The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

I built a couple of large pieces of base rock for my tank and they have been soaking for about three months now - with complete water changes every week. I haven't seen much change in my ph reading and was wondering if there is anything else I can do to bring the ph level down to an acceptable level.
 
scubasteve3403 said:
I built a couple of large pieces of base rock for my tank and they have been soaking for about three months now - with complete water changes every week. I haven't seen much change in my ph reading and was wondering if there is anything else I can do to bring the ph level down to an acceptable level.
Click to expand...

Try NOT changing water and adding a bit of ammonia instead.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/fishless.shtml

The methods used to bring the pH down on new MM rock are like someone who's turned around on the highway going the wrong direction who figures they can make it work if they just go faster and faster and run all the red lights.

If you keep dissolving the rock, you will end up with sand. Encourage a coating of bacteria that eat ammonia to grow on the surface of the rock. That coating will protect the rock from the water, and protect the water from the rock until you get down into a low pH in the sevens.

In spite of all our efforts made in the opposite direction, this is what probably happens to lower the pH when it does work. Using old water change water, and the nearly universal presence of these bacteria does mean that our rock has a chance to make it, no matter what illogical and magical formula we follow.
 
scubasteve3403 said:
I built a couple of large pieces of base rock for my tank and they have been soaking for about three months now - with complete water changes every week. I haven't seen much change in my ph reading and was wondering if there is anything else I can do to bring the ph level down to an acceptable level.
Click to expand...

For the first two weeks, you need to do daily water changes. Once the water and rock reach equilibrium with ph, it ceases to leach anymore. The more water you have in your curing bin, the better. If you have the rock in small bins, you may need to change the water twice a day. Try checking the ph after 12hrs. If it's above 10, change it. I've cured hundreds of pounds of rock and it's never taken more than 4-6 weeks. Don't try cheating the process by adding vinegar, it will only produce a weaker rock and you won't be happy with it. I tried a test batch with some pieces of rock I make. It did shave a week or two off the curing process, but it broke apart MUCH easier. Good luck.
 
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of them threads that you just cant read all the way through. Is there a Cliffnotes somewhere? :lol:

Seriously, do I need to start at the very beginning?
 
stampe said:
I agree, but the water needs to be almost stagnant inside the rock to become anaerobic. My own live rock containts water offcourse, but the water does not just empty out imidiately when lifting it out of the water. I therfore doubt that the very porous DIY rock will become anaerobic inside.


And that is a bit of a challenge i guess.

What are the experience with DIY salt rocks, do they just crumble into rubble after some time, or are they just more fragile.

What about making a salt rock, let it cure for a day, and then covering it with a layer of non salt DIY rock by the drip method to add strength to the rock, and the inner part has a better filtration effect.
Click to expand...

I have made salt rocks like you are saying. If the cement is thin then yes the rock can break apart but you have to do something to break it off such as drop it or try and carry it by that end.

I have also made a flat rock wall with portland cement and rock salt for ice cream and used a wet saw to cut it to fit. I was able to see the open pores where the salt was during the drying process and that rock was in a tank for over 2.5 years without issue of breaking. I still have it and would use it again after a brief soaking if needed.
 
ERICinFL said:
For the first two weeks, you need to do daily water changes. Once the water and rock reach equilibrium with ph, it ceases to leach anymore. The more water you have in your curing bin, the better. If you have the rock in small bins, you may need to change the water twice a day. Try checking the ph after 12hrs. If it's above 10, change it. I've cured hundreds of pounds of rock and it's never taken more than 4-6 weeks. Don't try cheating the process by adding vinegar, it will only produce a weaker rock and you won't be happy with it. I tried a test batch with some pieces of rock I make. It did shave a week or two off the curing process, but it broke apart MUCH easier. Good luck.
Click to expand...

What has worked for me is moist cure for four weeks. When soaking, do not do any water changes. Use old water change water at the salinity the rocks will be used at. Add some ammonia if you want to speed the process up. The more water changes you do, the slower the process will go and the weaker the rock will be. Mangrove Gambusia, mummichogs, or mollies can be added instead of ammonia. If you do this outside, Gambusia are the best fish since they will keep any bugs or mosquito larvae of the soaking tub at population zero.

I soaked hundreds of pounds of rocks the silly way, with lots of water changes, before discovering that it was defeating the purpose of soaking.
 
Ok, I have started to read the entire thread, and hopefully I can pull it off with minimal skimming. I do have a couple of questions that I would love to know fairly quick, so that I can decide if this is what I want to do for my tank

#1. Has a definitive recipe been selected, or even a couple of the "Best"?

#2. Along time has anyone had problems with nitrates, or PO4, from these DIY rocks?

#3. Is it better to make it with the most holes (porosity) as you can achieve, or better to limit the holes to achieve better strength?

