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Scott Osborne · 01-02-2008, 07:50 AM

Hello all. I've been making DIY rock for close to 10 years. I've easliy made 10 tons of it. I am also a mason contractor and work with cementious items on a daily basis.

On the curing. The best way to cure is to place your rock in a fast moving river or stream. This will leach the Alkalines in about 30 days. If you must cure at home I use a 300 gallon rubbemaid with a pond pump inside. I change the water every two days for about 6 weeks. I monitor it daily with a pH meter and record the numbers. You will start to see a steady drop after about 3 weeks. Once the pH reaches 8.5-9 and is stable I then soak the rock in waste RO/DI water for a couple days. Once it dries out I begin the culturing process. One good way to speed things up is to allow the rock to dry for two weeks before putting it in water.

Heres a bit of my rock.

Generally when I make rock I make a lot. I tend to make my mixes in a Commercial Stone 2 bag motar mixer

DIY Rock is so easy that even my daughter gets involved. She helped make all the rock for her tank!

Heres my most recent work. A 1000 gallon reef with all DIY rock. Some of the pics of the rock on the floor has some real baserock

Heres the tank 'scaped

And a vid of the 'scaping
YouTube - Aquascape Party v.2

01-02-2008, 07:50 AM	#25 (permalink)
Scott Osborne Feather Duster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 207 Karma: 122	Hello all. I've been making DIY rock for close to 10 years. I've easliy made 10 tons of it. I am also a mason contractor and work with cementious items on a daily basis. On the curing. The best way to cure is to place your rock in a fast moving river or stream. This will leach the Alkalines in about 30 days. If you must cure at home I use a 300 gallon rubbemaid with a pond pump inside. I change the water every two days for about 6 weeks. I monitor it daily with a pH meter and record the numbers. You will start to see a steady drop after about 3 weeks. Once the pH reaches 8.5-9 and is stable I then soak the rock in waste RO/DI water for a couple days. Once it dries out I begin the culturing process. One good way to speed things up is to allow the rock to dry for two weeks before putting it in water. Heres a bit of my rock. Generally when I make rock I make a lot. I tend to make my mixes in a Commercial Stone 2 bag motar mixer DIY Rock is so easy that even my daughter gets involved. She helped make all the rock for her tank! Heres my most recent work. A 1000 gallon reef with all DIY rock. Some of the pics of the rock on the floor has some real baserock Heres the tank 'scaped And a vid of the 'scaping YouTube - Aquascape Party v.2 _________ A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them G.Washington