The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

[mr.wilson]

I used Bomix "Swift Patch" on some end walls and plumbing this week. It worked out very well, mixed 50/50 with crushed oyster shell. The 20 minute work time helps a lot (compared to the 2 minutes I get with Hydraulic Water Stop), and it only took 24 hours to cure 75%. The remaining 25% will cure under water over the next month, with no significant PH buffering.

I've used this stuff before on some small projects (covering overflows), but was nervous about experimenting with an expensive tank. This tank wasn't cheap, but it's relatively small (36x12x36), and I was ready to try something new.

I used some pieces of eggcrate to make "eggcrete" shelves. The plumbing was done outside of the tank, then added to the tank while the oystercrete on the end walls was still workable. A few touch-up areas were done to blend the plumbing into the end walls.

These pictures were taken before the oystercrete had dried, so you will notice some darker (fresh) areas. It all dried to a uniform "live rock grey" overnight.

 

[eshook]

Thats an awesome setup mr. wilson. I think we would all be interested in your progress.

To update my progress, I made 2 test batches with the premade mortor mix and one turned out the other did not (crumbled like sand). It will sit in a container for a while with occasional water squirts and then it will sit in a small tub of water to test for pH. I think I'm going to experiment with dry kuring to save water and energy. (Mostly because I'm lazy )

 

[medic29]

I'm thinking about making a test batch using a pressure cooker in the next week. IR I'll keep you posted how it comes out.

 

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10418101#post10418101 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eshook
Thats an awesome setup mr. wilson. I think we would all be interested in your progress.

To update my progress, I made 2 test batches with the premade mortor mix and one turned out the other did not (crumbled like sand). It will sit in a container for a while with occasional water squirts and then it will sit in a small tub of water to test for pH. I think I'm going to experiment with dry kuring to save water and energy. (Mostly because I'm lazy )

You should give the pieces that crumble some more time to cure. It should turn hard over two to three weeks, if allowed to air dry.

I'm installing the tank today, and will have updated pics.

 

[Yinepu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10417725#post10417725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr.wilson
I used Bomix "Swift Patch" on some end walls and plumbing this week. It worked out very well, mixed 50/50 with crushed oyster shell. The 20 minute work time helps a lot (compared to the 2 minutes I get with Hydraulic Water Stop), and it only took 24 hours to cure 75%. The remaining 25% will cure under water over the next month, with no significant PH buffering.

75% cure in 24 hours? Where did you buy this stuff? I've never heard of it before.

 

[Insane Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10419052#post10419052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinepu
75% cure in 24 hours?

That is the perk to using the fast set cements.

That is why I am so hip on trying the Calcium Chloride as an additive - turn portland into something that reacts more like a fast set.

I've not been able to find Bomix anywhere locally...

 

[Insane Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10418127#post10418127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
I'm thinking about making a test batch using a pressure cooker in the next week. IR I'll keep you posted how it comes out.

Cool Rick. I've gotten a few PM's about my opinions on pressure cookers. Except for the one issue of whether the cookers are big enough to make it worthwhile, I think it is an excellent idea.

I'm exchanging correspondence with one person who seems to be into metal working, and they are curious about steam curing too. I had mentioned an episode where "Mythbuster's" had made a pressurized chamber out of junk, and they thought that was cool. Might be interesting if this person manages to make a pressure chamber out of junk.

Not even sure how one would go about something like that in reality, lol.

 

[Insane Reefer]

Floating Reef Success!

Floating Reef Success!

Made with 4parts Perlite to 1part cement - I honestly can't remember if I used sand or not (and can't find the paper that was attached!) - if I did add sand, it would have been 1part. These were packed as tight as I could make them.

1 of these has a glass marble in it right beneath the surface, in an effort to give these a "North" and "South", and to prevent random rolling, and it seems to work - the one that doesn't have a marble will roll and settle as it chooses - the other is more like a weeble-wobble - it rolls a bit, but North always ends upwards.

Sorry - been sitting here trying to come up with a witty Star Wars/ Death Star quote that would be appropriate, but the only thing coming to mind is the "Robot Chicken" episode with Vader calling the emperor to tell him the Death Star has been destroyed...
LOL

EDIT:
I just came on this link:
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/726/2?rss=1

Maybe Floating Reefs are an idea whose time has come. If we started floating reefs for the most endangered reefs, the floating one's could be tugged out to someplace safe if a spill or weather threatened them...

 

[mr.wilson]

Is that a jar or a bottle?

I know how they build ships and grow apples in bottles, but how do you make rock in one?

