DIY tank and sump

[taznut]

for the "o" the mix was
1.5 cup cement
2 c sand
2.5 c CC
.5 c shells
1c salt
1c water
for the other one
2c cement
2c sand
2.5 c CC
.5 c shells
1.5c salt
1 c water
I think I am going to have to add ALOT more cement with this type if I can get it to work at all... doesnt seem that it is going to bond...
good ol' trial and error....
Cant forget the last ingredient..

 

[woody189]

heres another pic of the foam wall. This is once it's in the tank and gets corraline growing.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/348740/what-was-the-name-of-that-foam

 

[jackri]

Good to see your pants were up and the seat cover was down in the one picture

Making base rock might have to be a summer project for me

 

[taznut]

well those mixtures didnt work at all... it might have needed to dry a little more but by the way it crumbled its not going to work.... i wish i could find the cement i am suppose to use...

 

[taznut]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/2995643
Good to see your pants were up and the seat cover was down in the one picture

lol.. i was thinking about that when i posted that picture...

 

[jackri]

I can't find any of the portland here, I checked lowe's and home depot but I haven't looked overly hard either as I'm always carrying a baby with me

 

[taznut]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/2995686
I can't find any of the portland here, I checked lowe's and home depot but I haven't looked overly hard either as I'm always carrying a baby with me
i check lowes, home depot and menards and none of them have it... online it looks like you have to order quanities of it so I was going to call around to concrete places tomorrow and see if they have a 100lbs or so that i could buy... probably more expensive that way but better than nothing or buying all the LR...

 

[taznut]

i think (since i have no other way to do it) i am going to mix up some of the concrete and mix the other stuff seperatly, then just stick the other stuff to the outside of the concrete and let it set up... this should at least yeild a little bit... i know it wont be as pourous as it would the other way but again... trial and error...

 

[chevyrulzs2010]

can u send me the links to what you used to make your rock and stuff. email me at chevyrulzs2010@yahoo.com =)

 

[taznut]

Originally Posted by chevyrulzs2010
http:///forum/post/2995939
can u send me the links to what you used to make your rock and stuff. email me at chevyrulzs2010@yahoo.com =)
i bought all this stuff at home depot, menards, and my lfs... didnt order anything... the concrete isnt working though... have to find something else...

 

[taznut]

so i got portland type I this morning and mixed up a batch... going to put it in play sand mold here in a little bit... i mixed it :
2.5c cement
7.5c CC
2c rock salt
I know a lot of people use a 1:5 ratio but i want this batch to hold and will experiment after i have some started... my plan is to let this dry in the mold for a day and then in the air for 4-5 more days then start the curing process in a trash can of water... i think im going to throw in a power head (once i get one)... i have read you dont have to do this but it makes since to me that it would help... will post pics in a few min...

 

[taznut]

sorry these are bad but have to catch bus in 5 min... these are going to be really dense i think but we will see...

 

[taznut]

i feel like im talking to myself in this thread but oh well... i kinda like it

...
here are pics of the harden rocks and some new ones i am starting... i hope some of the gray comes out... not the preatiest things in the world but its my first try... the second batch should be a little better...
first batch was just concrete, cc, and salt in about a 1:2.5:1 mix i think... the new stuff has sand in it with a 1:3:2:2 mix...
sorry these are terrible, but i guess they are just rocks... didnt look this bad on camera

 

[tanqueray]

Hey man get the mix down right yet? Hows the cement working? Is the portland working out better than regular cement mix?

 

[taznut]

Originally Posted by tanqueray
http:///forum/post/2999228
Hey man get the mix down right yet? Hows the cement working? Is the portland working out better than regular cement mix?
i dont think you can use regular cement... and havent really decided on mix yet... the last mix i did last night was
2.5c cement
5c CC
2.5c sand
2.5c salt which is about a 1:4 overall ratio but i think it is too weak... check it this morning and it broke but it may not have been dry enough...

 

[taznut]

i finished the sump last night... i will leak check either tonight or tomorrow...
the big section is the fuge, the medium is skimmer and the small is the return... what do you think??? i used #4 weld to put it together and reinforced all the seams with silicone... the silicone is not for support, just to stop any possible leaks... what do you think???