some questions about your DIY rock method

[psariandras]

What is your recipe for DIY rock to use in reef or FOWLR tanks?

I have been using quikrete water stop cement with varying porportions of CC and sand, and some salt to increase porosity. I used to much sand and salt in the last batch, live and learn or pratice makes perfect I guess.

Do you scuplt the rocks shape or create a mold?
I have been forming my rock by hand so far but I might try to make some molds from other materials soon.
I have not used normal portland cement although I probably will try soon as it is cheaper.


Do you color or use any gravel or anything to change the appereance of your rocks?
I guess it doesn't matter if the rocks become covered but until that happens - do you change the rocks color?

[Grins]

The best ones I've seen were neither sculpted or noulded. They sort of drizzled and dropped small bits of the mix onto a small starting pile and let it build up. The randomness of it seemed more natural than manmade shapes.

[Nolapete]

http://www.garf.org/howtodoinformation.htm#Aragocrete is what I plan on using.

[psariandras]

I'm having some trouble telling if my rocks are safe to go in the tank. My tap water is already at the max color for three values and the water with the rocks looks the same on the test strip as it does without rocks.


The rocks have been in a bucket for a few days, I have changed the water every day. The water has been getting clearer each day. Since these rocks were made using the water stop cement they will not require the full time to be cured- but I am not sure how I can determine if they are safe with my test strips- or how long it will take.
I am trying to save the tests on my nice kit(going to need lots of those when the 55 reef starts up :)

Anyone have any advice?

[psariandras]

Grins, do you have any links to photos of those dripped style rocks? i would like to see some. :)

[Grins]

Here you go: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1094586&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

It is a LONG thread, photos don't start until the 4th page.

[ricsreef]

That rock looks really good,Excellent method

[psariandras]

anyone have any ideas of how I can tell if my rocks are safe to put in the water? three values on the test strip are maxed without having rocks put in, so I cannot tell if there is any change in the water where my rocks are sitting becaues the strips look the same in water with rocks and without rock.

[alpha123]

I guess without a reliable test, you will never know. I have heard up to 3 wks freshwater, 3 days sw. I would at least go that route.

[Ace25]

This is an old post to dig up don't you think?

[alpha123]

LOL. I guess I was sleepy. Time had no meaning after 3 hrs of surfing.

Well, I guess by now either his Rock is teaming with lives, or all his fish are dead.

[cmar]

can also use various uncooked pastas for different size holes!

[alpha123]

great idea, but won't some pastas got trapped inside? Some said mix in rock salt, but I fear that make freshwater curing impossible (s + w = sw).

[cmar]

i actually boiled mine after letting it cure for a few days, hoping to loosen up the pasta. then i just let it soak for a couple of weeks to be sure. there was some white, slimy stuff during soaking, i assumed it was the pasta. and, even if a small amount stays in, i'm not sure that it would harm anything!

[alpha123]

Honest question: Do pasta "juice" becomes ammonia? Anyone knows?

I wonder if popcorn would work... it is a lot easier to remove.