Lets see your Ultimate DIY Rocks!!!

[airinhere]

I have been following the Ultimate DIY Rocks thread for a very long time and would like to start a thread where people can showcase their finished rocks.

Mad props to Travis Stevens, Insane Reefer, Mr Wilson and many others who helped me figure out how to make this stuff.

C.mon everybody, I know there are some crazy looking pieces y'all have made.

Show them off!
This is for a 240 gal tank. Full back wall.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0268.jpg
Far left piece
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0280.jpg
middle
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0279.jpg
far right side
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0281.jpg

This is my 120 gal anem/zoo/mushroom tank
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0099.jpg

These next two are my 90 gal reefs.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0246_edited.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0248_edited.jpg

and my 120 full of corals (skimmerless)

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0276_edited.jpg

[Insane Reefer]

Can I live in your backyard?

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/125181dancingrock.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/dragonflyrock2.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/125181Reef-Face-1.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/125181loadorock.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/125181backwall.jpg

[seanndenise1]

those rocks look great,what recipe did you use?

[airinhere]

Old Skool Recipie. 1 part white cement, 1 to 2 parts aragonite sand, 1 to 2 parts solar salt. Mixed just wet enough to be like soft clay. I make wood forms to pour and use extra salt to make lots of caves and ledges.

[mr.wilson]

Before

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7197.jpg

After

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7223.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7246.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7218.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7242.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7227.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7240.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7260.jpg

[mr.wilson]

The rock is live rock that has been cemented together. The two end walls are covered in 50/50 crushed oystershell and quick-setting cement. This is what it looked like new.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6123.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6194.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6129.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6130.jpg

Here it is after 7 months. The live rock in the tank really helps speed up the population increase of coraline algae etc.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_70831.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7050.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7047.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7042.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7032.jpg

[mr.wilson]

This tank has live rock cemented together with the two end panels and internal plumbing coated in 50/50 crushed oyster shell and fast setting cement. The tank is 4' deep so I had to climb up one ladder to get on it, then down another to get in it to apply the cement.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/2/medium/IMG_6066.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/IMG_6262.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/IMG_6245.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/IMG_6250.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/IMG_6246.jpg

[mr.wilson]

This tank has live rock with end walls and plumbing covered in oystercrete.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6918.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6851.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6842.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_6839.jpg

[sanosuke]

Wow. nice diy project

[alpine]

Great looking projects guys,keep up the great work.

[ooba]

That all looks really nice. does the purple coralline algae grow as well on it as the live rock?

[Insane Reefer]

Sure it does, Ooba. You need to "seed" it of course, but honestly, it is as good as real rock, and depending on what you can get locally, often much, much better.

[skoomamonster]

Looks good but what do you think would be the best recipie to make the rock cure faster and be lightweight?

[Insane Reefer]

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1156212&perpage=25&pagenumber=18
It is over 100 pages long, so pointed you to the page with the "Super Long Post" - this is an accumulation of info for the rock noob.

So played a lot of Morrowind, SkoomaMonster? LOL - Love those games :)

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10543690#post10543690 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ooba
That all looks really nice. does the purple coralline algae grow as well on it as the live rock?

The cement has quite a bit of calcium and carbonates that are bioavailable for coraline growth. As long as you don't have diatoms, dinoflagellates, or any other nuisance algae it will grow just as fast or faster (due to lack of competition) as it will on live rock.

After 7 months you can see 90% coraline coverage.

[Insane Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10544838#post10544838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr.wilson
As long as you don't have diatoms, dinoflagellates, or any other nuisance algae it will grow just as fast or faster (due to lack of competition) as it will on live rock.


Newly made rock also contains a small portion of unhydrated lime, etc, or at least this is the case for traditional portland, and possibly not the case with the fast-set cements. Lime is a plant fertilizer. So it should be noted that diatoms and green algae will grow on most new rock, even if added to a brand new tank with new saltwater and nothing used from another system, etc...
It is just part of the rocks maturation process.

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10544873#post10544873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
Newly made rock also contains a small portion of unhydrated lime, etc, or at least this is the case for traditional portland, and possibly not the case with the fast-set cements. Lime is a plant fertilizer. So it should be noted that diatoms and green algae will grow on most new rock, even if added to a brand new tank with new saltwater and nothing used from another system, etc...
It is just part of the rocks maturation process.

Lime is not a plant fertilizer, it's a "soil amendment" used to increase the PH.

[Insane Reefer]

Semantics. Many places call it a fertilizer, "Lime Fertilizer" - I can post links if you like.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer
QUOTED TEXT:
Inorganic fertilizers (mineral fertilizer)
Example of naturally occurring inorganic fertilizers include Chilean sodium nitrate, mined "rock phosphate," and limestone (a calcium source).

