Creating Live Rock??? How to.....
- Thread starter asharp13
- Start date
king_neptune
Active Member
dont get the kind at home depot or lowes(it has horrible coverage due to small containers...and im not sure its reef safe).
use the kind you find in hobby stores, they go hand in hand with model airplanes and -- cars. get at least the 20min cure. but if they have 30min htat is better. this stuff has low coverage so your gonna go through probably 4 packs for your tank. you get the 5min and your gonna be psssed. it dries before you have a chance to apply it...let alone coat it with sand.
use the kind you find in hobby stores, they go hand in hand with model airplanes and -- cars. get at least the 20min cure. but if they have 30min htat is better. this stuff has low coverage so your gonna go through probably 4 packs for your tank. you get the 5min and your gonna be psssed. it dries before you have a chance to apply it...let alone coat it with sand.
posiden
Active Member
Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3134127
wat kind of epxy do you reccommend to attach the sand to the foam? also, will coraline grow on the foam and sand to blend it into my tank?
I think that most use Z-poxy. But I have even read of some people using bondo resin for fiberglass work.
Yes, coraline will grow on it just the same.
http:///forum/post/3134127
wat kind of epxy do you reccommend to attach the sand to the foam? also, will coraline grow on the foam and sand to blend it into my tank?
I think that most use Z-poxy. But I have even read of some people using bondo resin for fiberglass work.
Yes, coraline will grow on it just the same.
posiden
Active Member
Rock salt really does a number on cements strength. It also will slow you down big time on the ability to use the rock.
Oh yea, Oyster shell breaks down too over time. So you have weakend cement due to the rocksalt and an admix (oyster shell) that will break down and go away. Leaving you with a really weak rock to crumble in your tank. It is best to use aragonite instead of oyster shell.
Oh yea, Oyster shell breaks down too over time. So you have weakend cement due to the rocksalt and an admix (oyster shell) that will break down and go away. Leaving you with a really weak rock to crumble in your tank. It is best to use aragonite instead of oyster shell.
mikecurrin
Member
I have also seen something of mixing concrete and setting it withing sand to dry just mold into the shapes you are trying to go for you can while concrete is wet add shells and crushed coral and other things to it. The thing I did see with doing this, is that it will cause your ph to spike really high, so best to cycle with fresh water for a few weeks changing out water daily to lower before adding to salt water tank, as far as costs this is a money saver, never tried though, I just bought the rock, only have 55 gal so not too much expense but not much on the creative side either.
asharp13
Member
Posiden,
yes i am very interested. can you lay out a dummy's step by step guide for me? i would like to learn all the ways and then from all the options out there, take the pieces i think will be best and put them together.
please enlighten me!!!
also, how do i go about curing the rock and making it become LIVE?? i have read a couple things but i'd like to know your thoughts. do i jst put it in a bucket with an airstone, powerhead, and other LR? do i need a light? water changes? would adding bottled beneficial bacteria help? what about the coraline plates?
as you can see im confused haha srry. please help me with what you can THANKS!!!
yes i am very interested. can you lay out a dummy's step by step guide for me? i would like to learn all the ways and then from all the options out there, take the pieces i think will be best and put them together.
please enlighten me!!!
also, how do i go about curing the rock and making it become LIVE?? i have read a couple things but i'd like to know your thoughts. do i jst put it in a bucket with an airstone, powerhead, and other LR? do i need a light? water changes? would adding bottled beneficial bacteria help? what about the coraline plates?
as you can see im confused haha srry. please help me with what you can THANKS!!!
posiden
Active Member
Originally Posted by asharp13
http:///forum/post/3135184
Posiden,
yes i am very interested. can you lay out a dummy's step by step guide for me? i would like to learn all the ways and then from all the options out there, take the pieces i think will be best and put them together.
please enlighten me!!!
also, how do i go about curing the rock and making it become LIVE?? i have read a couple things but i'd like to know your thoughts. do i jst put it in a bucket with an airstone, powerhead, and other LR? do i need a light? water changes? would adding bottled beneficial bacteria help? what about the coraline plates?
as you can see im confused haha srry. please help me with what you can THANKS!!!
mr.wilson method uses Hydrolic Water Stop by Quickrete. It is sold in 10-20 lb buckets. I think my 20lb bucket was $10 at lowes. You then need some aragonite. I used Kordon brand. I mixed 4 scoops of the aragonite to 3 scoops of the cement. You can change the mix ratios if you would like. mr.wilson likes a 50/50 mix. I just wanted a tiny bit extra. Mix it in water and start building. You must mix small batches as this sets up in like 5-20 mins. I used a dixi cup for the small areas that demanded time and a small bucket for the areas I could pour it on and work in some humps and crevices. You can use egg crate for structure if you would like. mr.wilson builds directly on the glass or acrylic tanks sides. That is just about it. Real simple. let it air cure for a month. Place it in fresh tap water for 24 hours. IF any calcium percipitates out of the cement brush it off before you drain out all the water. Re-fill with your salt water and let it cycle. The PH might be just a touch over 8.2 but fish will be just fine. When the bio filter kicks in it will be a touch acidic and the PH will come down.
