DIY Live Rocks

maelv

maelv

Active Member
FishRule, shoot me an email I can send you something that can definitely explain the process better than I can...
But from my gathering, is that curing phase of the DIY rock is getting all that stuff that will kill your tank's inhabitants and preparing for the seeding....then you seed...and I thought I read somewhere on here in a different post where it took someone about a year and a half to finally get some coraline growth on his/her tank...but shoot me a message, I have something for you that may help.
ismael.velez@bcdtravel.com
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Originally Posted by FishRule
I thought the final process, “Curing Process”of the DIY Rock was where you would seed them with live rock, which I would do for weeks before placing in a display tank.... My question is do I need to have regular live rock in my tank after the Curing/Seeding Process?
Watch the word curing, as it is used a few ways when referring to DIY or LR.
For DIY, you cure the rock to stabilize the pH mainly, this is first done in fresh water and then start using change water from your DT. More cost effective than mixing up fresh saltwater for the DIY rocks.
If you want coralline you will need LR from a LFS, Mail Order, or fellow reefer. Add this to your tank. If it's mail order you may need to cure it for die-off before putting it into an established tank. This is the other curing process
If this is a new tank without any inhabitants then you can put the previous pH cured DIY rock and purchased LR in and wait for it to cycle. The LR will seed the DIY rock
 
bellanavis

bellanavis

Active Member
Thanks Zman, you sure can word stuff good. I would have never been able to explain that to him, thats why I just said read the whole thread, but you covered it. I still think the whole thread should be read, it covers a lot.
 
fishrule

fishrule

Member
Thanks guys for clearing up my questions. I think I have it figured out… Sorta…
Maelv, I sent you mail… :jumping:
 
bellanavis

bellanavis

Active Member
Ok, here is a question for all you guys who have already made your own rock, how do you keep your hands from getting all cut up? I used the portland cement, sand, and some CC, and my hands are all cut up and sore from mixing them together. What did you guys do diffrent.
 
cannonman

cannonman

Member
I used a small hand/garden shovel to mix mine. FYI mine has been in my tank now for about a month or so and it has coraline aglae growing in patches ALL OVER it already!! :jumping: It was the experimental batch, I will be making more come spring time.
 
maelv

maelv

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cannonman
I used a small hand/garden shovel to mix mine. FYI mine has been in my tank now for about a month or so and it has coraline aglae growing in patches ALL OVER it already!! :jumping: It was the experimental batch, I will be making more come spring time.
Cannonman, you have any pictures you could share with us? I'd like to see what the rock looks like....thanks
Bella, did you use any type of rubber gloves?
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Originally Posted by BellaNavis
Ok, here is a question for all you guys who have already made your own rock, how do you keep your hands from getting all cut up? I used the portland cement, sand, and some CC, and my hands are all cut up and sore from mixing them together. What did you guys do diffrent.
Rubber gloves.
If you don't like a piece or one is to big, just break it up by dropping or use a hammer. Wear eye protection.
 
bellanavis

bellanavis

Active Member
I did not use any gloves, I should have, but I think it would be harder, with the gloves taking away some of the feeling, so it would be harder to form the rock, I could be wrong, but I am deffently going to have to do something diffrent next time, my hands HURT.
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Originally Posted by BellaNavis
I did not use any gloves, I should have, but I think it would be harder, with the gloves taking away some of the feeling, so it would be harder to form the rock, I could be wrong, but I am deffently going to have to do something diffrent next time, my hands HURT.

Your lucky you didn't get a chemical burn. Always wear gloves!
 
michael_t

michael_t

Member
Quikcrete has Lime and limestone in it which raises the PH of the rock and eventually your tank. That’s why it needs to be “cured” in freshwater before it goes in your tank.
If you can find it, Thorite by Thoro does not use lime or limestone and is consisted reef safe. I have heard of very experienced hobbyist putting in their Thorite made DIY rock into the tank the same day as they make.
 
maelv

maelv

Active Member
okay, so I made some last night...still hardening...but it looks gray inside the container.....Did I grab the wrong cement? I got portland cement, but are there different colors to the cement? I just grabbed the only bag I could find at my Home Depot.....
:notsure:
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
Don't sweat it. It will cover with coralline and you won't be able to tell the difference.
 
maelv

maelv

Active Member
Originally Posted by zman1
Don't sweat it. It will cover with coralline and you won't be able to tell the difference.
Thanks zman1. I can't wait to take it out of the mold to see what it looks like. I hope that it looks good. I made a pretty big piece that I want to put against the wall side of my new tank. But I will have to wait until tomorrow to check it out....hopefully it doesn't break on me.
 
zman1

zman1

Active Member
I have attached two pictures.
The first is from my 75 there are three DIY rocks... I circled the 3 that I think are them. It's hard to tell unless you look at the bottom. Also, an example of why you don't want caulerpa to get into a DT.
The second pic is from Nov. this year of a section of the 120. Which is 99.9% DIY.
The lighting on the 75 is 4 VHO - two 50/50 and two actinics
The lighting on the 120 in this picture is two VHO actinics and two 250w MH 20k bulbs.

 
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