DIY Rock

[farid2544]

I've been reading some of the old post on DIY live rock and watched some videos. Now I have some questions.

After you you freshwater cure the rock to make sure the ph is neutral and all the salt is dissolved, do you still have to do a saltwater cure since they is nothing dead in it? Or can it just go straight into the tank to get colonized with good bacteriA?

Can an you use any agraggate or does it have to be crushed oyster shells/ coral?

I wouldnt be be doing this for at least a few weeks if not a Month, so no hurry.

 

[reefman069]

i have made some of this diy rock. i used the crushed oyster shells. after you make the rock. let it sit for 48 hours. then i put it in a 55 gallon drum with water in it. i used a few pumps to move the water around. every day i drain the water out and put new water in it. i do have a new idea you can use. after you make your rock. put the rock into your upper tank on your toilet. every time you flush the toilet it will flush out and put new water in it. i think that would be a good way to cure the rock. i let my rock cure for a few months. it takes along time to get all the salt out of the rock.

 

[farid2544]

thank you reefman069, what about the saltwater cure? Is that still a necessary step since there should be no dead organisms?

 

[Peppie]

Not to sure oystershells are the best media to use.
What is the chemical make up of an oystershell?

After the rock is neutral in PH it can go directly into the DT

 

[farid2544]

Will the DIY Rock turn out fine if I use something like sand or pebbles? Marble maybe?

 

[farid2544]

What ratio do you guys have good results with? 3 aggregate, 2 white portland cement, 1 salt?

 

[reefman069]

i used 3 parts oyster shells 2 parts white portland cement and 2 parts crystal rock salt. here is a picture of some of the rock i made. i rock in front is the first rock i made and never used it. the ones in the back i have pvc pipe for my inlets for my closed looks.

 

[Peppie]

Been so long ago I cant remember, Do a few small batches with different amounts of each. IMO I would used crushed coral. and a med. amount of large salt crystals.

 

[Peppie]

i used 3 parts oyster shells 2 parts white portland cement and 2 parts crystal rock salt. here is a picture of some of the rock i made. i rock in front is the first rock i made and never used it. the ones in the back i have pvc pipe for my inlets for my closed looks.

That looks like good porous rock.

 

[farid2544]

Thank you guys. This will help me.

 

[panther_119]

what are you using as a mold? sand? reefman069, what did you use as a mold?

 

[panther_119]

Ive tried diy rock before. I was using the same thing as reefman but was using rock salt as a mold also... I would let it sit for a week but still would crumble and fall apart as soon as i put it in water. was thinking about trying it again but use sand as my mold

 

[reefman069]

yes you want to use sand. what i did was use a old tote. poor your sand into the tote. flatten the sand down. i added a small amount of water so it would pack in good. then with your fingers dig out the form that you want it. dig it out so you have ledges and so on. if you make your mold all one shape it doesn't turn out that well. then i mixed my 3 part oyster shells 2 parts crystal rock salt. you can buy it at home depot. and then 2 parts portland white cement. the trick on this. do not put too much water while you mix it. you want to pack it together like how you make a snow ball. then you pour it into your mold. then cover it with sand. let sit for a few days. wipe off the sand on the top. take out your rock and then soak it in a 55 gallon drum. i am going to be making some. we can have a rock making party at my house if you guys would like. i will look out in the shed to see how much of everything i have. i think i have everything we need. how much rock are you guys wanting to make. the cool thing about making your rock. you can do anything you want. if you want to hide a pump. put the pump inside the rock your making. i put pvc pipe in the middle of my rock so my closed loop comes from the bottom of my tank. i have some good idea's for you guys. looks like it is time to get our hands dirty. lol

 

[reefman069]

also if you want to see pictures of the other rock i made. click on forum. go down to the that says 300 gallon or bigger. i think thats what is says. click on that and go to the one that says "here is the start of my 360 gallon. hope this helps you guys. if you have any questions. ask away

 

[panther_119]

im game. just name the time and your address and im there. I like making my initials in the rock lol.

 

[reefman069]

im free every day of the week. so i guess we need to make a list of how many people would like to be a part in this. we will need to know how much rock we would be making. i will check on my oyster shells, portland 1 cement and crystal rock salt and sand. i would say everyone bring a tote. if we are going to make a lot of rock. maybe one person could bring the sand. one person brong oyster shells. you can buy them at a feed store. one bring the crystal rock salt. one bring the portland 2 cement. if one is more then the other we can bring some cash and make it even. oh and one person bring the beer. lol. lets make this happen. who is down to make some diy rock. panther119 is in. farid2544 did you already make your rock? lets make this a little rock party.

 

[farid2544]

I made an initial batch before we moved and and haven't taken it out of the sand mold yet. It's been about a week now.

 

[panther_119]

like i said i was [stupidly] using salt rock as my mold so i have a lot of it still in a tote. plus i have two unopened bags of salt. I think i have a 3/4 full bag full of portland type 1 cement, although it has hardened quite a bit since i have used it last. I guess i can take a chisel and hammer to it and bring some over lol

 

[panther_119]

I'm free on the weekends or after 5 on the weekdays

 

[panther_119]

on a completely different subject...what is rep power? mine is at 0 so i was just wondering what it was, and do i need to increase it for some reason?