Home Made LR

[j-cal]

I cant find info on it, but I've heard from some customers at workt hat they used some kind of concrete and aragamax to make base rock. Is this cheaper than buying Lace rock? Has anyone here done this? I am asking because I am upgrading my tank and dont want to buy another 100 lbs of str8 LR cuz its expensive!! I dont really like lace rock much, but i figure if i made my own rock, I could make large caves for a marine betta or 2 and just structres that I like.
Ideas?
Justin

 

[fender]

Look for aragocrete on search engines.

 

[j-cal]

OK I did that but it seems like it would be hard to make cave like feautres without the entire thing collapsing. i thought it would have a putty like consistancy to mold shapes that i want. I would like a few caves that are like giant socks (open on one end and about 6 inches deep. that would be pretty tough to make wouldnt it? Is it easier than it looks because right now im thinking about just buying lace rock from my store.

 

[fender]

I honestly haven't tried it. I read another article somewhere about using home insulating foam (that stuff that comes in a can) which may be eaiser to shape and then covering it with rubble and sand before it hardens. If you try it, let us know how it comes out.

 

[beaslbob]

The crete is like concrete not like putty. You can mold it to any shape you want but must make sure it is thick enough and is working in compression not tension. Arches work in compression. Beams work in tension and compression. So you shouldn't have long flat areas with wide parte that are unsupported.
for molding try some common sand. hollow out a hole. Pour the crete in. hollow out a cave in the crete and pack the cave with sand. Keep it wet and let it set up for a couple of weeks. Then rinse off the sand and you should have a nice cave.

 

[grimm reef]

Goto to garf.org and click on the how to link on the left, they have a pretty good write-up and pictures

 

[worldchanger]

Yea garf.org has lots of helpful info.

 

[overanalyzer]

I've done it .... lots of ways to make 'em. Do a search in the DIY forum for a six pack thread - I have one of my pictures in that thread.