The Ultimate DIY Rocks!

[Insane Reefer]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

[Insane Reefer]

LOL AZ

Welcome Fred! If you use grey cement, you will get grey rock, though the rocks color will lighten over the kure and become a midtone grey, flecked with your aggregate, and if you cast in sand, parts of the rock will be the color of the sand. White cement will produce blindingly white rock.
Grout can be used, but you really need to do your research and make sure that it is just grout - no additives for mold or waterproofing agents. Keep in mind that just a few tablespoons of grey cement will turn white cement/grout? to light grey. I might just break down and make the trip - it is easier to tint white cement than it is to tint grey...

I'd really wait a bit before trying perlite. We've only just talked ourselves into trying it, and no pieces have actually gone into any-one's tank yet, that I am aware of. It should be reef safe, but we aren't positive.

Good luck with your rock, keep us posted and take some pictures

[Insane Reefer]

Update
I didn't do anything rock-wise yesterday; had a lot of fun for my birthday instead

Today, after I hauled myself out of bed, lol, I tested Disco Dancing Rock, and it was at 10 but this goes to show why we do a 3 day pH test - often one day is not enough to get a solid reading.

I did not acid bath this rock, not knowing what the vinegar might do to the perlite; this is just with 3 water changes (bi-carb added), followed by 3 days of rain washing. Anyone see any reason vinegar would be bad for use with the perlite?

[Neptune777]

Originally posted by Insane Reefer
Update
I didn't do anything rock-wise yesterday; had a lot of fun for my birthday instead

Today, after I hauled myself out of bed, lol, I tested Disco Dancing Rock, and it was at 10 but this goes to show why we do a 3 day pH test - often one day is not enough to get a solid reading.

I did not acid bath this rock, not knowing what the vinegar might do to the perlite; this is just with 3 water changes (bi-carb added), followed by 3 days of rain washing. Anyone see any reason vinegar would be bad for use with the perlite?

Vinegar should have no effect (since in theory it is inert). However I don't follow the reasoning of using bi-carb since that will raise the PH on it's own.
Why not just use plain old water to kure this one?

[vr697getta]

can i get some pics of other poeple's rocks and this thread is huge how do you kame them and what do you use or if i can get a link to a page that breaks it down

[Azazael13]

Originally posted by Insane Reefer
Update
I didn't do anything rock-wise yesterday; had a lot of fun for my birthday instead

Well since no one else said it.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[sunkool]

Originally posted by micronaut
I have been checking this out for a few weeks and am ready to make my rock but am not crazy about using standard portland as my base color for the rock. I know I can get white portland if I drive a ways away to get it but..I'm lazy and cheap so thats not an option. So I'm going to use the perlite / portland / sand mix..is this mix correct? and I'm also going to toss in some Seaflor puka shell mix just for texture. Is the sand and the perlite and shell going to cover up the color of the portland or will I end up with a pile of mud grey rock. I'm trying to keep it light like the rock thats already in my 90. I was curious if I could use tile grout to color the batch. I recall seeing somebody in this thread that had pics up of bags of grout.
Thanks for all the work being done on this subject its a great boon to our hobby
Peace
Fred

Yes you can use tile grout that they sell at home depot. I used this for alot of rock before I found the white portland. It works out to be alot more to make it but if you are not making 300-400lbs it don't make sence to buy a big bag of portland.


Here is the msds for it [url]

[sunkool]

Originally posted by vr697getta
can i get some pics of other poeple's rocks and this thread is huge how do you kame them and what do you use or if i can get a link to a page that breaks it down

This cement was mixed with 4 to 5 parts sand to 1 part cement with 2 parts salt. It's a little on the wet side. You could use tile grout in place of the portland but I would add a little more sand to the premix.





And the removal after 24 hrs.



Let dry for a few days, soak for a week to release salt, let sit to dry cure for a month, soak in water for another month. Check ph if its ok then put in tank if not soak again.

[Finaddictfred]

I'm only looking to make maybe 100 lbs after I get a technique down. I just cast my first piece today so we'll see how things go. I used portland / shell / and sand the shell is a fairly large type. What they call Puka shell mix. Already told the wife to keep off the sunporch for awhile. She thinks its quite funny to see me be this expectant over something. SHe just doesn't quite have the aquatic itch like I do..but shes gaining on it..I will turn her to the wet side much like I did your father !!

