DIY Live Rocks

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by hckycoz
This probably won't be my last mistake but you think that was too much cement and too little shells? My other formula of 1:4 broke off way to easily
Probably the other way around. Try a 1:3 ratio. The cement is what binds everything.
I recommend experimenting with small batches and ratios. Find the ratio that produces what you are happy with. Then try a few others and be sure.
Also, be sure to let your rock sit for 2-3 days......hot temps or not!!! It needs time to set else it will be crumbly no matter what you did.
also, I found that an equal amount of water to cement mix is a good guideline. Example is that you use a 4:1 ratio and use 8 cups shells, 2 cups cement. Use 2 cups water. Again play with it in small batches to find what works. Too little water can make it crumbly as well.

 

[hckycoz]

well i found an extra bucket and made a rock with 1:3 ratio (cement:Shells) The bucket i used tho had a little water in the bottom and the mixture was a little bit watery but we will see how it comes out

 

[hckycoz]

i found an old bucket and decided to make another rock but this time i used the ratio 1:3 (Cement:Shells) The busket i used had a little water in it and i think the it was a little to watery but we'll see.

 

[thangbom]

are u guys trying to make rock without sand???.... sry i dint read this whole trend just the last few.. so can u guyz sum it up in 1 post for me?? i can help ya out some on this diy rock...

 

[shiby1510]

if you wanted to help read it... anyways you'll see that ppl like me and thegrog have already done it multiple times and we are helping hckycoz... and as for sand... you don't have to use sand.. I have made molds in sand and molds on plywood

 

[zman1]

Grog or Shiby 1510, Do you have any pictures of the process or outcome. I have been thinking about doing this for some time now, already eyed out the Portland cement last week. As you can tell by my tag line it's not an occupation but a way of life. Tring to figure out if it's cheaper to make rock or buy base rock, including the look of the finished product.
I have been to the garf site, but wanted to see some other comparisons. I already have about 90 lbs Fuji, some from Walt and LFS.... Not sure where the LFS LR really came from (if you know what I mean).
Z- Cheap Doctrine

 

[shiby1510]

It depends how much you plan on making and how big your tank is.... and also if they have the shapes that you want... you can make caves underpasses... pretty much anything that your imagination can think of

 

[thangbom]

.. look up GARF .. they have info about diy rock.. even vid clips and other stuff.. think they call it argocrete....

 

[andretti]

Man Shiby, you're a real pro at this stuff now. I've seen pictures of your nano...looks real good.

 

[thegrog]

I only have a few small peices (first successful batches) in my tank right now. One peice is almost unidentifiable as it has been taken over by green star polyps. Sold a bunch of others and they worked great. Have a few batches that should be done curing soon.
Here is one of my first batches just after setting. The second pic you can make out the rock from the upper left of the first pic in the background covered by green star polyps.

 

[zman1]

Looks great - thanks!

 

[flux]

Did you guys use regular Portland cement or did you use the white Portland? I used the normal stuff and im worried the gray will look bad once its in my tank.

 

[zman1]

hckycoz,
My Bad, just noticed your location. We live about 30 miles apart. Probably been to some of the same LFS -lol

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by flux
Did you guys use regular Portland cement or did you use the white Portland? I used the normal stuff and im worried the gray will look bad once its in my tank.
The grey looks pretty obvious in your tank.......for about 2 weeks. Then the algae covers it and all the colors start to come out. By a month, you can't even see the grey any more. By 2 months, it looks like my other live rock.

 

[shiby1510]

White cement will be lighter more like what thegrog showed you.. but i actually liked my rock that I made better than bought rock... the oyster shells when I soaked them became pearly white and look absolutely awesome under the lights :yes:

 

[sinner's girl]

Is there a thread on how to make the molds? What can be used to shape the stuff around?
Also, can we use tap water or do we need to use ro water?
We where thinking of putting it in a creek to cure, then picking it up with 3 months, will this work?
Thanks...first time at this.

 

[flux]

I molded it by digging the shape into a bin of play sand and putting the mix in and covering it with more sand. has just about everything you could want to know on the matter.

 

[hckycoz]

well i did somethin different
the second batch i made was flakin off real bad so i set out of water and sand for about 3 days and now its as hard as well a rock. now its in the water curing the rest of the way. i dont know if this will work but i tried it and was lookin for feedback on it

 

[thegrog]

Originally Posted by hckycoz
well i did somethin different
the second batch i made was flakin off real bad so i set out of water and sand for about 3 days and now its as hard as well a rock. now its in the water curing the rest of the way. i dont know if this will work but i tried it and was lookin for feedback on it
I usually leave mine in the mold (play sand) for 2-3 days. Then let it sit in the garage for a week or two (week in summer, two in spring/fall) before putting it into curing water. This lets it air dry up and be nice and solid!
As for the water, I just use tap water. There is so little water used by comparison that any contaminants in the water (copper, ect) would be in such miniscule quantities that they would have no effect on your system.
As for sitting the rocks in a stream, I would say a big no on that. You will get algae growth and all sorts of fresh water critters in there that you would have to cure out before putting it in a salt water tank.

 

[sinner's girl]

Thanks!