The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
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Joshsmit56001
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I have had my rock siting in water for like 2 months now. I have tried to change water at least once a week. When I took out all the rock tonight there was a white residue on a lot of the rock. Is this normal and do I need to scrub this off or will it be ok putting it into an established tank?
Thanks,
Josh
Thanks,
Josh
Insane Reefer
New member
Rick, if at any point after the boil, if you used tap water, you could have re-contaminated the rock. Bacteria are hardy little critters, and if this were what is going on with your rock, well, at least you know bacteria will grow in it, lol.
Not to make light of your situation or anything, but I am sort of stumped.
Does anyone else agree that his 6 month old, water kured rock should be lower than 11+?
Since both batches are showing the same pH issue, it has to be a common denominator. The cold thing doesn't fit for both batches, and neither does the sand. Salt would have nothing to do with it. That leaves the cement and the water.
Maybe you could call your local water supply and ask about bacteria types that might populate your locale.
Possibly finding out about the cement in detail would shed some light.
Other then that, I don't know.
Anyone?
Not to make light of your situation or anything, but I am sort of stumped.
Does anyone else agree that his 6 month old, water kured rock should be lower than 11+?
Since both batches are showing the same pH issue, it has to be a common denominator. The cold thing doesn't fit for both batches, and neither does the sand. Salt would have nothing to do with it. That leaves the cement and the water.
Maybe you could call your local water supply and ask about bacteria types that might populate your locale.
Possibly finding out about the cement in detail would shed some light.
Other then that, I don't know.
Anyone?
Insane Reefer
New member
Welcome Joshsmit 
Is the white stuff on the wet rock or the dry? If on the wet rock, it could be a number of things, but just give the rock a light scrub and it should be alright, if it tests ok on pH that is.
If it showed up after the rock dried, it is carbonate most likely - just give them a quick rinse before you use them.
Got any pictures?
Is the white stuff on the wet rock or the dry? If on the wet rock, it could be a number of things, but just give the rock a light scrub and it should be alright, if it tests ok on pH that is.
If it showed up after the rock dried, it is carbonate most likely - just give them a quick rinse before you use them.
Got any pictures?
medic29
Premium Member
The bacteria issue still doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If it is in the tap water, would the water be safe to drink? Plus, I have a concrete company about 1/2 mile from my house and there are at least a half dozen other that operate within 5 miles. I would think if there was something in the water that eats or destroys cement, we would know about it. Even some people I know that are masons haven't said anything and just use water from a hose. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the composition of the cement.
goldmaniac
New member
OK, last week I found the white portland cement I've been searching for high and low, so I want to make new batches of MMLR tonight or tomorrow night.
Is there any process that has been shown to improve Curing and Kuring, or is everything still in test phase?
I plan to keep the pieces in my (quite warm) garage for a month before doing any Kuring. I may or may not give it a 24 hour soak 7 days in to remove salt, depending on everyone's suggestions.
thanks,
G.
Is there any process that has been shown to improve Curing and Kuring, or is everything still in test phase?
I plan to keep the pieces in my (quite warm) garage for a month before doing any Kuring. I may or may not give it a 24 hour soak 7 days in to remove salt, depending on everyone's suggestions.
thanks,
G.
Insane Reefer
New member
I lived in a little town called Rocheport that had this nasty bacteria. I wouldn't drink the water, but the old folks all did and seemed alright. Then a few years ago they had to drill a new well, and hit the bacteria in the new well too. People were ****ed off. Typically it can be a problem where water isn't being treated prior to use, as in well water or tapped aquifer. It probably isn't your problem, but might be someones problem at some point.
I agree that it probably is the cement, but the bacteria is an outside possibility.
Insane Reefer
New member
Everything is still in testing, though heat does seem to be a great help. I'm planning a new series of tests based on boiling. Slightly older rock - 72 hours old, boiled until the salt is released.
Baking followed by a weak 3 day vinegar bath does seem to bring the pH down to the 9 range, so if you are in a hurry, it is something to consider - a last bit of kuring in water for a week or so should bring it down to the 8 range.
