homade rock

[bonita69]

you would set up a rubber made tub, mix saltwater to fill it just as you did when you set up your main tank run a few powerheads and a heater in it. Of course with the rock in it. It will not have die off but will help cure the stone so it don't lech in your main tank.

 

[fish2]

ok bonita. my friend

 

[fish2]

oh wait for how long do i do it. and also i was wondering is like the common grey rocks that you see by streams and rivers fishtank safe

 

[regina13]

Originally Posted by fish2
http:///forum/post/2485093
oh wait for how long do i do it. and also i was wondering is like the common grey rocks that you see by streams and rivers fishtank safe
Just for a regular cycle (prob. about a month)
The other rock is prob. ok to

 

[caseysimp7]

Originally Posted by regina13
http:///forum/post/2485080
I kinda figured you knew each other some how because you were posting so often on this thread, but I didnt want to take the chance of someone just posting for no reason.
I apoligize!

dont sweat it..its cool

 

[fish2]

ok thanx

 

[caseysimp7]

are u talking about the rock behind jaremys house?

 

[salty blues]

Originally Posted by fish2
http:///forum/post/2485045
i went and got some and its just plain concrete. do i need to do anything besides rinsing it before it goes into the tank
The rock needs to be porous to work as live rock. IMO regular concrete would not be very porous. I believe there is a recipe to make live rock. You might try a search.
NOTE: These comments are the opinion of the poster and are in no way to be taken or construed as factual or accurate.

 

[spanko]

I would not do it. I think that if you need more rock you can purchase some very inexpensive dry base rock that you can be sure is alright for your tank. Concrete used out in the real world gets some strange additives put into it to help it cure faster, stronger, etc. There is plenty of information about making your own homemade concrete rock but it is fairly specific about what concrete to use and how to make and cure it. Be careful here with something you don't know how it was made etc., it could be a problem.

 

[fishkid2]

On discovery channel I saw some peoples making fish houses out of concrete, but thats the ocean.

 

[flricordia]

Concrete is very alkaline and will cause ph to skyrocket untill it is soaked in F/W long enough to remove the alkalinities that cause the high ph. Test it first by placing it into a bucket of freshwater that you know the ph of before hand then test the ph a few days later. There are some good sites that have directions for DIY rock. Just do a search. One of the best mothods IMO is to use coarse rock salt mixed with portland cemente, then when you cure the rocks in F/W the salt will desolve leaving a porous rock.

 

[fish2]

cool

 

[justinwwwallin]

i would def put itin fresh water for awhile to cure in fresh then give it a two week bath in saltwater. then a week in fresh. well i didnt do it this long cuz my ph went down. but thats what im guessing around how long it would be.

 

[fish2]

what kind of rock are you alking about

 

[spanko]

Look for Tufa or Lace rock.

 

[wangotango]

Like mentioned, let it soak for a week or so before adding it to the tank.
If you're going to mix it yourself, add some aragonite sand or some crushed coral to it. There are some good articles on making your own rock on garf dot org.
Just FYI, this isn't like a chat room or AIM where there is always someone on the other end waiting to respond to your post, just give time to respond and keep back and forth conversation on PM.
-Justin

 

[teresaq]

I wouldnt use it unless yu know whats in it. I made homemade rock with portland cement and oyster shell. I had to cure it a long time, but its rather nice now. I wish I had done just base rock. Google tonga dry rock. For a couple dollars a lb its really nice.