The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
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lildraken
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The length of the curing time greatly depends on the thickness of your rock. some rocks from the same batch took 10 weeks while a few of the thicker caves still have not cured after 15. I gave up on those and started a new batch with thinner walls.
I think someone else mentioned earlier that you're supposed to wait 2 weeks before soaking in water. If you soak it too early, the "sludge" that comes to the surface of the water is a mix of calcium silicate hydrates and calcium hydroxide. to paraphrase what I've read, that "gel" is supposed to assist in the proper hydration of concrete so by soaking it too early in water, it separates the gel from your rocks and slows down the curing process.
samwrang, why not smash the bag against the floor and break up the salt with a hammer before you open the bag?
I think someone else mentioned earlier that you're supposed to wait 2 weeks before soaking in water. If you soak it too early, the "sludge" that comes to the surface of the water is a mix of calcium silicate hydrates and calcium hydroxide. to paraphrase what I've read, that "gel" is supposed to assist in the proper hydration of concrete so by soaking it too early in water, it separates the gel from your rocks and slows down the curing process.
samwrang, why not smash the bag against the floor and break up the salt with a hammer before you open the bag?
yeah just like ice... The rock salt i bought was all in very big chunks and i didnt like it. They werent clumped together, just big pieces. I got the amount i wanted and doubled bagged it in big ziplocks and took a hammer to it until i was satisfied. Multi purpose, helps with stress too
barbra
Active member
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
Taking this thread back a few days - there is a cornstarch based packaging material on the market very similar to styrofoam peanuts. They are a small cylindrical shape and can be dissolved in water, you can actually eat them if you like, but they don't taste very good. I was wondering if anyone had tried using those? Unless someone says otherwise I think I am going to give it a go this weekend, I just hope they don't dissolve too quicly.....
Taking this thread back a few days - there is a cornstarch based packaging material on the market very similar to styrofoam peanuts. They are a small cylindrical shape and can be dissolved in water, you can actually eat them if you like, but they don't taste very good. I was wondering if anyone had tried using those? Unless someone says otherwise I think I am going to give it a go this weekend, I just hope they don't dissolve too quicly.....
Through trial and error the best rocks i have come up with have been with the mixture of 2-3 cups sand/ 1 cup cement/ 1 cup rock salt. After i get the shapes i want i get screwdrivers of different sizes and needles and whatever else is small and poke them to give them even more holes and a more natural look
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8708677#post8708677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TekCat
So, what is the "Ultimate DIY Rocks" recepie?
I personally think that the 2-3:1 ratio of salt to cement is great. I have yet to have problems with it, but your milage may vary.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
the ready to use stuff has all sorts of rocks and such in it. The portland cement is prefered because it's pure in it's own right. No sand, gravel, rocks, fillers, etc.
TekCat,
I, too was looking for a smaller bag, but ended up getting the 90lb bag just because it being so cheap. I have made two batches of rock and have barely made a dent in the bag! lol Now, I have enough concrete to do any other DIY things that come around.
I do have a question about the finished rock though. Are the surfaces of the rock kind of brittle?
When I pick up the rock and squeeze it, I can feel some of the pores giving away. It feels like you could chip away pieces very easily, but I know in the tank there shouldn't be any chipping going on. lol Just curious
I, too was looking for a smaller bag, but ended up getting the 90lb bag just because it being so cheap. I have made two batches of rock and have barely made a dent in the bag! lol Now, I have enough concrete to do any other DIY things that come around.
I do have a question about the finished rock though. Are the surfaces of the rock kind of brittle?
When I pick up the rock and squeeze it, I can feel some of the pores giving away. It feels like you could chip away pieces very easily, but I know in the tank there shouldn't be any chipping going on. lol Just curious
tankslave
New member
Its the kind of stucco/mix you use. Some mixes have this styrofoam-like stuff mixed in. Stick with the more sandy kind, and it should be OK. Also, if it cracks easily, you need to adjust the amount of water you use. Either its too water or too dry. Just takes some trial and error. You can also add some nylon fibers specifically for concrete reinforcement which you can mix in. Now for some pics.
First, a $189 "Reef Ceramic"
http://www.captiveoceans.com/mm5/me...&Product_Code=KWD40&Category_Code=Loose-Rocks
Now one that cost less than $0.50:
Here's how you do it:
Happy DIY'in!
Holmez221b
New member
tankslave Yours looks better than the store bought!!!
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