The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
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true. but im really just trying to figure out if it will prolong the old rocks from being ready. i can just soak a few pieces in a seperate bucket over night to test it. I plan on making another batch and it would be really inconvenient to have another huge container in the yard. but i also don't want to start the wait time over.
Rhodophyta
New member
http://www.thoroproducts.com/pdf_appl/appl_thorite.pdf
http://www.damtitewaterproofing.com/products/product.php?colName=4071
http://www.minerals.net/mineral/silicate/neso/zircon/thorite.htm
I'm sure there is no connection between Thorite the brand name and thorite the mineral. But I have both in the URLS and a similar concrete product to Thorite.
lildraken
New member
after 10 agonizing weeks of waiting
after 10 agonizing weeks of waiting
Here are pics of my rocks if anybody cares.
They consist of 1:2:1 sand:rock salt
ortland cement respectively. It took them 10 weeks to cure, but I did not realize until after the 6th week that south florida tap water has a pH out of range of my test kit. I did not start adding vinegar to the water until after 6 weeks.
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/singlepolyp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucke<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/DIYrock.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>t - Video and Image Hosting"></a><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/DIYrock2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
after 10 agonizing weeks of waiting
Here are pics of my rocks if anybody cares.
They consist of 1:2:1 sand:rock saltortland cement respectively. It took them 10 weeks to cure, but I did not realize until after the 6th week that south florida tap water has a pH out of range of my test kit. I did not start adding vinegar to the water until after 6 weeks. <a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/singlepolyp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucke<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/DIYrock.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>t - Video and Image Hosting"></a><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q112/Syford/DIYrock2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
I haven't used thorite, but did use hydraulic cement (I think it was the quikrete water stop at HD), which I believe thorite is just a type of. After waiting 2 days, and no kuring period, it didn't seem to raise pH, although I only used a single rock (maybe ~5 lbs) in a 150 gal vol system. After a week, I ended up taking out the rock since I didn't need it for it's originally intended purpose.
I would probably use it again for future projects, but would really like to confirm whether the elevated levels of aluminates (and of any other additives) would be safe in a reef tank setting.
I would probably use it again for future projects, but would really like to confirm whether the elevated levels of aluminates (and of any other additives) would be safe in a reef tank setting.
lildraken
New member
EQCM2B, the only reason why I added vinegar to the water is because the pH of my tap water is already off the charts (past 8.8). I couldn't tell if the rocks raised the pH unless i lowered it with vinegar first. As for expediting the curing process, I don't know if vinegar does or not.
Abalone joe
New member
I've been away. Since I've been gone, Checking back periodically, I've seen picture after picture of dry homemade rock with additive after additive. This is nice but I think it's report card day. Everyone who has been posting should take pictures of the tanks currently setup using homemade rock. Along with your pics, Please describe your rock's formulation & cure method/type. What percentage of homemade rock is being used in the pictured tanks. Algea history of the tanks and anything else of note. We can talk about making rock all day but the proof is in the using.
Holmez221b
New member
JOSEPHLB your rocks look awesome!!! Do you know if there is any potential risk with using the dye??? If not I'd do all of mine that way....
JOSEPHLB
New member
From what I've gathered on this site and various other web sources, iron oxide based dyes should poise no risk. Iron Oxide is nothing more than good ole fashion "Rust".
Thats the only knowledge and experience I have in the matter, since I've never used DIY rock until now. My rocks have currently been kuring for almost three weeks now. The photo I posted above is all I have left after I selected through the bunch that I made. I had more, but I tossed out some that didn't come out right.
I have two 18g Rubbermaid totes with a powerhead in each tote circulaiting the water. The first two weeks, I did a water change ever other day. The water constantly had a white film on the top. Since I'm only doing a water change every week. I've noticed the white film building up on top doesn't happen so often, and takes a few days. I'm going to assume that is a good sign.
I'm guessing another 3 weeks (minimum) and these should be good to go.
Here is a place that you can find medicine capsules, different sizes, different quantities, different materials. Apparently capsules are sized like wire, with the larger capsules being the smaller number. This particular site has from size 4 to size 000. This gives you an idea of the sizes.
israelnajar posted
israelnajar posted
Dyceskynes
New member
I am going to start working on a 20L crab tank and was thinking on having a rock back wall. Has anyone tried to form the cement on to egg crate diffuser for support? I want the panels to be fairly thin yet lighter in weight.
ODOG
New member
dyc, on one of the first pages of this half of the thread there is a link to another thread that shows how to make a cement wall. Basically you start with regular foam from a craft store and silicone that to the back. Then start with a runny consistency of cement and paint the foam, allow to dry. Keep doing this until your foam is hard and then you can use a thicker consistency to form the wall and make shapes.
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