home made live rock

BIG-G · 03-03-2006, 04:28 PM

I was wondering if anybody has ever tried makeing some base rock with portland cement and crushed coral or crushed oyster shell. Im trying it now my ? is how long should i soak it in fresh water before its safe?

Tim224DT · 03-03-2006, 04:31 PM

Frist off Welcome to TRT! I have never done Home Made Live Rock but i know there are members here that have. So someone who has should post something soon.

Tim

BIG-G · 03-03-2006, 04:50 PM

thanks for the welcome. i know you have to soak the rock until the Ph is at 8.0 or lower im just wondering about how long its going to take.

theplatypus · 03-03-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG-G

thanks for the welcome. i know you have to soak the rock until the Ph is at 8.0 or lower im just wondering about how long its going to take.

From what I understand it takes a few months if not longer.

RobinsonFam1 · 03-03-2006, 06:23 PM

i have made it many times!
i use a 30 gallon tub, filled with cold tap water, add the rocks, add several good powerheads and airpumps to aerate the water. change the water 4-6 days. after 3-4 weeks mine were cured.

i had 4 powerheads anywhere from 800GPH down to 75 GPH all with air tubes on the intake. you want good circulation and air. you will see the film/crust on the water after a couple days.

my rocks were only made to support the good show pieces so looks didnt matter for me. it has been 2 months after my latest adition of DIY rocks and they have coraline growing quite nicely.

HTH!
BR

BIG-G · 03-03-2006, 07:36 PM

if you did not aerate would the cure time be longer?

Geoff · 03-03-2006, 07:54 PM

Welcome to TRT!!!

if it fits, the best thing to do is put it in your toilet tank and let the constant refresh of the bowl do the work.

i was planning on doing this but decided to use epoxy to my dried out LR instead.

G~

three90s&125sump · 03-03-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

Welcome to TRT!!!

if it fits, the best thing to do is put it in your toilet tank and let the constant refresh of the bowl do the work.

G~

Would you use the term "flushing" in the place of curing?

BIG-G · 03-03-2006, 08:03 PM

the amount that im makeing wont fit in the toilet tank its for a 150gal FOWLR. The plan is to make enough rock for decoration and seed it with live rock from my 75gal reef tank so im makeing about 100 pounds. Dont know if this will work but it only cost me about 20 bucks to try it.

johnqx4 · 03-04-2006, 02:41 AM

I've done it several times. Time has never been an issue for me. I have set them on the back deck for a couple of months and the rain (we do get a bit

and sun have done a fine job of curing them. I now have a creek in the back yard. I may toss the next ones in their for a month or so and see... johnny

BIG-G · 03-04-2006, 10:39 AM

I made mine with crushed oyster shell, when i started i did'nt rinse the oyster shell first i have read since, that the oyster shell could leach phosphate i started another batch and rinse it this time. Do any of you know if this is true? I already have a phosphate problem with my water now i dont want to add to it by adding another source to my tank.

RobinsonFam1 · 03-04-2006, 12:24 PM

when a friend of mine was trying to cure his rocks for 3 mos and still not done, i added airstones to his buckets. in 2 weeks they were cured. so, i say yes air helps!

the toilet tank idea is a good one as long as your rocks 1) fit in hte tank 2) dont go down into the bowl!!!

i can hear it now.....honey....I flushed the rocks.....we need to go buy new ones!

many people have made them with oyster shells and i have not heard of any side notes or rports of po4 leaching.....

benson911 · 03-08-2006, 08:14 AM

Garf.org has a walk-through on this.

raysxb · 03-19-2006, 02:27 AM

http://www.athiel.com/lib3/arago.htm

raysxb · 03-19-2006, 02:32 AM

goto garf.org click on "how to Pages", it's the fourth bullet down:
Aragocrete

Eddie Postma Teaches you to make your own rock