Making rock caves and shelters out of Concrete mix? Will this harm my fish?
- Thread starter nklein
- Start date
barry cuda
Member
You can do something very similar with concrete mix and aragonite sand. Do a Google search on "aragocrete." I can't point you to the site cause it would violate the rules here, but search on that term and you'll find it.
I've got about 50 lbs of it in my currently-cycling tank. Mine turned out really, really ugly because it was my first attempt and my first try at anything generally tanks, but it does at least add to the rock volume in the tank You have to cure it in freshwater for several weeks so it won't spike your pH, but apparently it works quite well. I'll post some pics later if I can.
I've got about 50 lbs of it in my currently-cycling tank. Mine turned out really, really ugly because it was my first attempt and my first try at anything generally tanks, but it does at least add to the rock volume in the tank You have to cure it in freshwater for several weeks so it won't spike your pH, but apparently it works quite well. I'll post some pics later if I can.
squidd
Active Member
No, should be fine...We do it all the time, it's called agrocrete...
Mix about 1 pt portland to 5 parts Crushed coral or large grain aragonite sand/gravel...mold to suit (usually in a box filled with sand to free form the "mix"
The trick is to let it "cure" and leach out the excess pH...
Takes about 4 to 6 weeks in a fresh water bath...change the water weekly and test to be sure the pH has dropped and stays down...It'll stabalize and become inert.
Then place it in the tank like you would "base rock" and it'll come "alive" in a couple months.
Mix about 1 pt portland to 5 parts Crushed coral or large grain aragonite sand/gravel...mold to suit (usually in a box filled with sand to free form the "mix"
The trick is to let it "cure" and leach out the excess pH...
Takes about 4 to 6 weeks in a fresh water bath...change the water weekly and test to be sure the pH has dropped and stays down...It'll stabalize and become inert.
Then place it in the tank like you would "base rock" and it'll come "alive" in a couple months.
squidd
Active Member
You can buy the ingrediants...but it's a DIY project...
Like Barry said, it may take a try or two (or three) before you start producing pieces you can live with, but the first couple can become "base rock" and get buried.
The Portland and CC is cheap enough that you can make quite a few tries to get what your looking for...
Here's a 5th generation piece 6months in the tank..
OK so I'm no artist...
Like Barry said, it may take a try or two (or three) before you start producing pieces you can live with, but the first couple can become "base rock" and get buried.
The Portland and CC is cheap enough that you can make quite a few tries to get what your looking for...
Here's a 5th generation piece 6months in the tank..
OK so I'm no artist...
chandler04
Active Member
Go on ---- and you can buy something similar. Type in "Live Rock" and there will be an auction for "Make Your Own Live Rock". It comes with instructions and the kit, you just need to buy the sand/ Crushed Coral. :happy:
