Beenalongtime79
New member
Ball... quite the awesome structure by the way! 
Very well thought out and one of the coolest structures I've seen in a while.
Very well thought out and one of the coolest structures I've seen in a while.
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
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Insane Reefer
New member
Thanks guys, and Thanks Travis for the kind words It is always nice to get endorsed by the creator of a thread. But this effort is more in hopes of helping some folks make great rock.
Rhody, that is an interesting post, lol. Boats translate to money, hehehe - didn't know Spain was still on the "Boat Standard" for currency. No wonder the Spanish are poor; sort of hard to carry change!
You can just see a bum going up to a well dressed Spaniard, "Hey amigo, you gotta yacht? A dingy? I'd even take a row boat?!" And the reply, "Get out of here you bum - all I have is a galleon!"
I thought it was funny...
Anyway, the post was interesting, even if the rocks these guys are making are for lizard cages. What I don't get is this post talking about the PVC glue being really cheap, only costing a few boats, but all I've ever seen PVC glue offered in are those tiny cans for like 4 or 5 boats. That would make this project way too pricy, IMO. Maybe one could "stucco" the outside of our rock with it? I've sort of done that with "paint" I've made with cement.
Ball AWESOME job! Let me be one of the first to just say, "WOw."
I've bent my share of PVC, but never thought to go that way with it. Nice. You might notice some fine cracks appear over the next month or so. Most of my smaller pieces molded around PVC do. If it worries you, spackle a light layer of fresh cement over it. If the pieces actually drop off, they can be glued with epoxy.
It is always nice to get endorsed by the creator of a thread. But this effort is more in hopes of helping some folks make great rock.Rhody, that is an interesting post, lol. Boats translate to money, hehehe - didn't know Spain was still on the "Boat Standard" for currency. No wonder the Spanish are poor; sort of hard to carry change!
You can just see a bum going up to a well dressed Spaniard, "Hey amigo, you gotta yacht? A dingy? I'd even take a row boat?!" And the reply, "Get out of here you bum - all I have is a galleon!"
I thought it was funny...
Anyway, the post was interesting, even if the rocks these guys are making are for lizard cages. What I don't get is this post talking about the PVC glue being really cheap, only costing a few boats, but all I've ever seen PVC glue offered in are those tiny cans for like 4 or 5 boats. That would make this project way too pricy, IMO. Maybe one could "stucco" the outside of our rock with it? I've sort of done that with "paint" I've made with cement.
Ball AWESOME job! Let me be one of the first to just say, "WOw."
I've bent my share of PVC, but never thought to go that way with it. Nice. You might notice some fine cracks appear over the next month or so. Most of my smaller pieces molded around PVC do. If it worries you, spackle a light layer of fresh cement over it. If the pieces actually drop off, they can be glued with epoxy.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
:lmao: If change is a piece of the boat, then I'll take all the bulkheads you find lying in your couch cushions
Concerning that thread, I've heard of people using epoxy resin before successfully, but I highly doubt that it is much cheaper than just cement and salt.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
I guess it would be my duty to show everyone more examples of my rocks at work, eh? Well, here you go.
Rock Work for 2g Cubes
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work for 10g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work in 29g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work in 75g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Okay. So it isn't done yet
Rock Work for 20g Hex
Learn more about this aquarium here and here
Unfortunately, the tank bottom broke on this. We believe that a piece of rock got lodged between the glass and the rock and caused it to crack.
Rock Work for 2g Cubes
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work for 10g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work in 29g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Rock Work in 75g Tank
Learn more about this aquarium here.
Okay. So it isn't done yet
Rock Work for 20g Hex
Learn more about this aquarium here and here
Unfortunately, the tank bottom broke on this. We believe that a piece of rock got lodged between the glass and the rock and caused it to crack.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
Oh, I also have rock work done on a 300g tank at a commercial residence, but I don't have pictures of it. 
speckled trout
New member
Ball, there are ways to easily make your structure without the pvc. Just use crushed shell or sand to create a mold. PVC isn't needed. It'll save you a lot of time and some $ and the end result will look the same.
