Another DIY Rock

[Psycho graphic]

Big deal, it's just a rock, right?

Not when you look from behind.

Maybe it's missing something.

Yes that is my missing OFB and the return line hidden in there, my niece had the OFB all along. A pic from the back.

And finally from in the tank.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

explain?

how was the rock made...
do u plan on putting anything on the floor of the tank to protect it..
do u have to cook or cure the rock u made (high ph)

talk to us ... just dont throw pics at us :lol2: :sgrin:

 

[Psycho graphic]

I posted the recipe on another thread which is why I did'nt put it here. But here it is again.1 part Portland to 4 parts rock salt. I mix the portland to a fairly dry mix, then add the salt. I covered these parts with a plasic garbage bag, the Portland does'nt stick to the bag, making removal a snap. After shaping the rock, let it sit 2 days before removing the "mold". Yes you DO need to cure it untill the Ph stablizes. Daily water changes are a must unless you plan to wait a l o n g time for it to cure. My last batch is going in a stream behind a friends house.

I have never protected my bottom from the rocks before, but I think I will this time.

It was hard to see in these pics, here is a better pic of an arch I made, I used plastic coat hangers for the framework for it.

 

[drunktank]

how is that stuff going to be beneficial to your tank? it doesnt look porous at all

 

[aaron23]

hmm very outstanding idea with the rock. Very cool how you did all of that yourself. Very nice pics.
I agree with jon the rock isnt porous its solid. Where is the bacteria going to come from and where will it be housed?

 

[Psycho graphic]

how is that stuff going to be beneficial to your tank? it doesnt look porous at all

It's 3/4 rock salt which dissolves in the curing process, leaving plenty of holes in it.

 

[aaron23]

hm... im extremely interested in pics as to how this comes out after its been cured..

 

[House of Laughter]

You can buffer the PH with crushed oyster shells that you can find at any feed shop - only problem is finding a feed shop ;-)

That helps buffer the PH - interesting idea with the rock salt, but curious to see how it gets pourous

House

 

[masterswimmer]

Rock salt will 'eat away' at the portland mix. When the salt dissolves it will have created a void where the salt was. Hence the porosity of the structure. I like the idea a lot. I'm psyched to see the tank full and maturing. I can easily envision coral growing all over those surfaces.

Great job D.

swimmer

 

[jhale]

that's a similar idea to reef ceramics. instead of salt they add metal to thier mix and fire it in a kilm. the metal melts away and they are left with lots of voids.
Placing that in a stream is the best way to cure it. I had one similar piece in a tiolet tank, even after 4 months the PH was still off the charts high.

looks like it will be a neat tank

 

[herman]

Curing the cement rock in a stream is how the dudes from Idaho, better known to us reefers as GARF got in trouble. But I guess you are not curing quite as much as they are.

Keep up the pics!!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I think some of the cultured rocks are made some what like this. When you break one those rock, you actually see sand particles and a lot of mini mini holes-holes that you cannot see but can feel their existence.

 

[Spracklcat]

My brother made a bunch of rock that way (in his kids' kiddie pool) and cured it by leaving it outside and the backyard hose running at a slow drip and overflowing. Took a few weeks to cure but it was no problem pH wise--

 

[aaron]

My tank is 80% DIY rock, I used crushed coral to give texture and increased surface area. It took about 3 months to cure in a garbage can with water changes every day. It is mostly covered in Coraline now and its almost impossible to tell what is natural and what is man made.