[sunkool]

Lets try that msds again.

http://www.custombuildingproducts.co...er=diy&lang=en

[sunkool]

Insane Reefer
Could you send me one of them rock baking forms you made for monitoring the cure.
I am going redneck style. No kitchen oven for me. I'm going to use my smoker.
With dry oak I can crank that bad boy up to 800 degrees and maintain temp hours.














Lol I'm going to smoke 300 lbs of rock.

[reefrubble]

I think I better call the paramedics .

[reefnewbie54321]

sunkool did you use tile grout or white portland for those rocks posted above?

If you didnt use tilegrout for those rocks do you have any pictures of rocks made from tile grout? and do you have a suggested volume of sand that should be added to the grout?

[sunkool]

white tile grout is just white portland and sand pre mixed. I would mix 1 part grout to 1 or 2 parts sand. It would be about the same.
This rock was made with the tile grout



This pic was taken in december I had a thread about it.

[sunkool]

Here was the thread it was in the Tampa Florida club section

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1005663

I would not follow the 6 day cure.

[reefnewbie54321]

Thanks, the hunt for white portland is over.

Also your baking your rock over a wood stove? Do you think that there might be any ill effects from the smoke or possible charring of the rocks? Please keep me updated becuase I'm not crazy about the idea of cooking cement in my oven.

Any one who has experience with cooking it in there house wanna tell me if it stinks up the house bad?

And I know its in the thread some were but why exactly are people baking there rocks? Do you bake them when there still semi-wet or do you wait till there dry ... and what exactly is the point?

[Insane Reefer]

Originally posted by sunkool
Insane Reefer
Could you send me one of them rock baking forms you made for monitoring the cure.

With dry oak I can crank that bad boy up to 800 degrees and maintain temp hours.

Ok Barney Rocker
PM me a email addy.

Wouldn't go that high for the bake though - keep it around 450. using the smoker may add Co2 to the cure, which may aid in carbonation. Let us know how it goes, I have a thought on an upright model that uses propane.

[Insane Reefer]

Originally posted by reefnewbie54321
And I know its in the thread some were but why exactly are people baking there rocks? Do you bake them when there still semi-wet or do you wait till there dry ... and what exactly is the point?

Hey Newbie.
The reason, exactly that we are baking the rocks is to complete as much hydration as possible in as short a period of time as possible. Industrial cement brick and block manufacturers "steam cure" their wares to complete the normal 28 day cure in less than 24 hours. We can't replicate their process at home, but I think I have gotten it pretty close.
The rocks are baked while still "green" - solid-ish but punky; ideally, they would be baked almost as soon as they were cast, but that is impractical if not using a "form".

Does that answer your question?

[Insane Reefer]

Originally posted by Neptune777
Why not just use plain old water to kure this one?

Why wait that long to be able to start testing it? I'm the speed queen, baby

[Insane Reefer]

Originally posted by Azazael13
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thanks, sweetie

[Azazael13]

Originally posted by reefnewbie54321

Any one who has experience with cooking it in there house wanna tell me if it stinks up the house bad?

As one of the people who can't block off their kitchen I can tell you about this. The smell wasn't too bad, it was noticeable but not "Oh my god I have to get out of here" bad.

My setup was pretty humid to, turns out my oven has a fair amount of vents on it.

[mr.wilson]

Originally posted by Neptune777
Vinegar should have no effect (since in theory it is inert). However I don't follow the reasoning of using bi-carb since that will raise the PH on it's own.
Why not just use plain old water to kure this one?

Perlite isn't inert. It includes among others, calcium in its' composition.

http://www.dicalite-europe.com/chemrock-perlite.htm

[Neptune777]

Originally posted by Insane Reefer
Why wait that long to be able to start testing it? I'm the speed queen, baby

I like it!

[Neptune777]

Originally posted by mr.wilson
Perlite isn't inert. It includes among others, calcium in its' composition.

http://www.dicalite-europe.com/chemrock-perlite.htm

I have to disagree....Perlite is essentially a very light air filled glass. Everywhere I have read has mentioned it is inert. Includeing the link you just provided:

"They are very light in density, fully inert and neutral."

[JohnL]

This thread was automatically split due to performance issues. You can find the rest of the thread here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1156212