Thanks guys, this thread looks like an awesome one!
Nate
 
Rhodes19 said:
What have people's experiences been after putting their diy rock into their tank? I made 200 lbs and put them in my 180. My water parameters are:

pH 8.5
Ca 480
Kh 5
S.G. 1.024
temp 77

They were soaking in fresh water for 3-4 months with water changes. I figure I'll have to do some hefty water changes to get the parameters in line. What has every one else experienced?
Click to expand...

:bounce1: Bump.

Do these parameters look right. The ph has come down to 8.0 but the Kh is still low (5) and the Ca is still high (480). Its been in the tank now for 2 months and I have done 3, 100 g water changes. Any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks.
 
pH is the only thing you really need to be concerned with in relation to what the MMLR is doing to the tank.
what was the pH of the water change water before you put it in your tank?
 
ERICinFL said:
For the first two weeks, you need to do daily water changes. Once the water and rock reach equilibrium with ph, it ceases to leach anymore. The more water you have in your curing bin, the better. If you have the rock in small bins, you may need to change the water twice a day. Try checking the ph after 12hrs. If it's above 10, change it. I've cured hundreds of pounds of rock and it's never taken more than 4-6 weeks. Don't try cheating the process by adding vinegar, it will only produce a weaker rock and you won't be happy with it. I tried a test batch with some pieces of rock I make. It did shave a week or two off the curing process, but it broke apart MUCH easier. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Eric - how large do you typical make your base rocks? I made 3 large pieces that weigh about 30lb each and are soaking in a 55 gallon rubber made bin

img_1385.jpg
 
Thank You to everyone who contributed this thread

Thank You to everyone who contributed this thread

Pics of my MMLR mix in with some of my exsisting live rock . It feels good looking into my tank and be able to say i made alot of these rocks :dance:

1.jpg


1_1.jpg


DSC03624.jpg


04.jpg
 
goldmaniac said:
pH is the only thing you really need to be concerned with in relation to what the MMLR is doing to the tank.
what was the pH of the water change water before you put it in your tank?
Click to expand...

Thanks goldmaniac,

That was hard to say. The city water ph here varies from 9.5-10. Apparently there are still a lot of lead pipes being used in Charleston so they have to keep the ph high so the lead does not leach into the water. When I filled my tank I used RO/DI water (didn't think to test it but I will when I get home) and the inital testing after a few days showed 8.5.
 
maybe you could add a cupful or so of vinegar to you water changes JUST to get the pH of the water change water down to 7.0-7.5? that would help the process and I don't think it would weaken the rock, it would just 'neutralize' the water change water
just a thought. that's really high pH for tap water that your municipality expects you to consume.
 
kenjr said:
Pics of my MMLR mix in with some of my exsisting live rock . It feels good looking into my tank and be able to say i made alot of these rocks :dance:
Click to expand...

it's a good feeling. I recently removed the final zoa frag that I purchased from a FLS, all corals I have are aquacultured, most by RC'ers.

Having 90% of the rock in my tank MMLR feels like an accomplishment. I always make sure to brag about that feature when visitors look at the tank, too.
 
Last edited:
goldmaniac said:
maybe you could add a cupful or so of vinegar to you water changes JUST to get the pH of the water change water down to 7.0-7.5? that would help the process and I don't think it would weaken the rock, it would just 'neutralize' the water change water
just a thought. that's really high pH for tap water that your municipality expects you to consume.
Click to expand...

Thanks goldmaniac. I'll check the ph tonight when I get home. I did a 100% water change last night so well see if the Ca drops and the alk goes up. The ph before I did the wc was 8.2.
 
i have had a quick read thru this thread and have decided to try my own diy rock for the upcoming tank project .

i coulnt get white portland nearby so may have to order some so i just got ordinary grey portland, this may tirn out quite grey but at least i can have a play around , so far i have done 2 mixes :

1 . 1 part portland 3 salt 1 sand 1 crushed coral

2 . 1 portland 2 cruched coral 2 salt.

i will use this rock as a base rock if it does work and carry on playing with the mix till i find some i do like the looks of.

i am uk based so if anyone knows a site i can order the right cement on it would be great.

any feed back on my mixes or just ur fave mix would be great thanks :dance:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
DIY AI-coded ESP32 based aquarium controller
Replies
0
Views
307
ronnyking
R
AquaticReefTV
DIY Cable management time lapse
Replies
1
Views
530
S|\/|S
S
AZBigJohn
New Build... I'm back
Replies
15
Views
446
Dustin07
D
projectsWithSam
Sam's Oceanic 120
8 9 10
Replies
187
Views
2K
griss
griss
Reef Kinetics
An Offer You Don't Want to Miss!
Replies
0
Views
180
Reef Kinetics
Reef Kinetics
Back
Top