The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
MeuserReef
Welcome to the next level
Perhaps it could be done sort of the same way that frags.org is done.
Interesting idea.
flukekiller
New member
so far i have over 160 pages and this is pretty informative.. great discussion and excellent info.
well im gonna try my first batch in a week or 2 but it is getting cold
and dry outside so im going to try something a bit different. im going to try and shorten the hydration period. im not sure if this will wotk at all or just help due to the dryness/time of year it is.
i am going to set up a rubber maid tote where i will put the rock onto an eggcrate that will be about 6in off of the bottom. i going to put 4 or 5 in of water in the bottom. i will place a heater in the water. then place a plastic bag over the top of the tote but under the lid, to help keep in the moisture. im also going to place a light over the tote.as close as i can get get it with out making it unsafe...
btw i forgot to add that is tote is insulated around all sides and bottom.
from what i know and have read about concrete is that it cures fastest and strongest when kept hydrated and what better to keep it hydrated than a place where the humidity could be close to 100%(im still looking out to find out exactly about the % of humidity it will hold) this way the rock stays naturally hydrated.
i plan on doing this for the 28 day period. then testing it submerged in water on day 29.(ph) then again testing it on day 36 to see if it fully kured
i will try to document this and take pictures as i do it
if this works then my next batch im going to try @ 24 days
im thinking of doing 2 or 3 batches with staggered start dates ,so this way if one doesnt work i can adjust the amount of time in either process so i only lose one batch
i hope this makes sense b/c i am terrible at typing what i am thinking...
sorry bout the long post but i wanted to explain my process
well im gonna try my first batch in a week or 2 but it is getting cold
and dry outside so im going to try something a bit different. im going to try and shorten the hydration period. im not sure if this will wotk at all or just help due to the dryness/time of year it is.
i am going to set up a rubber maid tote where i will put the rock onto an eggcrate that will be about 6in off of the bottom. i going to put 4 or 5 in of water in the bottom. i will place a heater in the water. then place a plastic bag over the top of the tote but under the lid, to help keep in the moisture. im also going to place a light over the tote.as close as i can get get it with out making it unsafe...
btw i forgot to add that is tote is insulated around all sides and bottom.
from what i know and have read about concrete is that it cures fastest and strongest when kept hydrated and what better to keep it hydrated than a place where the humidity could be close to 100%(im still looking out to find out exactly about the % of humidity it will hold) this way the rock stays naturally hydrated.
i plan on doing this for the 28 day period. then testing it submerged in water on day 29.(ph) then again testing it on day 36 to see if it fully kured
i will try to document this and take pictures as i do it
if this works then my next batch im going to try @ 24 days
im thinking of doing 2 or 3 batches with staggered start dates ,so this way if one doesnt work i can adjust the amount of time in either process so i only lose one batch
i hope this makes sense b/c i am terrible at typing what i am thinking...
sorry bout the long post but i wanted to explain my process
flukekiller,
All I read in you post makes sense... I have never done rock in really cold temperatures, but my guess is that cold temperatures may slow down the hardening and kuring process, but it will still work. You should't need to through away a bad batch... yet you may have to give it some extra time.
About moisture. Yes, moist is good. I usually take the easy approach and just spray water on my rocks (with a hose) every couple of days... but your moisture-keeping contraption should work even better.
I am eager to see pictures of the developments
All I read in you post makes sense... I have never done rock in really cold temperatures, but my guess is that cold temperatures may slow down the hardening and kuring process, but it will still work. You should't need to through away a bad batch... yet you may have to give it some extra time.
About moisture. Yes, moist is good. I usually take the easy approach and just spray water on my rocks (with a hose) every couple of days... but your moisture-keeping contraption should work even better.
I am eager to see pictures of the developments
salty joe
Active member
Inukshuk, I really like your method of making "coral frags", then adhering them. From the pictures at least, it looks just like real rock.
What do you think of making a hollow centerpiece for a large tank? Maybe about the size of a large watermellon. I'm thinking of adhering the "frags" around an empty watermellon as a form. That way, fish could hide inside and corals could be mounted on it. And it would not be so heavy. In my mind's eye, it is upright kinda like a pillar and leaning a little to one side and leaning a little back. I'd build it on a flat surface lined with waxpaper for release. Feet could then be added and it would sit perfectly on the bottom of the tank.
What do you think?
What do you think of making a hollow centerpiece for a large tank? Maybe about the size of a large watermellon. I'm thinking of adhering the "frags" around an empty watermellon as a form. That way, fish could hide inside and corals could be mounted on it. And it would not be so heavy. In my mind's eye, it is upright kinda like a pillar and leaning a little to one side and leaning a little back. I'd build it on a flat surface lined with waxpaper for release. Feet could then be added and it would sit perfectly on the bottom of the tank.
What do you think?
salty joe,
It should work just fine. I done it a few times with the purpose of leaving a void to place a powerhead inside (with a side-hole for the nozzle). This is a good way to hide your gear.
The ballon idea works great... the only negative I find is that where the cement touches the balloon (inside walls of the cave)... the cement hardens in a smooth and not-natural shape. This is not a big issue because usually you can't see the inside of the cave.
It should work just fine. I done it a few times with the purpose of leaving a void to place a powerhead inside (with a side-hole for the nozzle). This is a good way to hide your gear.
The ballon idea works great... the only negative I find is that where the cement touches the balloon (inside walls of the cave)... the cement hardens in a smooth and not-natural shape. This is not a big issue because usually you can't see the inside of the cave.
Rhodophyta
New member
I would think any issues were not from the method. The balloons and inflated latex gloves have been used since the earliest days of aragocrete. You do have to think ahead a little. Leave the knot exposed or tape it if you can't, to avoid trapping part of the balloon. As to the interior being unnaturally smooth, some of the natural holes in live rock have smooth interiors, depending on what made them.
flukekiller
New member
also i heard its easier if u fill them with water
Rhodophyta
New member
:rollface: :lol: I want the video when someone tries flukekiller's idea, then pops it. :blown:
flukekiller
New member
so does anyone have any thoughts or info that this might work better?
the only other question i might have would be, should i soak them for a 2 or 3 days first to try and get as much of the salt out as possible?
speckled trout
New member
What in the world did you put in your rocks? Mine don't raise the pH of the water, at all.
speckled trout
New member
Mine were made with Alamo's Portland Cement and oystershell. Nothing more and nothing less. My coral have never had a problem with them, either. The pH is a stable 8.3, as well.
speckled trout
New member
Mine were soaked in a river for 3 months. I then placed them in a 50g drum of water and measured the pH. The water's level never changed.
hyperfocal
New member
Soaked in a river for three months >> soaked in a bucket for a year.
