Taking it slllloooooooww on this set up.. I decided to make my own live rock i used this recipe https://youtu.be/wFFFJJAtmbE
As soon as i figure out how to post pictures i will.
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Taking it slllloooooooww on this set up.. I decided to make my own live rock i used this recipe https://youtu.be/wFFFJJAtmbE
As soon as i figure out how to post pictures i will.
That came out good! How long would it take to cure?
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Im thinking to soak it in fresh water for a month then ill be begging for some established live rock to seed it .
Nice you should add some shells and maybe dead coral skeletons mite look cool!Quote:
Originally Posted by tammy3770
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Wow, that's actually pretty cool. You can make whatever design and as big as you want.
Any effects of the cement in the water though?
Looks like it takes a long time to cure though....it said 90 days. I guess if you take on this endeavor, gotta make it worth it and make a lot of rock. :)
Once the portland cement cures its inert. It leaches lime into the water from the top layer and spikes the PH.(lime water= calcium hydroxide Ie Kalkwasser)Quote:
Originally Posted by FDdragon
Another link
http://www.garf.org/-2010/rockschool.html
That GARF site uses " low alkalinity cement" and sites riverside cement . It has a ph of 12 13. The Portland cement has a ph of 11 to 12.
Do you think the riverside cement that GARF uses becomes inert and leaches lime? Should i switch to the riverside type?
Oh wait Kalkwasser is a good thing..?..?
Video makes me laugh, For safety sake, wear gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection when mixing caustic materials! (Use common sense!)
Also, I would suggest mixing the cement and water first to make a damp paste, and then add/ mix into the paste the freshly washed (damp) oyster shells, and finally the salt. It should be easier to control the mixture consistency this way, imo.
But however you mix it, wear some medium duty kitchen gloves. They are easier to wash off than your dried out cement burnt-cracking skin.
http://www.mapei.com/public/US/produ...ITE_SDS_EN.pdf
I might mod the oyster shells by substituting some of that ingredient with coral rubble (calcium reactor media).
Yeah, lime burn sucks! I agree, wear gloves and goggles.
I used coral rubble because i had some that i wasnt using and it saved a trip to the store
Ive made the first of many DIY rocks
the White Portland cement is hard to find in san Diego.
I ended up getting this 92 lb bag from RCP block and brick for about 28 $
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...908_181246.jpg[/IMG]
the salt crystals from home depot for < 10$
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...908_181236.jpg[/IMG]
I also picked up a mixing tub and some play sand to make the mold.
the crushed shell I used cane from the tank I purchased from some one on this site.
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...905_153018.jpg[/IMG]
followed the recipe in this thread and made one rock.
my tank will be bare bottom so I put legs ( by digging holes in the play sand mold )
and this is what I came up with it is a large piece but it is just a start.
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...910_103842.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...910_104600.jpg[/IMG]
So, how did your DIY live rock work out? I have made some and am about 3 weeks into the curing/ph reduction process. Was curious how it ended up for you.