Ways of making Fake "live rock" Please Help

crazy4coral

crazy4coral

Member
Ways of making Fake "live rock" Please Help
Well, ok I've heard and seen many ways of making base rock and background rock in your tank using different methods, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience with the subject and knows of any safer ways than using cement? I know there are a few different ways..
1. using cement (Portland type I/II, but it takes forever to cure)
2. using Thorite (Dont really know what this is but hear its safer)
3. using a foam like substance that hardens(I'm kinda intersted in this one)
Please help, I'd like to get your thoughts and ideas. I'm going to be setting a tank up soon and would like to know what my options are. And before you ask, no, its not going to replace all the life rock for my tank.. just some.
THank you so much!!!
 
dse

dse

Member
i think #3 sounds like it has chemical substance's in. as it would need that o harden the foam but i'm not sure.......
if it's 100 safe i might test it out and do a bit of reaserch.
 
mr.m

mr.m

Member
Your best bet would be the cement. 1 part cement to 3 parts oystershelles
it dose take time but in this hobby nuffing comes fast and easy. thants just my 2 cents worth

Mark
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
Cement is probably the best way and yes it does take a while to cure but you have curing time if you order live rock on-line also. Foam is good too if you are trying to build a custom backdrop to fit on the back of your tank or to cover an overflow.
With the cement If the pieces are small enough you can cure them in the tank on your toilet for easy water changes. Also be sure you use something to make the rock porous like macaroni, rock salt ect...
 
crazy4coral

crazy4coral

Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2772254
Cement is probably the best way and yes it does take a while to cure but you have curing time if you order live rock on-line also. Foam is good too if you are trying to build a custom backdrop to fit on the back of your tank or to cover an overflow.
With the cement If the pieces are small enough you can cure them in the tank on your toilet for easy water changes. Also be sure you use something to make the rock porous like macaroni, rock salt ect...
Ok thank you so much!!
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Are we talking about the expanding insulation foam called Great Stuff"? If so, I'm not so sure how long or well it would hold up in the tank. I use it on my outdoor waterfalls and it works well except after a couple of years it starts to deteriorate and break apart and get water-logged. Just my two cents.
Sue
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Folks, please do not post link or mention sites that have ads, other forums, sells, etc.
While any rock can be covered with bacteria and coralline algae, it is important to note that homemade rock can never compete with the biodiversity of true live rock. Something to consider when going for a setup...
 
notsonoob

notsonoob

Member
I say Baloney, as long as it is pourous it is every bit as good as ocean scavanged live rock. It might not have some bacteria at first, but then I don't have to worry about finding another whelk to eat my astreas up.

I know a guy that makes all of his own, shapes it the way he wants and puts it in the ocean to cure it. (note: initialize your rock first, so you can prove it is yours)
If you make your own just make sure that it is very porous for the bacteria to be able to infiltrate it.
Right now I'm building my budget tank with concrete building blocks purchaced for under $2.00 each with a woppin' 70 pounds or so around 10 bucks or so. Nice pourous blocks that the mason would forget about. Plus $20 for a Mason's Hammer to split the blocks the way I want. It sure beats the $750.00 I spent for ocean live rock the last time. I'll probably have to buy a concrete bit for making holes for coral plugs.
Yes, it takes time to leach out the chemicals that will cause PH and alkalinity spikes, I am experimenting (which seems to be working very well so far) with Murautic Acid that is used to lower PH in swimming pools to leach it out on a quicker basis in a 32 gallon plastic waste can. Once the Ph stays stable, rinse the rock very well, and scape away and work on the next batch.
This is a two month aquarium cycle plan at least.
The only hitchhiker I'll get is the girl that needs a ride home on my way back from Lowe's
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Reread what I posted.
I agree homemade live rock will house plenty of baceria.
Bacteria is not what makes live rock "live". The countless coral spores, worms, micro inverts, pods, etc. are what make live rock "live".
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2775017
Reread what I posted.
I agree homemade live rock will house plenty of baceria.
Bacteria is not what makes live rock "live". The countless coral spores, worms, micro inverts, pods, etc. are what make live rock "live".
base rock becomes live over time because bacteria populates it. live rock is used for filtration, because it is live rock- porous and loaded with bacteria.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2775022
base rock becomes live over time because bacteria populates it. live rock is used for filtration, because it is live rock- porous and loaded with bacteria.

Yes and no.
Again, you're correct... dead rock will house bacteria. Then again, so will filtration media, the glass of your tank, pump housings, inside of pumps, etc.
True "live" rock, however, is much more than just bacteria. That's my point that I'm trying to make. People too often overlook the benefit of "fresh" live rock with it's myriad of life it brings into an aquarium.
We don't call old filtration media "live" even though it too contains bacteria.
 
crazy4coral

crazy4coral

Member
Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2773609
Are we talking about the expanding insulation foam called Great Stuff"? If so, I'm not so sure how long or well it would hold up in the tank. I use it on my outdoor waterfalls and it works well except after a couple of years it starts to deteriorate and break apart and get water-logged. Just my two cents.
Sue
I beleive this is true, I've heard it before.. but I also heard that if you epoxy over it, the epoxy will keep it together and keep it looking nice.
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2775032
Yes and no.
Again, you're correct... dead rock will house bacteria. Then again, so will filtration media, the glass of your tank, pump housings, inside of pumps, etc.
True "live" rock, however, is much more than just bacteria. That's my point that I'm trying to make. People too often overlook the benefit of "fresh" live rock with it's myriad of life it brings into an aquarium.
We don't call old filtration media "live" even though it too contains bacteria.
Being a newbie I was/am not clear what the true meaning of "live rock" is as it seems there are two different viewpoints on what makes it "live". There is the bacterial/biological filtration factor but then there is the "entertainment" factor. If it weren't for my "live" rock having all kinds of hitchhikers on it I don't think I would have been able to be as patient with letting a new tank cycle before adding livestock. Staring at the rocks with a magnifying glass and flashlight has kept me amused for almost two months now.
If I were offered the choice of live rock with hitchhikers or live rock guaranteed to be void of them, I'd pay extra just for the chance to get some hitchhikers. Of course I've not had the experience yet of getting a BAD one - I'm sure that could change my mind real quick. But in my newbie's eyes, "live" rock is stuff that not only has porousity for bacteria but also some "bonus critters" living in it.
Originally Posted by crazy4coral
http:///forum/post/2776210
I beleive this is true, I've heard it before.. but I also heard that if you epoxy over it, the epoxy will keep it together and keep it looking nice.
I've never epoxied over my Great Stuff - I just shoot it into the nooks and crannies of the waterfalls and sometimes use it to "glue" some rocks in place and it does ok, but have had to tear apart and re-do a few places that were done a few years ago as it got water-logged and stopped being effective. I've painted it but never expoxied - that could work I guess. Good luck!
Sue
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Beyond entertainment, people overlook the value of a bio-diverse aquarium.
Micro critters are an essential part of a cleanup crew. They also form the backbone of a natural food source for your other fish and inverts.
 
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