The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

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I think most ppl use at least a powerhead. Keeping the water warm would prob speed up the process. I dont know if carbon would help. Carbon is good at absorbing organic toxins, most of the stuff that leaches out of these rocks are inorganic ions.
 
I was thinking about giving this a try...This is the rock salt I bought. Is this stuff ok
1203_Rock_Salt.gif
 
Thanks! Prob just soak it in RO/DI for a week and check the pH and silicates. Change water for another week, check again, etc. I'm not so worried about pH as silicates, honestly, but I've not done this before, so we'll see how it all pans out.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8874172#post8874172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 05Xrunner
I was thinking about giving this a try...This is the rock salt I bought. Is this stuff ok
1203_Rock_Salt.gif
Click to expand...

I originally used that, and the purity of it is very questionable. Some of the non-NaCl things in there could become dangerous in higher concentrations, and it's also very expensive in the long run.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8877273#post8877273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 05Xrunner
hmmmm...I only paid 96cents for 4lbs of it
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I got 40lbs for a lil over $4. Plus, Like Travis said, the purity of that stuff is very questionable and there could be dangerous stuff in it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8877273#post8877273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 05Xrunner
hmmmm...I only paid 96cents for 4lbs of it
Click to expand...
It doesn't seem like much, but it adds up.

1x 50lb (50lbs) bag of NaCl Water Softener (100% Pure) = $5.00
12.5x 4lb (50lbs) bags of NaCl Rock Salt (Unpure) = $12.00

My math might be a little wrong because I can't remember if the salt comes in 50lb or 40lb bags. Even if it was a 40lb bag, then:

1x 40lb (40lbs) bag of NaCl Water Softener (100% Pure) = $5.00
10x 4lb (40lbs) bags of NaCl Rock Salt (Unpure) = $9.60
 
oh..I didnt know to get the water softner stuff...I was reading through this thread and i saw the use of the ICE cream salt. I will buy the water softner stuff instead. and just use the ice cream salt for any snow or ice we get here.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8877348#post8877348 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 05Xrunner
oh..I didnt know to get the water softner stuff...I was reading through this thread and i saw the use of the ICE cream salt. I will buy the water softner stuff instead. and just use the ice cream salt for any snow or ice we get here.
Click to expand...

I highly suggest taking the time to actually read through the whole thread. There has been many variations done with this recipe and people posting their results. Mixed in with all the comments are some crucial tidbits.
 
tankslave,

Great pics! I am still amazed by how great that stucco looks! Also, how do you like your wavy sea penductor? How long have you had it and are you also using the wavy sea Plus?

Thanks,
John H.
 
Thanks John! I do am shocked by how natural the stucco looks. After all the recipes I tried, it was just the stucco right out of the box! :)

As for the WavySea, it is the original one, so I cant run too much flow through it or the angle fitting will pop off. Its already split between another fixed penductor, but the WavySea has its own valve to control the flow. I will prob upgrade to the WavySea plus when I have the chance (ie discount) ;)
 
Which type of stucco did you use?
And
Do you think it would possible to add salt to make it more porous?

Another thing is I accidentally bought the renforicing mixture with bits of fiberglass. I made rocks out of it and they turned out nice. Nothing was affected by the fiberglass in it, but it added some more bumps and ridges.
 
"Rapid Set" Stucco Mix. I didnt really think of using the rock salt with it, but I dont see why you couldnt.

That's kinda funny that you accidently got the mix with the fiberlass fibers; I went to several Home Depot's looking for a mix that had that and finally orderd some nylon fiber online, specifically for concrete reinforcement. :p
 
ha What a coincidence! I checked the exact label on the bag its a 30lb bag of QuickWall, Surface Bonding Cement, White

Makes very white/pale rocks
Ill post picture of unmixed cement in a cup

The next thing we need to find is a way to have cure free rock... :)
 
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