So Have you heard of this?

[forcrz6]

Ok I was looking for live rock for the new tank and 1 of my buddy's told me he now makes his own live rock. I'm Thinking base rock with live rock and he gets live rock. But I could not be further from the truth.
He Takes CC and put it in to a Styrofoam container, He then shapes the CC in to the shape of the rock that he wants.
He then pours in Concrete. and uses the CC as a mold and an outer layer.
He covers the rest of the concrete with the cc and lets it dry.
He then goes ahead and cures the rock through a few 24 hour baths after its harden. Then he puts it in to a tank to grow more coralline.
Has anyone done this or heard of it?

 

[mkzimms]

this is very common, there are a bunch of threads on the board about it. if you have the time to do it, its a really good idea and saves a ton of money. although you will want to soak it for a little more than a few 24 hour baths, usually about 6 weeks to leech impurities out of the rock and stabilize the PH so it doesn't shock the tank.

 

[teresaq]

try here https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/173872/diy-rocks

 

[m0nk]

There are a few different ways to do it, most involve crushed coral or aragonite and concrete as the main base. Most LFS that sell live rock also sell cultured live rock, which is basically a concrete base rock placed in a location in the ocean for some period of time to create the "live rock" effect.

 

[turningtim]

Here is my first piece I made a couple weeks ago. This pic still has the salt in it and hasn't been soaked yet.
The mix is
1 part sand
1.5 parts type I cement
1.5 parts crushed shell (CC)
1 part solar salt
You have to soak it until the PH comes down to about 8.5-9. When first made the PH is off the charts it takes several weeks of FW soaking to leach out the lime in the cement.
HTH
Tim
Have to fix the pic sorry!

 

[forcrz6]

Originally Posted by TurningTim
http:///forum/post/2642446
Here is my first piece I made a couple weeks ago. This pic still has the salt in it and hasn't been soaked yet.
The mix is
1 part sand
1.5 parts type I cement
1.5 parts crushed shell (CC)
1 part solar salt
You have to soak it until the PH comes down to about 8.5-9. When first made the PH is off the charts it takes several weeks of FW soaking to leach out the lime in the cement.
HTH
Tim
Have to fix the pic sorry!
Fresh water got it/

 

[bang guy]

If you make them a size that can fit inside the toilet tank you can cure the cement quickly. This is because there's a water change every time you flush.

 

[turningtim]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2642455
If you make them a size that can fit inside the toilet tank you can cure the cement quickly. This is because there's a water change every time you flush.
Yep! Good way to make/cure your own frag plugs!

 

[forcrz6]

So is this really considered "Live rock" Or should it be considered "Base" Rock

 

[turningtim]

Most mix LR and MMLR (man made) but it will become seeded by the bacteria in the tank. It will take longer b/c its void of any life but to be able to make 100+ lbs for maybe 25 bucks is worth the time!
My goal is to make LR colums b/c I have a very deep tank that I'm setting up. So we'll see what happens!
Tim

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by forcrz6
http:///forum/post/2642463
So is this really considered "Live rock" Or should it be considered "Base" Rock
Base rock. It has none of the bacteria that make it "live"...
Guy, I love the toilet idea. Very ingenious

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by forcrz6
http:///forum/post/2642463
So is this really considered "Live rock" Or should it be considered "Base" Rock
As socal57che said, its base rock. It'll get bacteria off the LS, but if you want good coralline growth, feather dusters, etc. you will probably have to seed it with some good quality LR. Doesn't take much and doesn't take long. My man-made rock has/had great coralline growth and lots of mini feather dusters etc. after about four months.

 

[prime311]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2642455
If you make them a size that can fit inside the toilet tank you can cure the cement quickly. This is because there's a water change every time you flush.

Lol something about this just seems so wrong

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2642588
Lol something about this just seems so wrong

Yeah, probably.
But it also conserves water!

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2642704

Yeah, probably.
But it also conserves water!

Does it effect your flush "effectiveness" much? I mean...sometimes a person has to flush twice anyway...and with the water displaced by the rock...I'm just sayin' ...things can get stuck.
OOH!!! I just had an eppifany! Call the water and sewer companies to ask for a discount due to your water conservation efforts!

 

[forcrz6]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2642554
As socal57che said, its base rock. It'll get bacteria off the LS, but if you want good coralline growth, feather dusters, etc. you will probably have to seed it with some good quality LR. Doesn't take much and doesn't take long. My man-made rock has/had great coralline growth and lots of mini feather dusters etc. after about four months.
Ok This just Confuses me. I thought Feather dusters were HHs? I ask this due to 1 just came out of nowhere in my tank . So is a Feather duster a hitch hiker or something else?

 

[prime311]

Feather Dusters are worms and come in as hitchikers. They can come in on live rock and eventually spread to your base rock in the tank.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by forcrz6
http:///forum/post/2642868
Ok This just Confuses me. I thought Feather dusters were HHs? I ask this due to 1 just came out of nowhere in my tank . So is a Feather duster a hitch hiker or something else?

Featherduster are a type of Bristleworm and can reproduce through broadcast spawning or Fission. Due to the broadcast spawning then can suddenly show up in large numbers all over the tank.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by forcrz6
http:///forum/post/2642868
Ok This just Confuses me. I thought Feather dusters were HHs? I ask this due to 1 just came out of nowhere in my tank . So is a Feather duster a hitch hiker or something else?
Prolly came from holes/ crevaces in your rock. You can buy a peice of LR with nothing visible on it. Place it in a tank with no other rock and months down the road you may have feathers and such. There is stuff living deep in the rock.

 

[forcrz6]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2643394
Prolly came from holes/ crevaces in your rock. You can buy a peice of LR with nothing visible on it. Place it in a tank with no other rock and months down the road you may have feathers and such. There is stuff living deep in the rock.
Yea I found that out. The Weird thing it Ive had the same set up for the last 3 years. And it was only the last 2 months that this guy just showed up. He would have had to have been DEEP in the rock. Either way I am happy that he turned up. He is a nice little addition.
So to go back on Subject (Sry for taking every one off of it) With this DIY Rock. I was thinking of making at least a Small Cave Out of 1 or 2 or the rocks. It there any reason I should not? Is there any benefit to any of the Critters having a cave type structure in the tank?