DIY live rock

Saldebo · 02/20/2012, 12:20 AM

alphamale had came over on sat night to pick up some corals. We had started talking and he put something in my head. Making live rock.... It just seems like best thing to do for my 150 gal tank i want to set up when i move. This will be a very long process but, I do have till may-June time line. I was able to get all the mats need for this little project. Look fun.. to

jtinoco · 02/20/2012, 10:07 AM

I've read into it and considered doing it a while back. Just didn't have the time. I like the way they look with the white Portland cement.

I think Lorenzo (lsaucedo) has done some before. Maybe he can chime in and give us his experience on it.

pnavarro170 · 02/20/2012, 10:16 AM

It would be good to try but with the dry rock option i think it might look better. im really happy with the dry rock i got. and most of the diy rock i see done has a smoother texture at the end and not as porous .

Saldebo · 02/20/2012, 10:33 AM

http://canbaysystems.com/live_rock.html

goign to miss around and see how it looks. i have a 3 foot deep tank that is going to need alot of rock. Only reason i think about doing it.

cure time they say is 1month up to 3 months. So have to start now.

jtinoco · 02/20/2012, 10:40 AM

The best recipe I've seen was Portland cement, crushed oyster shells, and rock salt.

The oyster shells help get rid the smooth look and the salt helps make it porous. There's quite a bit of videos on YouTube with people using just those three ingredients.

pnavarro170 · 02/20/2012, 10:46 AM

yeah i just dont think it looks all that nice, but im all for the challenge and DIY so give it a shot !

lsaucedo · 02/20/2012, 03:45 PM

Yes I have done it...it does take a long time. Total time for me to place in side the main tank was roughly 6 months.

White Portland cement needs to be special order. I was unable to locate any from Lowes or Home Depot...instead I used the gray. I also bought a bag of crushed oyster shell... purchased at North East Valley feed. I also bought a bag of salt....Lowes....last about about 10-20 lbs of sand....that way you can make your shapes.

I have to take care of my son right now...so I will cont...a bit later.

Saldebo · 02/20/2012, 05:38 PM

lowes on the east side has the white cement. It was 16$ and got 2 bags of shells from the petbarn.

deehz · 02/20/2012, 05:48 PM

Look at garf dot org.. Great place for info on diy rock. You can get a lot of rock for the cost it is to make. They also sell cement that has a cure rate which means that the ph stabilizes faster.

lsaucedo · 02/20/2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saldebo

lowes on the east side has the white cement. It was 16$ and got 2 bags of shells from the petbarn.

Nice, let me take a pic of a couple of my rocks and Ill up load them.

once I created my rock...I placed them in a tub...walmart bought...with a power head. Changed the water everyday for about 2 months. After about a month I checked to see if my PH was stable. Once it dropped in the safe range I placed all my rock in my 29 gallon bio cube and took one of my live rocks from my main tank to seed the rest...course it was a saltwater mixture. I did this for another 3 1/2 months. I changed the water just like it was my main tank....also monitoring the parameters. Once all that was completed I added 1 rock per week to ensure it would not hurt items in my tank...once again monitor all parameters.

I had all the rock in my main tank for about 3-4 months until a weeks ago when I removed after seeing anothers members tank...I liked the way a nice setup could look with a little rock. So at the moment I have roughly 55 lbs of rock sitting my my garage dried out waiting to sell or place in my tank for a later date if I buy bigger tank....would like a 75 gallon tank that way i dont have to any of my accessories.

P.S. the salt...which is for water softeners...to make the rock more pores..I added roughly one cup to every batch.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

lsaucedo · 02/20/2012, 11:00 PM

Here are two pictures of two rocks that I made.
The large one is roughly 35lbs and the round one I want to say is roughly 5-7lbs...cant remember.
Either way they turned out pretty good.

Saldebo · 02/20/2012, 11:54 PM

COOLL... did you cure it? im just missing around to see how i like it. Ill post pics 2maro.

psuedopimp · 02/21/2012, 08:50 AM

i always thought diy rocks looked good, and you could custom the shape and size to your space. the cure time always killed it for me. toooooo A.D.D when it comes to projects....better happen quick with results or its off to something else..

lsaucedo · 02/21/2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psuedopimp

i always thought diy rocks looked good, and you could custom the shape and size to your space. the cure time always killed it for me. toooooo A.D.D when it comes to projects....better happen quick with results or its off to something else..

