The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
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Aqua Keepers
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aerating? Whats that? I was gonna use it to create the larger tunnels and shapes and what not. However, I changed my mind.
lildraken
New member
adding dirt would make your rocks look--well..... dirty! you can still make tunnels and shapes with salt, just mold the cement and surround it with salt so that it holds it shape as you go. I've noticed that in a few pics, the rocks are created in shallow containers. If you want taller rocks, you hafta use taller containers like a bucket or one of those styrofoam coolers from walmart. I can post an illustration if ya'll like or maybe you already know what i'm talking about.
speckled trout
New member
I'm not sure about using dirt.
I just use sand/or crushed shell to create the holes, branches and caves. It can be easily washed out of the rock when its finished drying.
Keep adding sand/ or crushed shell as you work your way up. Keep applying wet cement and sand/ or crushed shell where you want to create cavities. I've made some large rocks on top of shallow styrofoam containers like the ones the LFS recieves their fish in.
I used this technique to create some pretty large rocks for some of my friend's tanks.
I just use sand/or crushed shell to create the holes, branches and caves. It can be easily washed out of the rock when its finished drying.
Keep adding sand/ or crushed shell as you work your way up. Keep applying wet cement and sand/ or crushed shell where you want to create cavities. I've made some large rocks on top of shallow styrofoam containers like the ones the LFS recieves their fish in.
I used this technique to create some pretty large rocks for some of my friend's tanks.
RandyStacyE
New member
speckled trout,
I think I've seen those pics before ... those are absolutely awsome rocks! I think those are the pics that inspired me and made me decide to try this one day.
I think I've seen those pics before ... those are absolutely awsome rocks! I think those are the pics that inspired me and made me decide to try this one day.
Fishboy1230
New member
Nice shapes
Rhodophyta
New member
Also remember the entire ocean and all the river tributaries that provide new water to the ocean are completely lined with "dirt". Salt contains impurities from the mining process -- miniscule traces of belt dressings, grease lubricants, residue from ammonium nitrate explosives, personal contributions from guys who decided not to make the walk to the Here's Johnny -- and mostly natural impurities like the rock the salt is embedded with, the last being pretty inert safe stuff though, not too much different from "dirt".
Bubbled-tip
New member
I just read all 51 pages!
I have only 1 question:rollface:
Is it OK after the concrete cure and salt/alk cure (freshwater) can I use the ocean in Maine to seed or is the cooler water bacteria/live rock life not suitable to a tropical reef? I would think the bacteria would be OK but criiters would not.
Recommendations?
Anyone tried it?
I have only 1 question:rollface:
Is it OK after the concrete cure and salt/alk cure (freshwater) can I use the ocean in Maine to seed or is the cooler water bacteria/live rock life not suitable to a tropical reef? I would think the bacteria would be OK but criiters would not.
Recommendations?
Anyone tried it?
Aqua Keepers
New member
I'd be worried about other nasties like oil from boats and what not.
Aqua Keepers
New member
Pulled the rocks out of the salt and here's what they look like so far. The first 3pics are the same rock. It now weighs 18lbs. The last two weigh about 1.5lbs each. They'll sit dry for a couple more days. Then I'll toss them in h2o.
speckled trout
New member
They're all connected. It's one big piece.
Aqua Keepers
New member
Yes, the large one is all one rock.
Rhodophyta
New member
I agree too. Pete Mohan, now of the Akron Zoo, once built a marine system for critters from under the Antarctic ice. Calculating the size of biofilter needed to handle this tank resulted in an impossibly large size if the filter were at the same temperature as the tank, so the water went through a heat exchanger to get to the warm filter, getting warmed up as it went, then after filtration, back through the heat exchanger to chill, then through the chiller to control the exact temperature, an energy-wise system. The bacteria could survive on both sides of the temperature cline, but the marine animals could only survive on the chilled side. The display tanks were also inside a modified grocery store frozen food cabinet since a chiller could not do this task alone and the insulation in the cabinet made it more energy saving.
michaelalan
New member
I noticed in that PH chart that coffee and beer hat PH levels of 4-5. I think I'll try adding my left over coffee grounds to my water changes.
You can also get bags of it from Starsluts coffee.
You can also get bags of it from Starsluts coffee.
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