to create a mold from to build up the subsequent layers or pieces.
lildraken
New member
about how long will it take the coralline to start forming? I have my DIY rocks in my aquarium since october and not much coralline has formed-- just a spec here and there. I did seed the tank with a single live rock. do ya'll think that I should use some "garf grunge" or something or does coralline naturally just take a long time? thanks in advance
Aqua Keepers
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Lighting could affect its growth as well. I would'nt worry about it though. Once that stuff gets going there's no stopping it. I personally think coraline is a PITA. I hate it and don't see why everyone is so anxious (sp?) to get it growing. What true benifiet does it provide?
speckled trout
New member
Beauty, as you apparently know PITO, is in the eye of the beholder. But, your right, once it leaves the rocks and starts growing on the glass, it can be a nuisance. However, I wouldn't mind it just growing on the back of the tank. And, your right, eventually it'll be everywhere.
Everyone has an idea of what they want their tank to look like, including their rock. It's just like some people love to have movement in their tank(LPS) while others like a "stick" forest of motionless SPS. It's all about personal preference. To each his own. :rollface: I like some of both.
Personally, I think purple, pink and even some orange coralline looks cool peeking out from under all my corals. It adds a contrast to all the other colors, IMO.
Everyone has an idea of what they want their tank to look like, including their rock. It's just like some people love to have movement in their tank(LPS) while others like a "stick" forest of motionless SPS. It's all about personal preference. To each his own. :rollface: I like some of both.
Personally, I think purple, pink and even some orange coralline looks cool peeking out from under all my corals. It adds a contrast to all the other colors, IMO.
Beenalongtime79
New member
Coralline retards the growth of nuisance algae on the rock which can further deteriorate the quality of rock as the nuisance algae grow on the rock and capture nutrients and when they eventually die on the rock, deposit a little bit of the phosphate on the rock. This further retards coralline algae growth and leads to more nuisance algae growth. It is important to prevent this vicious cycle.
This cycle may take years, or it could be only a few months depending on your husbandry practices.
Peace,
John
speckled trout
New member
rufio173, good point about the really nuisance algaes! Hair algae bites, in my book.
However, one concern of coralline is that it decreases the biological filtering capacity of the rock by covering the openings of the "pores" in the rocks. In doing so, it makes it less able to "filter" the water, which is the main reason why most of us say we want it in our tanks to begin with.
Personally, I don't really worry about that too much and would much rather have coralline outcompete bryopsis than worry about it losing a little filtering capacity. That's what my skimmers are for; to take up the slack!:bum:
However, one concern of coralline is that it decreases the biological filtering capacity of the rock by covering the openings of the "pores" in the rocks. In doing so, it makes it less able to "filter" the water, which is the main reason why most of us say we want it in our tanks to begin with.
Personally, I don't really worry about that too much and would much rather have coralline outcompete bryopsis than worry about it losing a little filtering capacity. That's what my skimmers are for; to take up the slack!:bum:
RandyStacyE
New member
Ahhh but the rock is for 'biological filtration' and the skimmer is more along the lines of 'mechanical filtration'. Not being picky on ya 
That's why many of use reef sand ... good biological filtration too.
That's why many of use reef sand ... good biological filtration too.
thriceanangel
Active member
I'd say skimmer is closer to chemical filtration, because of the chemical polarity of water and the properties of protein and bubbles as well. But as you say, not to get picky... ;-)
speckled trout
New member
I wasn't really trying to nit pick about the various types of filtration.
The water needs to stay as pristine as possible. All of the available forms that we employ work together. Remove or inhibit any one of them and the others are required to do more.
The water needs to stay as pristine as possible. All of the available forms that we employ work together. Remove or inhibit any one of them and the others are required to do more.
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