No worries. All done. In making any DIY rock it should only cinsist of about 90% of what you need. The other 10% LR that you buy will seed what you made.
So, while you wait for the DIY rock to cure, you set up a QT tank for your 10% LR that you bought and watch it for a month in a light QT tank to rid it of any hitch hickers.
http:///forum/post/3135184
Posiden,
yes i am very interested. can you lay out a dummy's step by step guide for me? i would like to learn all the ways and then from all the options out there, take the pieces i think will be best and put them together.
please enlighten me!!!
also, how do i go about curing the rock and making it become LIVE?? i have read a couple things but i'd like to know your thoughts. do i jst put it in a bucket with an airstone, powerhead, and other LR? do i need a light? water changes? would adding bottled beneficial bacteria help? what about the coraline plates?
as you can see im confused haha srry. please help me with what you can THANKS!!!
mr.wilson method uses Hydrolic Water Stop by Quickrete. It is sold in 10-20 lb buckets. I think my 20lb bucket was $10 at lowes. You then need some aragonite. I used Kordon brand. I mixed 4 scoops of the aragonite to 3 scoops of the cement. You can change the mix ratios if you would like. mr.wilson likes a 50/50 mix. I just wanted a tiny bit extra. Mix it in water and start building. You must mix small batches as this sets up in like 5-20 mins. I used a dixi cup for the small areas that demanded time and a small bucket for the areas I could pour it on and work in some humps and crevices. You can use egg crate for structure if you would like. mr.wilson builds directly on the glass or acrylic tanks sides. That is just about it. Real simple. let it air cure for a month. Place it in fresh tap water for 24 hours. IF any calcium percipitates out of the cement brush it off before you drain out all the water. Re-fill with your salt water and let it cycle. The PH might be just a touch over 8.2 but fish will be just fine. When the bio filter kicks in it will be a touch acidic and the PH will come down.
No worries. All done. In making any DIY rock it should only cinsist of about 90% of what you need. The other 10% LR that you buy will seed what you made.
So, while you wait for the DIY rock to cure, you set up a QT tank for your 10% LR that you bought and watch it for a month in a light QT tank to rid it of any hitch hickers.
king_neptune
Active Member
you read my how too thread right?
asharp13
Member
Originally Posted by Posiden
http:///forum/post/3135833
mr.wilson method uses Hydrolic Water Stop by Quickrete. It is sold in 10-20 lb buckets. I think my 20lb bucket was $10 at lowes. You then need some aragonite. I used Kordon brand. I mixed 4 scoops of the aragonite to 3 scoops of the cement. You can change the mix ratios if you would like. mr.wilson likes a 50/50 mix. I just wanted a tiny bit extra. Mix it in water and start building. You must mix small batches as this sets up in like 5-20 mins. I used a dixi cup for the small areas that demanded time and a small bucket for the areas I could pour it on and work in some humps and crevices. You can use egg crate for structure if you would like. mr.wilson builds directly on the glass or acrylic tanks sides. That is just about it. Real simple. let it air cure for a month. Place it in fresh tap water for 24 hours. IF any calcium percipitates out of the cement brush it off before you drain out all the water. Re-fill with your salt water and let it cycle. The PH might be just a touch over 8.2 but fish will be just fine. When the bio filter kicks in it will be a touch acidic and the PH will come down.
No worries. All done. In making any DIY rock it should only cinsist of about 90% of what you need. The other 10% LR that you buy will seed what you made.
So, while you wait for the DIY rock to cure, you set up a QT tank for your 10% LR that you bought and watch it for a month in a light QT tank to rid it of any hitch hickers.
this one??? yea
http:///forum/post/3135833
mr.wilson method uses Hydrolic Water Stop by Quickrete. It is sold in 10-20 lb buckets. I think my 20lb bucket was $10 at lowes. You then need some aragonite. I used Kordon brand. I mixed 4 scoops of the aragonite to 3 scoops of the cement. You can change the mix ratios if you would like. mr.wilson likes a 50/50 mix. I just wanted a tiny bit extra. Mix it in water and start building. You must mix small batches as this sets up in like 5-20 mins. I used a dixi cup for the small areas that demanded time and a small bucket for the areas I could pour it on and work in some humps and crevices. You can use egg crate for structure if you would like. mr.wilson builds directly on the glass or acrylic tanks sides. That is just about it. Real simple. let it air cure for a month. Place it in fresh tap water for 24 hours. IF any calcium percipitates out of the cement brush it off before you drain out all the water. Re-fill with your salt water and let it cycle. The PH might be just a touch over 8.2 but fish will be just fine. When the bio filter kicks in it will be a touch acidic and the PH will come down.
No worries. All done. In making any DIY rock it should only cinsist of about 90% of what you need. The other 10% LR that you buy will seed what you made.
So, while you wait for the DIY rock to cure, you set up a QT tank for your 10% LR that you bought and watch it for a month in a light QT tank to rid it of any hitch hickers.
this one??? yea
king_neptune
Active Member
king_neptune
Active Member
The final product:
