The Ultimate DIY Rocks! - Page 14

Joshsmit56001 · #**326** 01/04/2007, 10:02 PM

I bought some Portland type 1a cement, will this be ok to use? It is the closest I could find. It says that it is used for general contruction. There was also Type N but I was not sure if that was ok to use.

Thanks,
Josh

Fishboy1230 · #**327** 01/04/2007, 10:33 PM

I dont know what type 1a and N contain and their differences, but I dont think there are many things that could be in it that would make it unsafe...

tankslave · #**328** 01/05/2007, 02:28 AM

I think type N was extra strong, but i'm not sure.

mhj1580 · #**329** 01/05/2007, 05:23 AM

i was wondering if anyone had ever added a buffer to the water while curring the rocks and if so what was your results.

Joshsmit56001 · #**330** 01/05/2007, 11:09 AM

So type 1A is safe to use?

Fishboy1230 · #**331** 01/05/2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mhj1580
i was wondering if anyone had ever added a buffer to the water while curring the rocks and if so what was your results.

I know alot of people have used buffers to lower the ph in the curing water therefore speeding the process...im not sure which they used.

I havent used any myself i just put my rocks in the back of the toilet surge, box, back thinggy... if you do its turning waste water into useible water that changes around 80%-90% each flush.

tankslave · #**332** 01/05/2007, 04:39 PM

That is tap water you know...

Letmegrow · #**333** 01/05/2007, 05:36 PM

That is really nasty tap water at that.

Noise · #**334** 01/05/2007, 06:32 PM

He is not putting it in the bowl, but in the tank, which flows into the bowl. The water there should be quite clean. A clever idea. I feel safe using tap water, so I may consider that idea when I get around to making my rock.

Travis L. Stevens · #**335** 01/05/2007, 06:54 PM

I do this all the time. They turn out just find. In fact, I have a couple hundred frag disks in the back of my two tanks right now.

tankslave · #**336** 01/05/2007, 07:20 PM

HAHAHAH, that was funny. "No, not in the bowl!"

You guys have any problems with brown algae on the rocks later? Personally I wouldnt do it b/c my silicate is off the Salfert scale... I even found a correlation between washing my hands with tap vs RO/DI before putting them in the tank. Finally stopped my brown algae on the glass.

Joshsmit56001 · #**337** 01/05/2007, 09:13 PM

I am having problems forming rocks that look like the real thing. Any suggestions on how to improve my technique. What I want to do is form 2 pillars in my 150 gallon. I currently placed some 1" PVC in the middle of the rocks to hold up the pillar. Any other suggestions?

BigSkyBart · #**338** 01/05/2007, 10:48 PM

Josh,
The easiest answer to that question is like the old joke about "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?"

Practice, practice practice.

Been a while since I've posted in this thread, but (I like to think) my techniques and results improved with each batch.
Good luck!

Joshsmit56001 · #**339** 01/05/2007, 10:55 PM

What sort of things do you use to get different effects?

BigSkyBart · #**340** 01/05/2007, 11:02 PM

fingers, thumbs, rocksalt crystals, bubble wrap (from another thread, I haven't tried it yet, but it looks great)

As far as I can tell, creativity with the diy rocks is limited by imagination.

Try making small batches, so you can practice different methods each time. (You'll want to throw a few rocks away, or break them up for base rock, I know I did)
Again, good luck!

tankslave · #**341** 01/06/2007, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joshsmit56001
What sort of things do you use to get different effects?

Did you try the bubble wrap method mentioned earlier?

pito · #**342** 01/06/2007, 09:51 AM

Use moist sand to make different shapes. There's a sweet pillar thread around here that shows some cool ideas. I think tankslave posted a pic, he's useing pvc and forming around it. I think I'm gonna try it as well.

Joshsmit56001 · #**343** 01/06/2007, 10:38 AM

Yea I have seen that thread. I like the look of the pillars

Urban_Squrill · #**344** 01/06/2007, 11:42 PM

I have a bag of rock salt that has calcium chloride in it. Is it safe to use in diy rocks?

tankslave · #**345** 01/07/2007, 03:11 AM

As long as its just CaCl its fine. You can even use that along with baking soda as a calcium and alkalinity supliment.

tankslave · #**346** 01/07/2007, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pito
Use moist sand to make different shapes. There's a sweet pillar thread around here that shows some cool ideas. I think tankslave posted a pic, he's useing pvc and forming around it. I think I'm gonna try it as well.

Was this it?

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=746318

pito · #**347** 01/07/2007, 11:35 AM

Yup, thats the thread.

danoreef · #**348** 01/08/2007, 06:40 AM

Travis I am so happy to have stumbled upon this thread. check out the live rock I made following your recipe for ultimate rock. by the way I absolutely agree "Ultimate DIY Rock" is the best diy rock I have ever seen.

danoreef · #**349** 01/08/2007, 06:40 AM

Travis I am so happy to have stumbled upon this thread. check out the live rock I made following your recipe for ultimate rock. by the way I absolutely agree "Ultimate DIY Rock" is the best diy rock I have ever seen.

Travis L. Stevens · #**350** 01/08/2007, 10:37 AM

You're so happy, you double posted

Just kidding. It looks great. It looks just like mine.