karimwassef
Active member
Maybe crystal sugar... 
The Ultimate DIY Rocks!
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Shawn O
Active member
How about Play-Doh? I confess I didn't read the entire thread due to it's length and my ADD. Play-Doh should dissolve in water, right? I'll have to test it out.
Anyone tried coating rock salt in bee's wax and then heating the water enough to melt the wax? Maybe I'll experiment with that a little, as well.
Play-Doh should dissolve in water, right? I'll have to test it out.Anyone tried coating rock salt in bee's wax and then heating the water enough to melt the wax? Maybe I'll experiment with that a little, as well.
CStrickland
New member
I mean, it's going in salt water so if salt hurts it it's gonna get hurt lol
Look into water softener salt for bigger holes
Look into water softener salt for bigger holes
karimwassef
Active member
Salt sucks the moisture out of the mix and makes it brittle. Salt after cure isn't the same as salt during cure.
CStrickland
New member
Type two is a very good one to use, the ph is stabler
Shawn O
Active member
Thanks for the tip.
Aren't we supposed to be keeping it in damp sand and covered with a tarp to hold in the moisture?
karimwassef
Active member
The salt is a super desiccant. It'll suck moisture from the cement and sand.
MarineGirl411
New member
Use Salt. Lowes has large salt they use for water softener. That's what I purchased to make mine. You could always crush it as well for smaller crevices. The real question is, what can we use to color the rock coraline colored? I would love to know since all the companies are doing it now. Someone has to know! =)
Shawn O
Active member
Marinegirl, you'd have to look into the dye that concrete companies use to dye patios while they're still wet. I have no idea if these dyes are safe or not, they could be extremely toxic to livestock, just something I thought I'd throw out there.
Karim, I suppose you could use very wet sand to mold the concrete in and pack it down pretty tight. I intend to make mine in a box lined with a heavy poly-liner bags (for 55gal drums) and tie the bag closed once molded. I suppose if they will hold my weight after a month in clean water they should hold up well enough for my needs. I can't wait to find out.
Karim, I suppose you could use very wet sand to mold the concrete in and pack it down pretty tight. I intend to make mine in a box lined with a heavy poly-liner bags (for 55gal drums) and tie the bag closed once molded. I suppose if they will hold my weight after a month in clean water they should hold up well enough for my needs. I can't wait to find out.
karimwassef
Active member
I haven't had luck with salt. It weakens the concrete.
Where's uncleof6 when you need him most?
Here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388159
Where's uncleof6 when you need him most?
Here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388159
CStrickland
New member
I think we have a couple diff convos going.
The reason that it doesn't matter that shawns sidewalks are coming apart is cause once it's cured it will be exposed to salt in the water.
I can see how something like fine rock salt could throw off the mix, I wouldn't add sea salt like the guy in that thread (and hydrolic cement, what was he thinking?!) but big chunks like the water softener I would use because they are not *in* the matrix, just between the gravel to give some gaps and lighten things up. This is not about "porosity" but rather shapes.
Really wet molds won't help, this is about desiccating inside the mix. Cement needs that moisture to set up. Remember that it isn't drying out and getting strong, it is changing due exposure to moisture.
PS I forgot what a grouch that guy is until I read the link lol good grief!
PPS @shawn I don't care if your sidewalks turn to dust as long as they keep the green line running in Boston this winter
The reason that it doesn't matter that shawns sidewalks are coming apart is cause once it's cured it will be exposed to salt in the water.
I can see how something like fine rock salt could throw off the mix, I wouldn't add sea salt like the guy in that thread (and hydrolic cement, what was he thinking?!) but big chunks like the water softener I would use because they are not *in* the matrix, just between the gravel to give some gaps and lighten things up. This is not about "porosity" but rather shapes.
Really wet molds won't help, this is about desiccating inside the mix. Cement needs that moisture to set up. Remember that it isn't drying out and getting strong, it is changing due exposure to moisture.
PS I forgot what a grouch that guy is until I read the link lol good grief!
PPS @shawn I don't care if your sidewalks turn to dust as long as they keep the green line running in Boston this winter
That is hilarious.
JelleBijker
New member
question: had anyone tried autoclaved aerated concrete *** live rock in a saltwater aquarium?
the stuff Ytong makes for example.
it seems like perfect for the job.
a seach on the internet only came up with a single result of someone trying, but no conclusions as to if it worked or not...
the stuff Ytong makes for example.
it seems like perfect for the job.
a seach on the internet only came up with a single result of someone trying, but no conclusions as to if it worked or not...
Bruce51
New member
I realize this thread is a little old, but im up grading from a 40b to a 90 gallon tank. I want some shelf rock for it but its REALY expensive and was thinking about trying to make my own. Was wondering if adding something like this
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/prod...0-b7?msclkid=ac1bcc15111917bc2b75928968758aaa
would be allright to add to the mix
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/prod...0-b7?msclkid=ac1bcc15111917bc2b75928968758aaa
would be allright to add to the mix
darrick001
Member
I would be careful adding plastic that is not food grade. Some plastic is toxic and I don't think they would spend the extra money to put food grade plastic in cement. What's the reason you want to add it? Strength, weight? I've never had a problem with strength. Weight I use rock salt or solar salt. I have been toying around with using cpvc to help secure pieces together as well as allow flexibility of moving things around when adding fish. Even thought about drilling holes in it to creat a natural pod growout location.
