Home Made Live Rock/Bedrock?!?-Live Rock-3reef Forums

NOWICKI · 08-20-2002, 06:19 PM

Hello Again!
I came across a website ( http://www.geocities.com/janandgord/rock.html ) and became curious. It is a DIY LR/BR! ???
What are your expert opinions on this matter? It seems that I could afford this! What about making the tank half REAL REEF rock and half homemade rock?
Very Curious,
Ryan

karlas · 08-21-2002, 01:46 AM

i did consider this option my self but decided to go with the lr. it could be a lot more affordable way to go if all lr doesnt fit into your budget. it wouldnt really take longer as if you got lr on line where you would have to cure it anyway. you still have to cure it though dont forget that. if you have the time to make it i say go for it and it will all eventually become live anyway.

Matt Rogers · 08-21-2002, 05:46 AM

heh. you hit on one of my favs here nowicki. i would love to see this get perfected and take off. however right now it seems there is a lot of variables and some people can't pull it off. DIY rock will spike the pH so you have to cure it in a holding tank or a tank you just started before exposing inhabitants to it.

a lot of thought goes into making it more porous - some people stick straws through the still wet rocks, others blow balloons up in them to make holes and i have heard of some people using bio-balls in them to make them lighter.

garf.org is one of the pioneers in this field. i believe they now mix some plastic shavings in the mix to encourage coraline growth. definitely check their site out.

i say go for it. it might take a few batches to get things to your liking, but who knows, maybe you will figure something out that will become a standard! *

read all you can - do searches for 'diy live rock' or 'aragrocrete.'

here are some links too:

http://www.garf.org/howtodoinformation.htm#Aragocrete
http://www.garf.org/MPegs/AragocreteArch.html
http://www.athiel.com/lib10/rockmaking.htm
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaver...ementRock.html

if you do it, keep us posted here ! * :thumbsup1:

NOWICKI · 08-21-2002, 08:01 AM

Thanks guys,
I feel in a sense, like a pioneer even though this has been done a lot!

I think I will be doing it, IF IF IF, I can be sure that I can cure the rock with out buying another power head or filter. If that is the case then I may as well buy the rock itself.

The plan would be this:
1. Make the rock

I read till the wee hours all about it and have tons of opinions and techniques. The one I will most likly try will be with II Portland cement with crushed oyster shell. They even suggest that you use pasta to create long tunnels through the rocks for better colonization of bacteria and micro fauna.

2. Let the pH leach out while it cures in a freshwater tub that I already have. With no circulation, just a water change every week for 5-7 weeks.

3. Test the pH and if satisfactory remove the formations.

4. This is where I am curious and still searching for answers - Can I then add the formations to my tank to cure with my existing 7 pounds of LR? I only have 2 Turbo Snails and 1 Crab. I'm not in any hurry to have the tank up and running. My tank should have cycled by then also. This option would be the best since I have the existing LR to seed the culture of coralline algae. My other concern is my lighting. I only have a 15w bulb that came with the tank(lame I know but the $$

)!

So that is where I am at. If I can do my option said in #4 then I am off to the store for cement! If I can't, then I need to re-evaluate. If you all know a better option or a modification to these, that would be great!

Thanks a ton,
Ryan :thumbsup:

Matt Rogers · 08-21-2002, 06:29 PM

I think your plan will work fine.

If the pH is down, I don't see any problem with #4. You seem willing to take your time, you don't have much in the tank and you already have a tub ready.

It might not turn out great, but I bet it would be a lot of fun.

NOWICKI · 08-21-2002, 06:39 PM

HE HE HE

I guess that if it doesn't work out too well I will only have lost about $20-30 buck$ and a few months time

buy then I may have saved a few dollars that I can buy real LR if need be.

I will keep ya'll posted on the progress and outcome

~Ryan

karlas · 08-22-2002, 03:42 AM

if you only spend 20-30 bucks and it works it was well worth it if it doesnt work well in this hobby it isnt considered a great loss good luck in your rock making :thumbsup2:

NOWICKI · 08-24-2002, 06:47 PM

Hi All,
I decided to go with the home made LR! 1 hour and $14 later I have rock! Well, I have cement and crushed oyster shell turning into hard substance that will then cure for weeks and weeks and then cure again to grow all that great algae, oly to become LR! :thumbsup: Woo Hoo!
Here is a pic:

I will put more on my website a little bit later with possibly a video. This stuff has to sit for 48 hours before I can dig it out so we'll see and if it works I will make tons more and take some vid and pics. Let me know your opinions and ideas. I may try the noodles in the mix, today I tried the rubber glove trick but my glove didn't hold the air

I may just go with the good old pile it up technique. I will be glad to try suggestions, even if it is just to satisfy your curiosity *:razz:
Till then,
Ryan

karlas · 08-25-2002, 01:11 AM

your picture didnt show up but if you get it working i would love to see how your rock turned out. if it works can save you a lot of money. but if you can get some lr locally just a few pounds use that to seed your homeade rock. a couple of lbs wont be that bad to buy

NOWICKI · 08-25-2002, 04:26 AM

That photo.net site is kinda wierd. I will see what I can do. Do you guys know any other sites that let you reference images easier?
~Ryan