gmford1979
Member
i've read about sand molds, but i'm confused. do you actually just put sand in like a plastic bin and make a hole in the sand? then pour the mixture in?
DIY rock for TRADE only
- Thread starter team2jndd
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zeroc
Member
yeah, it's like reverse sculpting. Just like making a cast of an animal print. Luckily materials are cheap and you can screw up a bunch. Wet the sand so you can mold it (don't soak the sand, just wet it) make a shape in the sand, line it with crushed Oyster Shell, pour cement mixture in, sprinkle some crushed oyster shell on that, let it sit for 24-48 hours. Rinse it off and cure it. To cure put it in water (not your tank). Test the PH, of the water every few days, if the PH of the water is really high (above 8.6) change the water test again in a few days. after the PH comes down to 8.6 or lower change the water and let it sit for at least a week. if it's still 8.6 or lower you're good to go. I personally after the first water change pour half a gallon of vinegar into the 18 gallon tote i use and wait until the PH get back up over 8 then i rinse with water and continue on with just water for another couple weeks to get rid of all the vinegar.
team2jndd
Active Member
Originally Posted by ZeroC
yeah, it's like reverse sculpting. Just like making a cast of an animal print. Luckily materials are cheap and you can screw up a bunch. Wet the sand so you can mold it (don't soak the sand, just wet it) make a shape in the sand, line it with crushed Oyster Shell, pour cement mixture in, sprinkle some crushed oyster shell on that, let it sit for 24-48 hours. Rinse it off and cure it. To cure put it in water (not your tank). Test the PH, of the water every few days, if the PH of the water is really high (above 8.6) change the water test again in a few days. after the PH comes down to 8.6 or lower change the water and let it sit for at least a week. if it's still 8.6 or lower you're good to go. I personally after the first water change pour half a gallon of vinegar into the 18 gallon tote i use and wait until the PH get back up over 8 then i rinse with water and continue on with just water for another couple weeks to get rid of all the vinegar.
Not really sure about your methods of molding... also, 8.6 is high. Freshwater should be at 7. If it is above 7.4, the rock is not cured.
yeah, it's like reverse sculpting. Just like making a cast of an animal print. Luckily materials are cheap and you can screw up a bunch. Wet the sand so you can mold it (don't soak the sand, just wet it) make a shape in the sand, line it with crushed Oyster Shell, pour cement mixture in, sprinkle some crushed oyster shell on that, let it sit for 24-48 hours. Rinse it off and cure it. To cure put it in water (not your tank). Test the PH, of the water every few days, if the PH of the water is really high (above 8.6) change the water test again in a few days. after the PH comes down to 8.6 or lower change the water and let it sit for at least a week. if it's still 8.6 or lower you're good to go. I personally after the first water change pour half a gallon of vinegar into the 18 gallon tote i use and wait until the PH get back up over 8 then i rinse with water and continue on with just water for another couple weeks to get rid of all the vinegar.
Not really sure about your methods of molding... also, 8.6 is high. Freshwater should be at 7. If it is above 7.4, the rock is not cured.