You would be a more then welcome lab monkey, Goldman
If you want to add your data to the collective, just email me and I will set you up with the test form.
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Joshsmit56001
Member
I need to add the pics to my gallery and then I will post them in here. Anyone know of a good program to shrink picture file sizes?
sunkool
New member
I could be wrong but it looks like this was built around a pvc pipe if you look to the left half of the pic. There is also a yellow spot where a cap would be.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10130289#post10130289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by obarrera
Is there a way to make some rock like this?
I think I read somewhere earlier in this thread that it's called ceramic rock, how do they do this rocks, I really like the shapes, looks natural.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Holy crap, I've been busy. It looks like you all have, too. I left off on page 16, and now there are 27 pages! :eek1: I don't know if I can read ~275 replies in a decent amount of time. Will someone care to PM me any updates and/or breakthroughs?
Travis L. Stevens
New member
You can make a PVC internal structure inside of a sand mold, fill in with cement, and use layers in order to make something like that.
Insane Reefer
New member
Busy? Try a garage sale in 90°F - man am I tired. If no one has given you heads up by Monday, Travis, PM me and I will try to recap - though mostly it has been a lot of the same ol'.
Obarrera, I believe that "Reef Ceramics" are used to make these sorts of pieces - it has 'that' look that that stuff has, all fluffy and looking like whipped sea froth, though Sunkool has done a pretty good job of recreating that same sort of look - he says to sort of work in pinches of cement; you would need to ask him for more specific details. I believe he mentioned something about a video, but don't know if he ever got around to it.
Impur - you can often find pulverized limestone at feedstores, sold as "Limestone (or sometimes Calcium Carbonate) for Feed Mixing" - you have to clarify though - pulverized granite is also sold as grit, and you don't want granite.
Or maybe you do, but it isn't the same
Obarrera, I believe that "Reef Ceramics" are used to make these sorts of pieces - it has 'that' look that that stuff has, all fluffy and looking like whipped sea froth, though Sunkool has done a pretty good job of recreating that same sort of look - he says to sort of work in pinches of cement; you would need to ask him for more specific details. I believe he mentioned something about a video, but don't know if he ever got around to it.
Impur - you can often find pulverized limestone at feedstores, sold as "Limestone (or sometimes Calcium Carbonate) for Feed Mixing" - you have to clarify though - pulverized granite is also sold as grit, and you don't want granite.
Or maybe you do, but it isn't the same
sunkool
New member
Here is the video I made this morning. The sound was removed so the file would download faster. I will make another removing the rock later tonight.
In this video the cement was mixed with 4 to 5 parts sand to 1 part cement with 2 parts salt. I won't say when I mixed in the salt. lol It's a little on the wet side. I usually mix a 50# bag of sand at a time so it was harder to judge the smaller batch.
Since the video is taking so long to upload I will say that I have found another way to make a more porus rock than ever before using a product called hardshell. It is used as a chicken feed.
It looks like crushed coral
I have used this before with grey portland and gave up because it was just plain ugly. It looks halfway decent with white portland. Water flows right through it.
To make that rock I used 4 parts Hardshell to 1 part portland but I mixed the water and portland first then mixed in the hardshell.
I will upload a video of that after this one is finshed.
In this video the cement was mixed with 4 to 5 parts sand to 1 part cement with 2 parts salt. I won't say when I mixed in the salt. lol It's a little on the wet side. I usually mix a 50# bag of sand at a time so it was harder to judge the smaller batch.
Since the video is taking so long to upload I will say that I have found another way to make a more porus rock than ever before using a product called hardshell. It is used as a chicken feed.
It looks like crushed coral
I have used this before with grey portland and gave up because it was just plain ugly. It looks halfway decent with white portland. Water flows right through it.
To make that rock I used 4 parts Hardshell to 1 part portland but I mixed the water and portland first then mixed in the hardshell.
I will upload a video of that after this one is finshed.
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