Project Live rock

[jpatburke]

Project Live rock! Sounds like a concert.
I read the Garf site but didnt like the idea of putting cement in my tank. I dont care how many folks have tried it. Cement is some caustic stuff.
I do however like the idea of DIY live rock so I made some from potters clay. After its fired it will be inert and sterile. No leeching.
I am an artist and had some white 6 cone clay so I used it.

The possible shapes are endless.
Below are examples. I even made some pockets for frags




This rock has thousands of holes and only weighs 12oz and is 5.5X7" Lighter than most liverock.




The one on the left is 4" round and the second is 7x5 and 1.5lbs. The bigger one has 7 pockets for frags. The rock is bulky but is basically hallow inside.





Just got the rock back from the kiln today and it was still warm!
Im amazed how light it is. The kiln really dries it out.

I made some frags for future use. They fit really well. I will put them in the rock till im ready to use em.










Mad Potter charged me 4$ for each piece so total cost was like 25 bucks.
I have to say that im thrilled with the results. I placed the rock in the tank and it off gassed(Air bubbles) for 6 hours. so there are tons of super tiny holes. I will update this as the rock takes algae. The point is to look like rock. If it stays white its not worth it. This would be tough to do on a huge scale but for foot ball size rocks its perfect. I also like the fact that it took one week from start to finish. two days making the rock and the kiln took 4 days. Very fast IMHO. I took a bunch of pix of the process if anyone is interested in trying this. I even made some reef guardians that will protect my little friends.

If you are looking to make delicate tonga branch looking or fake dead coral. This is the best way.

This is also great for reefers who have real live rock but want certain designs or need specifically shaped rock to complete a design. Also if you need a ledge or feature on existing rock you could mold a piece fire it and then glue it to your rock.

Thanks
-JB
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[melissa77]

i really like the look of it, nice job, is it fragile, or tuff enough that if you drop it in the tank it wont break apart.... can you bake it in a regular oven or you have to use the ones especially for potters..

[H2OLUVSME]

Is it strong enough to stack typical LR on top of it?

I really like the piece in your first pic.

This is a good idea. A buddy of mine used potters clay for building watefalls in vivariums, but I never thougt of this application.

[jpatburke]

Well you have to use a kiln but they are easy to find. As for tough, I could stand on a tea cup and not break it. I dont advise it but these these things can be designed to be very tough. I guess like anything you could break it but the ones I made could easily hold up other rock.
Also if you did a whole aquarium with it you wouldnt get any hitchhikers! Pretty cool thought.

Thanks for the comments.

-JB

[wooden_reefer]

What is the least expensive source to buy potters clay?

How to I find out if there is a place near me that will fire my clay?

I think cement is fine with tanks with high ph, saltwater and African cichlids.

I think I want clay for my soft water FW tanks, discuses etc.

[wooden_reefer]

Does color for clay work well for this application?

[wooden_reefer]

A source for clay gives the following choices:

>Low Fire White Moist (Smooth no Grog Cone 06-04)

>Low Fire White Sculpture (Same as above with Some Grog)

>Low Fire Indian Red Moist (Smooth no Grog cone 06-2)

>Low Fire Terra Cotta (Same above w/ Some Grog)

>New Stoneware RUBY STONE (Firing range is Cone 4-7 , at Cone 6 it is a Beautiful Orange/Tan Color, Lightly Grogged and great for Dinnerware and Functional Pottery as the absorption is a low 1 1/2 % at cone 6)

>Buff Stoneware (Wide Range Creamy Beige Clay cone 04 - 7 with Some Grog)

>Brown Stoneware Clay (Cone 4-7 Medium Dark Brown Clay with Manganese Specks and Some Grog)

>Rustone Stoneware Clay (Cone 4-7 Dark Brown Clay no Specks , Some Grog)

>White Stoneware Clay (Cone 6-10 White Stoneware with some Grog)

>Speckle Tan Clay (Cone 4-7 Medium Tan Clay with Manganese Specks and Some Grog)

>Mid Range White Porcelain Clay (Cone 4-7 Smooth domestic Porcelain clay NO Grog)

>Barbs Body Stoneware Clay (Cone 5-10 Very Nice Stoneware that fires to a Tannish Gray Color)

>Mather Stoneware Clay (Cone 6-10 Production Body suited for making Ovenware & Functional Dinnerware)

>Mather Porcelain (Cone 8-10 Smooth High Fire Porcelain Clay that is easy to work with fires well in Oxidation or Reduction)

>Raku Clay (Cone 04-7 The Ultimate in Raku Clay Bodies that contains a blend of Fine & Medium Grog for Thermal Shock Resistance common in Raku Firings)


What would be some of the best choices?

Is Low Fire Terra Cotta the kind for many planters? Looks nice in FW.

Is low fire easier to find kiln for?

[college429]

I understand ceramics to be reef safe, but I was always under the impression that other clays had metals, etc. that could leach into the water?

[impur]

Originally posted by college429
I understand ceramics to be reef safe, but I was always under the impression that other clays had metals, etc. that could leach into the water?

yes this is true. You need to be VERY careful with which clays you use.

[jpatburke]

im using a API copper test kit and i got nothing so far. I wish I would have been more careful but everything seems fine after 24 hrs. Ill test every day and report.
BEFORE YOU BUY THE CLAY FIND A KILN! They will tell you what cone they fire at.
the clay I used was cone6 clay fires very hot. I want any inpurity to be burned away so I went with 6. Also i liked the white look. Like dead coral. I got my clay at the local art supply. Texas Art Supply but I think Michaels carries it also. I found one of those places that let you decorate your own pottery and they they fire it. i didnt glaze the rock and it was 4$ per piece. I think there are pottery clubs all over so you should be able to find one. Tell em its saving coral reefs from being stolen and they will help you out. Potters are typically enviro's. plus its true.

-JB

[seanndenise1]

so how is it going to work as far as being porous, doesnt look like it has much area for microorganisms to populate the piece other than the outside of it, cant get much if any waterflow thru the piece.
its pleasing to the eye though.