How do you make Live Rock?

[fish r friends]

I was wondering how do you make live rock because buying it from the store is way too expensive because near me its about $10 per pound and i need about 35 pounds!
1) What kinds of Rock do you use? (name all thats possible and the best!)
2) Can they be colorful like normal Live Rock that you buy from the store?
3) Do you have to have some live Rock first?
4) Where do you position the normal rock to the Live Rock?
5) How long does it take?
THANX!

 

[hintze55]

IM not sure but i dont think you can make live rock outta normal rock, i know live rock is expensive but its worth it, im in the same spot too i need more live rock but can not afford just save up and buy it slowly

 

[nemo_66]

making live rock is complicated.
1) you dont use any rocks, you use portland cement and lots and lots of rock salt. both are very specific, and other types can posion your tank.
2) yes, they can be colorful, but it takes time and patience. mostly all of mine are fake, and you cant tell the difference
3) other live rock is not neccesary, but good to seed it, but if your tank is new, you shouldnt get any because the cycle will kill everything on it anyway.
4) position it where you like, it doesn't matter, just make it look appealing to you and who ever else looks at your tank a lot
5) making the mix, and shapes takes about 3-5 days. curing it so it doesnt posion your tank because of the rock salt takes about 3 months or longer.
any other questions?

 

[mr_x]

wow, i've never heard of using rock salt!
meanwhile..do a search for " how to make live rock" and you'll get many recipies.

 

[nemo_66]

yup, makes the rocks way more porus. huge rocks that weight incredibly light and looks very very real. i still debate on which one is fake now that they have coraline on it. just look at my videos. there somewhere on here.

 

[stdreb27]

search for a thread called DIY Liverock there is a monster thread about it. But I haven't seen it bumped in a while.

 

[slpcamaro]

Originally Posted by Nemo_66
http:///forum/post/2568408
making live rock is complicated.
1) you dont use any rocks, you use portland cement and lots and lots of rock salt. both are very specific, and other types can posion your tank.
2) yes, they can be colorful, but it takes time and patience. mostly all of mine are fake, and you cant tell the difference
3) other live rock is not neccesary, but good to seed it, but if your tank is new, you shouldnt get any because the cycle will kill everything on it anyway.
4) position it where you like, it doesn't matter, just make it look appealing to you and who ever else looks at your tank a lot
5) making the mix, and shapes takes about 3-5 days. curing it so it doesnt posion your tank because of the rock salt takes about 3 months or longer.
any other questions?
I'm new to this all setting up my first tank going big with it, I found a good deal and went for it I have a 180gal tank with about 110pounds of lr and 280pounds of ls. The tank is cycling now I was thinking of making my own live rock, and was wondering if the tank is all set up and I added the homemade live rock will it kill everything if I only add about 40lbs of the new live rock. I'm going to have a lion fish, trigger, some clown fish and an eel, as well as a shark (sorry new name starts with a B their lazy and kinda of just sit there)

 

[nemo_66]

umm... if you cure it right, it wouldnt/shouldnt be a problem. but since your tank is going to be established by the time you make it, i would cure it one-three months extra just to be sure its fully cured.