making diy rock ready to use ?

Harold Edwards · #1 01/06/2008, 11:22 AM

I made some diy rock in the summer of 2006, and it still has a ph of 8.8 after I change the water and wait 24 hours. is there a way to speed it up?

I have not been that good about changing the water in the live rock tub so that is part or the problem. I only change it like once a month. but I did put a piece in the toilet tank for about 4 months and it ready to use. thanks for your help

eznet2u · #2 01/06/2008, 12:33 PM

You figured it out...Water changes...

Sometimes we don't see the obvious...

Harold Edwards · #3 01/06/2008, 01:49 PM

any other way?

Kentanner11 · #4 01/06/2008, 02:09 PM

I think (not sure) someone used muriac acid?

eznet2u · #5 01/06/2008, 03:42 PM

Muriatic Acid will eat away at the rock. It's ok to clean it with, just don't let it sit in there too long.

Have you read the "Ultimate DIY rock" thread? There are several methods of speeding up the "Kure".

I would just put it in a bucket with a hose dripping in it...Let let it sit for a few weeks...Tada...

saveafish · #6 01/06/2008, 08:47 PM

I have never tried this, But. I have heard of using Vinegar will help in a big way. It has a PH of 5.0

Harold Edwards · #7 01/06/2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saveafish
I have never tried this, But. I have heard of using Vinegar will help in a big way. It has a PH of 5.0

but what will that do for the rock?

MMM33732 · #8 01/06/2008, 09:55 PM

I've read a few times that you can add a little vinegar (regular white, no cedar or anything flavored or colored) to the water and it will help speed the process. The toilet tank is the best thing in my opinion. Try to fit a good amount in there and just bend the float ball's rod up slightly to allow for more water so the toilet still gets enough. If you have more than one toilet in the house, do it to them all. Although they don't hold much, it does hold a few and is a great way to provide a constant change of new water with no wasted water either. If thats not an option, try the vinegar route. Do a search on it. For some reason, 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water sounds familiar to me... not sure though.

CBehr · #9 01/07/2008, 01:44 PM

I put the 200+ lbs I made in a local creek. There was a huge argument as to if this harms local wildlife and most reasonable people in the thread concluded it did nothing. Just think of all the concrete they use in bridges and damns...my pidly 200lbs of rock did nothing to the water.

Harold Edwards · #10 01/07/2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CBehr
I put the 200+ lbs I made in a local creek. There was a huge argument as to if this harms local wildlife and most reasonable people in the thread concluded it did nothing. Just think of all the concrete they use in bridges and damns...my pidly 200lbs of rock did nothing to the water.

Thank about it. they sink ships to in the oceans to create new reefs and also build artificial reef with concrete.

j.p. harrington · #11 01/07/2008, 09:23 PM

o.k. this is one thing i havnt actually done but i have been regorously researching this for 6 mounths the best way to do it is:

put a heater or a couple heaters in the tub crank them up all the way

circulation and water changes are a must and will be the most benificial thing to fast curing the rock

also you can add WHITE viniger VODKA or WHITE sugar these will all help with beneficial bacteria not to much just a dose every now and then

i would think if it was me i would cook the rock for about 2 mounths if it was me even if it reads proper ph because the longer you cook it the more benificial bacteria there is meaning better live rock faster

Piazzon12 · #12 01/07/2008, 10:10 PM

I suspect the rock is fine.... I was never able to get mine down either, but I think it may have had something to do with my tap water chemistry. try putting it in some old salt water next time you do a change and then test the ph. My rock was fine when I put it in my tank

a1amap · #13 01/08/2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Harold Edwards
I made some diy rock in the summer of 2006, and it still has a ph of 8.8 after I change the water and wait 24 hours. is there a way to speed it up?

I have not been that good about changing the water in the live rock tub so that is part or the problem. I only change it like once a month. but I did put a piece in the toilet tank for about 4 months and it ready to use. thanks for your help

Even changing the water once a month the ph shoud not be up at 8.8 after 18 months. Mine was fine after 3 months(100lbs). At first I changed the water daily then I would do a weekly change. After a month and a half it barely was changed; 3 to 4 months at best. Was your water tested when you put it in the rock bucket? What if its high to start. Also I don't think the slight difference in ph will effect an average tank. Most people run there tanks at about 8. Add a little here and there it will add carbonate to the water.

2 things to consider, water temp will effect the ph and if your kit is older it will also have inacturate results.

DIY rock link The thread just split and Insane Reefer just gave a recap.

Harold Edwards · #14 01/08/2008, 07:25 AM

does ro waste water have a higher ph than just tap water? because that is what i am using.

NanoReefWanabe · #15 01/08/2008, 09:14 AM

yeah i too am having trouble getting POH on mine down too...i made 50 or so frag plugs...which have been in the toilet for well over a month now...

i lost the colour chart fro my FW test kit...but when i test the RO water it is light green and when i test the plugs after sitting in the ro for about 6 hours the colour is blue...based on my SW kit i can only assume the PH is considerably higher...i will try the vinegar route to try and break things up a bit and speed the process..