TwentyTwenty
New member
Have any of you guys visited Garf.org ? They have test data on curing and different recipes for rock. Pretty infomative stuff. Take a look.
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
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Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Yes. GARF has been mentioned MANY times in this thread. I'll agree that it has useful information.
TwentyTwenty
New member
Nice rocks T. One question about the stucco. I read some where that the reason stucco is used on the west coast and drier climates is because it does'nt do will in moisture. Have you had any problems with weakness or flaking ? One more thought it has a habit of mildewing as well, do you think there is any reason for concern here ?
tankslave
New member
Well thanks! The east cost/ west coast thing came up before, and while I havnt cured the rocks yet, I doubt it should be an issue. Reason being is 1) stucco is a concrete mix. Concrete is holding it together, so it shouldnt dissolve in water. 2) reason I think it is not used on the east coast is since it is applied relatively thinly and with little reinforcement, when it gets wet and then freezes it probably cracks and falls off. I dont see stucco used anywhere that it gets very cold, for example up in the mountains, even in SoCal. That's my hypothesis, but I cant say for sure till I soak it for a few weeks.
Joshsmit56001
Member
I bought some Portland type 1a cement, will this be ok to use? It is the closest I could find. It says that it is used for general contruction. There was also Type N but I was not sure if that was ok to use.
Thanks,
Josh
Thanks,
Josh
Fishboy1230
New member
I dont know what type 1a and N contain and their differences, but I dont think there are many things that could be in it that would make it unsafe...
Joshsmit56001
Member
So type 1A is safe to use?
Fishboy1230
New member
I know alot of people have used buffers to lower the ph in the curing water therefore speeding the process...im not sure which they used.
I havent used any myself i just put my rocks in the back of the toilet surge, box, back thinggy... if you do its turning waste water into useible water that changes around 80%-90% each flush.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
I do this all the time. They turn out just find. In fact, I have a couple hundred frag disks in the back of my two tanks right now.
tankslave
New member
HAHAHAH, that was funny. "No, not in the bowl!"
You guys have any problems with brown algae on the rocks later? Personally I wouldnt do it b/c my silicate is off the Salfert scale... I even found a correlation between washing my hands with tap vs RO/DI before putting them in the tank. Finally stopped my brown algae on the glass.
You guys have any problems with brown algae on the rocks later? Personally I wouldnt do it b/c my silicate is off the Salfert scale... I even found a correlation between washing my hands with tap vs RO/DI before putting them in the tank. Finally stopped my brown algae on the glass.
Joshsmit56001
Member
I am having problems forming rocks that look like the real thing. Any suggestions on how to improve my technique. What I want to do is form 2 pillars in my 150 gallon. I currently placed some 1" PVC in the middle of the rocks to hold up the pillar. Any other suggestions?
Joshsmit56001
Member
What sort of things do you use to get different effects?
Barto
Alleged Lounge Moron
fingers, thumbs, rocksalt crystals, bubble wrap (from another thread, I haven't tried it yet, but it looks great)
As far as I can tell, creativity with the diy rocks is limited by imagination.
Try making small batches, so you can practice different methods each time. (You'll want to throw a few rocks away, or break them up for base rock, I know I did)
Again, good luck!
As far as I can tell, creativity with the diy rocks is limited by imagination.
Try making small batches, so you can practice different methods each time. (You'll want to throw a few rocks away, or break them up for base rock, I know I did)
Again, good luck!
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