I've made some really intricate structures with absolutely nothing more than crushed oystershell and some damp shell to serve as a temporary mold as I make the rock. Here's some I made a couple of years ago using only crushed oystershell/cement and some damp crushed oystershell as a mold.
I made these for a friend's 300g.
I've made some really intricate structures with absolutely nothing more than crushed oystershell and some damp shell to serve as a temporary mold as I make the rock. Here's some I made a couple of years ago using only crushed oystershell/cement and some damp crushed oystershell as a mold.
I made these for a friend's 300g.
Ball
New member
Well, I wanted precise control of the dimensions of the rockwork. The structure is about 18" x 16" x 31". That would be hard to make it a mold and get everything in the correct position since the rockwork kind of forms around the overflow tower. The PVC allows me to make the shape exactly like I want and reinforces the structure. I wanted the supporting legs to fit in a somewhat exact location.
Its really not to much money for the fittings. I have about $15-$20 in fittings in this structure. Im willing to pay that to get the exact look I want. This isnt for everyone, but I didnt want a stack of rocks. Im aiming for a completly different look.
speckled trout
New member
That's fine. I wasn't trying to say that your way wouldn't work. There are ways to do it without the PVC is all I was trying to say.
Keep up the good work-mike
Keep up the good work-mike
speckled trout
New member
I cleaned it up a little.
Insane Reefer
New member
I personally would have gone both ways for Balls construct - made a pvc backbone for strength (you KNOW that puppy isn't going to ever collapse) and placed the form into a molding box. Be easier to get neat details with a molding box, and less having to build up layers - all in one shot.
customcolor
New member
my first trys
my first trys
here are my first trys at the rock. first i tryed a 1 part salt to 2 portland and they are alright then i went to 2 to 1 and that was best. plus making the mix not so creamy worked best for me. the first pic is all(right to left, 1st to last), second is 1st try, last pic is my fav and last try(llots of tunnels in this one.) by the way i used salt molds too.<BR>
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my first trys
here are my first trys at the rock. first i tryed a 1 part salt to 2 portland and they are alright then i went to 2 to 1 and that was best. plus making the mix not so creamy worked best for me. the first pic is all(right to left, 1st to last), second is 1st try, last pic is my fav and last try(llots of tunnels in this one.) by the way i used salt molds too.<BR>
customcolor
New member
u get the cystle rock salt and mix it in and u can use the rock salt as a form and build it up slowly layer by layer. trust me you will have lots of play time befor the cement will firm up.
Travis L. Stevens
Active member
You take the Rock Salt and mix it with the cement. No crushing.
Insane Reefer
New member
And by salt molds, he means that in his boxes, that he cast the rocks in, he filled with salt crystals so he wouldn't make flat rocks, and the salt would add outside texture...
Insane Reefer
New member
Not bad at all for first tries, Customcolor
Looks like you hand smoothed the surfaces? That is one advantage to the salt/cement only recipes - you don't have to worry about not compacting the cement so much, so smoother shapes are easier to make...
Looks like you hand smoothed the surfaces? That is one advantage to the salt/cement only recipes - you don't have to worry about not compacting the cement so much, so smoother shapes are easier to make...
Fishboy1230
New member
customcolor and Travis L. Stevens Do you have any pictures of your molds? thanks!
Insane Reefer
New member
A "mold" is just a box with salt or whatever material you choose to use (sand, OS, CC, etc) - you push, pile or remove salt from spaces in the box, add cement mix, play with salt some more, add more cement. Repeat as needed.
I am just about ready to submit a true mold I am letting dry as I write this. I used a 4" sewer pipe remain, bent to a "U", covered it with "hot glue", added a few details, and have just washed it with thinned silicone. I will get pictures, as well as the rock it makes in a few days.
I am just about ready to submit a true mold I am letting dry as I write this. I used a 4" sewer pipe remain, bent to a "U", covered it with "hot glue", added a few details, and have just washed it with thinned silicone. I will get pictures, as well as the rock it makes in a few days.
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