I understand what you mean...I was very apprehensive in doing this project..but after comparing the prices around here for rock which was on an avg $1-$2 more on where I used to lived. I though it was a no brainier.

alphamale · 03/02/2012, 05:19 PM

I have been making my on rocks for about two years now and I have liked they way it comes out. The more you do it just like anything else the better you get at making your on shapes. When i was sationed in Florida is were I was taught how to do it. Between what I was showed and you tube I had to give it a try. The cure time I use on the rocks before they go in my tank is about 30 -45 days. i change the water out ever day use a power head to help speed up the process. But I do got a question someone might be able to answer I can put a DIY rock in my tank and a peace of live rock I buy at the LFS and the DIY will purple up 3 times as fast. Why do you figure this. My best guess is because of the calicum in the concreate or maybe the crushed oyster shells.

02/20/2012, 12:20 AM	#1
Saldebo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: El Paso, Eastside Posts: 235	DIY live rock alphamale had came over on sat night to pick up some corals. We had started talking and he put something in my head. Making live rock.... It just seems like best thing to do for my 150 gal tank i want to set up when i move. This will be a very long process but, I do have till may-June time line. I was able to get all the mats need for this little project. Look fun.. to

02/20/2012, 10:07 AM	#2
jtinoco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 682	I've read into it and considered doing it a while back. Just didn't have the time. I like the way they look with the white Portland cement. I think Lorenzo (lsaucedo) has done some before. Maybe he can chime in and give us his experience on it. __________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

02/20/2012, 10:16 AM	#3
pnavarro170 S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 3,963	It would be good to try but with the dry rock option i think it might look better. im really happy with the dry rock i got. and most of the diy rock i see done has a smoother texture at the end and not as porous . __________________ 150G

02/20/2012, 10:40 AM	#5
jtinoco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 682	The best recipe I've seen was Portland cement, crushed oyster shells, and rock salt. The oyster shells help get rid the smooth look and the salt helps make it porous. There's quite a bit of videos on YouTube with people using just those three ingredients. __________________ Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Mixed Reef

02/20/2012, 10:46 AM	#6
pnavarro170 S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 3,963	yeah i just dont think it looks all that nice, but im all for the challenge and DIY so give it a shot ! __________________ 150G

02/20/2012, 10:33 AM	#4
Saldebo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: El Paso, Eastside Posts: 235	http://canbaysystems.com/live_rock.html goign to miss around and see how it looks. i have a 3 foot deep tank that is going to need alot of rock. Only reason i think about doing it. cure time they say is 1month up to 3 months. So have to start now.

02/20/2012, 03:45 PM	#7
lsaucedo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 365	Yes I have done it...it does take a long time. Total time for me to place in side the main tank was roughly 6 months. White Portland cement needs to be special order. I was unable to locate any from Lowes or Home Depot...instead I used the gray. I also bought a bag of crushed oyster shell... purchased at North East Valley feed. I also bought a bag of salt....Lowes....last about about 10-20 lbs of sand....that way you can make your shapes. I have to take care of my son right now...so I will cont...a bit later.

02/20/2012, 05:38 PM	#8
Saldebo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: El Paso, Eastside Posts: 235	lowes on the east side has the white cement. It was 16$ and got 2 bags of shells from the petbarn.

02/20/2012, 05:48 PM	#9
deehz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 858	Look at garf dot org.. Great place for info on diy rock. You can get a lot of rock for the cost it is to make. They also sell cement that has a cure rate which means that the ph stabilizes faster. __________________ Hans Zamora There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

02/20/2012, 11:54 PM	#12
Saldebo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: El Paso, Eastside Posts: 235	COOLL... did you cure it? im just missing around to see how i like it. Ill post pics 2maro.

02/21/2012, 08:50 AM	#13
psuedopimp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 908	i always thought diy rocks looked good, and you could custom the shape and size to your space. the cure time always killed it for me. toooooo A.D.D when it comes to projects....better happen quick with results or its off to something else.. __________________ Any one can hold the helm when the sea is calm. Publilius Syrus

03/02/2012, 05:19 PM	#15
alphamale Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 29	I have been making my on rocks for about two years now and I have liked they way it comes out. The more you do it just like anything else the better you get at making your on shapes. When i was sationed in Florida is were I was taught how to do it. Between what I was showed and you tube I had to give it a try. The cure time I use on the rocks before they go in my tank is about 30 -45 days. i change the water out ever day use a power head to help speed up the process. But I do got a question someone might be able to answer I can put a DIY rock in my tank and a peace of live rock I buy at the LFS and the DIY will purple up 3 times as fast. Why do you figure this. My best guess is because of the calicum in the concreate or maybe the crushed oyster shells.