 

[reefsbeforehoz]

wow that;s some crazy stuff

 

[mr.wilson]

There are a number of polymer modified (fast setting) cement mixes on the market. You'll find a few versions at any big box building centre. You can also buy a non calcareous (calcium chloride) additive that speeds the curing time by 50%. Brand names range by region but Quikrete and Thora are widely distributed. Bomix may be "only in Canada eh".

Here are some updated pictures of the reef wall tank I'm working on. I'll post some better ones when it's completed. At least the oystercrete is dry in these ones, so you get a better idea of the colour.

 

[Insane Reefer]

ROTFLMAO!
A trained corps of copeopods?

Seriously, that is a 1gallon pickle jar. The larger of the 2 just barely fit through the top - I had to drop them in. It was the only clear container I had that would accommodate them

 

[mr.wilson]

I think you should make an underwater, tethered mobile of our solar system.

 

[Azazael13]

Re: Floating Reef Success!

Re: Floating Reef Success!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10420663#post10420663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/floating-reef-1.jpg

Made with 4parts Perlite to 1part cement - I honestly can't remember if I used sand or not (and can't find the paper that was attached!) - if I did add sand, it would have been 1part. These were packed as tight as I could make them.

1 of these has a glass marble in it right beneath the surface, in an effort to give these a "North" and "South", and to prevent random rolling, and it seems to work - the one that doesn't have a marble will roll and settle as it chooses - the other is more like a weeble-wobble - it rolls a bit, but North always ends upwards.

Sorry - been sitting here trying to come up with a witty Star Wars/ Death Star quote that would be appropriate, but the only thing coming to mind is the "Robot Chicken" episode with Vader calling the emperor to tell him the Death Star has been destroyed...
LOL

EDIT:
I just came on this link:
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/726/2?rss=1

Maybe Floating Reefs are an idea whose time has come. If we started floating reefs for the most endangered reefs, the floating one's could be tugged out to someplace safe if a spill or weather threatened them...

I believe I was second in line for a "Death Star", right behind your husband. I am sure without our support you would have given up on the floating balls of doom so we both deserve them
:strooper: :strooper: :strooper: :strooper: :strooper: :strooper: :strooper: :strooper:

 

[Insane Reefer]

LOL.
Silly peoples.

Let's see if I can get the Death Star operational - then we will talk about the solar system

 

[Yinepu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10423313#post10423313 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr.wilson
There are a number of polymer modified (fast setting) cement mixes on the market. You'll find a few versions at any big box building centre. You can also buy a non calcareous (calcium chloride) additive that speeds the curing time by 50%. Brand names range by region but Quikrete and Thora are widely distributed. Bomix may be "only in Canada eh".

Thanks, Mr Wilson. Is there anything I should look out for (and avoid) on the package labels? I wasn't sure if all of them are pretty much safe or if there was something I should be looking for.

BTW We have Quikrete here so that's probably why I never heard of the Bomix before.

 

[mmm55645]

I love those "death Star" floating rocks!
I am wondering, could you make caves inside the rock or make it hollow and be have the rock remain stable?

 

[Insane Reefer]

I don't see why not, MMM - so long as there is something to give it orientation, like a marble, it should work.

Are you thinking a floating anemone rock for a clown? That is what I was thinking...

 

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10425535#post10425535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinepu
Thanks, Mr Wilson. Is there anything I should look out for (and avoid) on the package labels? I wasn't sure if all of them are pretty much safe or if there was something I should be looking for.

BTW We have Quikrete here so that's probably why I never heard of the Bomix before.

Our (Canadian) Home Depots carry King "Plug-Tite" and Quikrete "Hydraulic Water Stop". I didn't like the Plug-Tite that much, but the Hydraulic Water Stop works well. Don't let the name fool you, it's only water-proof until you add shell or rock aggregate.

You can contact the manufacturer and find out if it's food grade. Hydraulic Water Stop isn't certified as food grade, but it is absolutely reef safe. Quikrete "Quikwall" is certified for use with potable (drinking) water (commonly used in cisterns & wells). I would use it, but it isn't as readily available in my area (special order).

 

[Yinepu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10425643#post10425643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr.wilson
Our (Canadian) Home Depots carry King "Plug-Tite" and Quikrete "Hydraulic Water Stop". I didn't like the Plug-Tite that much, but the Hydraulic Water Stop works well. Don't let the name fool you, it's only water-proof until you add shell or rock aggregate.

You can contact the manufacturer and find out if it's food grade. Hydraulic Water Stop isn't certified as food grade, but it is absolutely reef safe. Quikrete "Quikwall" is certified for use with potable (drinking) water (commonly used in cisterns & wells). I would use it, but it isn't as readily available in my area (special order).

Thanks for that info Mr. Wilson! (made a note of the names). I'll be at Home Depot next week so I'll see what they have. Do you add an aggregate to your mix?