My DIY Rock

[sunkool]

Originally posted by jefnalyssa
Can I use any sand? What type of salt do I use? Did Mark use oyster shell instead of sand?

1 Yes
2 water softener salt, blue bag by Morton
3 yes he used oyster shell I dont know about sand.

[Markieb]

Mine is 1 part water
5 parts crushed oyster shell
1 part white contrete

This will make a VERY light and airy mixed. You will have to handle it gently for about three days.

[dzeadow]

Sunkool, I thought the sand had to be a certain kind? I remember there being a huge buying spree of the Southdown Play Sand or whatever back in the day? I plan on getting a bag or two of dry aragonite from Petsmart, so I'm sure it'll be ok, I just thought that some sands had bad stuff in it?

[Redbellyjx]

nice job, i like how the back wall has shelves for stuff to grow on

[reefrubble]

Redbellyjx , Thanks for the kind words . I didn't want just a flat wall . I didn't like the way my tank looked before , with just a flat black wall . If I didn't keep the coralline , and other algae scraped of the back , the tank just looked dirty to me . Now I won't have to scrape the back wall , and I think it will look good . Ted

[sunkool]

Originally posted by dzeadow
Sunkool, I thought the sand had to be a certain kind? I remember there being a huge buying spree of the Southdown Play Sand or whatever back in the day? I plan on getting a bag or two of dry aragonite from Petsmart, so I'm sure it'll be ok, I just thought that some sands had bad stuff in it?

This has been debated to no end. I am not going to continue it.
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

[dzeadow]

Tough read... I'm not a scientist. But I guess it's debateable and shouldn't be brought up. THe presense of green algae in his tank looks like mine that I have. I bought base rock from a place in NV and I'm wondering if it's leeching the soluble silica that he mentions.. I think I'll stick to the aragonite since it's available. Thanks for the link, it was informative.

[xcuter]

great idea

[reefrubble]

This is another piece I just made ttp://[IMG]hi188.photobucket.com/albums/z247/sunkool/ted/P1010117.jpg[/IMG]











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[dzeadow]

what are you going to put that in to cure it? it's huge!

[reefrubble]

My tank . I don't have any water in it right now . After the rock is cured , I will set up my tank . Once the rock salt is dissolved out of the rock , it may be too porous to lift .

[dzeadow]

are you putting anything through that hole in the top or are you leaving it open for a frag or something?

[reefrubble]

The hole will stay open , to let a shaft of light shine into the cave .