Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Aquaculture and Breeding Forum › Aquacultured Livestock › 1st batch of homemade LR!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

1st batch of homemade LR!

post #1 of 59
12/23/08 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
mixed equal parts of argonite sand and portland cement. here's a few pics...
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
Reply
post #2 of 59
12/23/08 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 
a few more pics.... these pieces are in a freshwater bath now with a small powerhead for movement.
LL
LL
LL
LL
LL
Reply
post #3 of 59
12/23/08 at 12:24pm
So you used aragonite and portland, did you put in any rock salt or anything that will dissolve in the fresh water curing to make pores in the rock?
Reply
post #4 of 59
12/23/08 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
no, but i ran several different sized tubes through it and removed them to make tunnels. i also scratched and carved into them creating pockets and pores.
Reply
post #5 of 59
12/23/08 at 3:47pm
Looks really good.But how did you get your shapes? Did you use some kind of form or what?
Reply
post #6 of 59
12/23/08 at 3:50pm
i like them! i really want to make some LR some time. i think itd be fun. plus i dont wanna use my "real" LR as base rock.
Reply
post #7 of 59
12/23/08 at 5:56pm
which portland cement did you use? and great idea on the rocksalt!
Reply
post #8 of 59
12/24/08 at 8:25am
Thread Starter 
no forms, all by hand just playing...
Reply
post #9 of 59
12/24/08 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 
i think it was made by quik crete
Reply
post #10 of 59
12/24/08 at 2:35pm
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor View Post
i think it was made by quik crete
but portland I/II or portland III? one is silica based, the other is i think aragonite based.
Reply
post #11 of 59
12/24/08 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Originally Posted by renogaw View Post
but portland I/II or portland III? one is silica based, the other is i think aragonite based.
type 1 Dont tell me thats bad....
Reply
post #12 of 59
12/25/08 at 10:59pm
the silica based portland cement will help fuel algae after a while..
Reply
post #13 of 59
12/26/08 at 9:56am
Thread Starter 
Originally Posted by renogaw View Post
the silica based portland cement will help fuel algae after a while..
im not too concerned about algae, i have a nic cuc and 2 tangs...
Reply
post #14 of 59
12/26/08 at 4:15pm
Originally Posted by VinnyRaptor View Post
type 1 Dont tell me thats bad....
actually i dont know if #1 is bad but every one i know that has made their own used type #3 with a 4 to 6 part aragonite sand to one part cement
Reply
post #15 of 59
12/26/08 at 4:37pm
Another trick is to go to a local craft store if you don’t live near a beach and add shells as the mixture sets up for a very nice effect. The addition of plastic beads to the mixture will also make the man made rock lighter if weight is an issue.

Great looking rock by the way
Reply
post #16 of 59
12/27/08 at 8:08am
Thread Starter 
thanks!
Reply
post #17 of 59
12/27/08 at 2:08pm
Type 3 is used. Make sure you cure them or your ph/alk will be off the charts.
Reply
post #18 of 59
1/1/09 at 3:30pm
lol, I tried this too. After a year of curing and every day water changes - I couldn't get the pH any lower then 12.5 Finally I said to heck with it and threw the project away.

Mind you - it can be done, just takes time.
Reply
post #19 of 59
1/26/09 at 4:49pm
although time consuming that is really a neat idea! The rocks looks really nice too. Would be AMAZING for base rock especially.. i have at least 5lbs of rock hiding in my sand
Reply
post #20 of 59
1/26/09 at 8:13pm
Originally Posted by ADEE View Post
although time consuming that is really a neat idea! The rocks looks really nice too. Would be AMAZING for base rock especially.. i have at least 5lbs of rock hiding in my sand
A nice trick I use for this is cutting about an inch or more (depending on your sand bed) and placing them under the rock! No one even sees it if you have the right size!
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Aquacultured Livestock
Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Aquaculture and Breeding Forum › Aquacultured Livestock › 1st batch of homemade LR!