Either way, many plants like it, and grow better for its presence...
Algae is one of those.

Anyway, let's stop hijacking Air's thread - if people really want to get down to the nitty-gritty about MMLR, they are more then welcome to join us over in the ULTIMATE DIY ROCK Thread :)

Let's see more Pictures!!!

[mr.wilson]

Here are some pictures of a rock I made 15 years ago and never used. It's a 12" x 7" piece of pumice that I carved out with a screw driver. It was smooth and round before I started carving. You can use a hammer to take out more substantial sections, or a drill or grinder if you're in a hurry.

It only takes about 30 minutes to do if I remember correctly. It sinks once you get the air out of it.

It's reef safe, but not by any means the ideal media to use. I use pumice to make waterfalls for rainforest walls from time to time. I use cement to bond a bunch of smaller rocks together to make one big outcropping.

It's very cheap and practically weightless. The material is brittle enough that you could push a frag plug into it or interlock it with other rock.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7542.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7547.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7550.jpg

[Insane Reefer]

That stuff is sold in the horse hobby as a fly-bot (eggs) remover, in tiny 6x4 blocks for like $5. Maybe I should just pick a piece up at HD and use a file to flatten a side.

I've wondered about using it in a FW tank, but I am so past FW that I don't even go to that side of the LSF, lol.

[mr.wilson]

It was US$0.25 per pound back then. I would imagine it would be about the same today. They sell it at concrete and decorative (garden) rock stores up here. That piece is about a pound, so you could do a nano tank for a dollar.

I think you can buy it in flat slabs if you wanted to do a back or end wall. You would have nuisance algae problems, but no more than any other non-calcareous rock.

I just can't believe how many times I've moved that $0.25 over 15 years without chucking it. It explains why I haven't had fly-bot problems all these years.

[skoomamonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10544345#post10544345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Insane Reefer
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1156212&perpage=25&pagenumber=18
It is over 100 pages long, so pointed you to the page with the "Super Long Post" - this is an accumulation of info for the rock noob.

So played a lot of Morrowind, SkoomaMonster? LOL - Love those games :)

Haha no not Morrowind, just Oblivion:D

[Insane Reefer]

I thought Morrowind was the better game, but boy, Oblivion sure is a pretty game...

[customcolor]

here is a few pics of just 1 rock. lots of spots for stuff to hide!<BR>http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/rock1.jpg <BR>
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/rock2.jpg <BR>
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/rock3.jpg <BR>
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/rock4.jpg <BR>
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/rock5.jpg <BR>
and that rock and some more that i will make will all go in here<BR>http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/customcolor/fullfront.jpg

[airinhere]

Mr Wilson, I love that first tank you posted. I am curently trying to figure out ways to get a similar effect of the delicate rock arches.

Customcolor, I dig the huge arch you made.

Y'all are just too enthralled with the chemical side of this rockmaking now. I gave up on speeding up the cure time and am just enjoying the trip.

Now what I am really interested in is if anyone has had any luck making tall, delicate towers or arches? Thats my next path of impossibility.

[customcolor]

i have a confession to make, only the uprights are diy live rock. across the top is pond foam that was coated with crystal salt befor it expanded then wased off after it did. it is hard to tell i think unless u look realy close. the peices on the sides are rock too covering up some pvc returns

[mr.wilson]

Paul B made a nice delicate long branch in this thread. You'd never guess it's formed over a PVC skeleton.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1182073&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/13094Copy_of_Copy_of_Copy_of_DSC00857-med.jpg

[pdhenderson]

What lights are used this system? The third one with the 3 halides
Blew me away once again mr wilson!!!

[mr.wilson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10569527#post10569527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pdhenderson
What lights are used this system? The third one with the 3 halides
Blew me away once again mr wilson!!!

The longwinded answer to that question is in this thread.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=993625&perpage=25&pagenumber=7

[mr.wilson]

Here are some updated pictures of the 65 gallon tank (36"x12"x36"). Just waiting for the cabinetry.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7584.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7600.jpg

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_7611.jpg

[McLovin]

Very Nice

[pdhenderson]

Mr wilson, Where can I see your tanks? Wife and kids are away so I might aswell take a tour sometime.
Hiring any labour?:)

[jasonh]

Here are two I just made. These are my first two. The left one was cast in salt, the right in sand. This is after 24 hours. I took them out of the molds after 12 hours.

They were made with Rapid-Set brand cement (they say you can drive on it 1 hour after it sets). This stuff looked more white when I bought it, but is really more gray. It had rocks in it, which I didn't realize, but I sifted them out really easily. I posted my recipe in teh Ultimate DIY rock thread, but IIRC, it was around 1 cement, 0.5 sand, 2 perlite, 0.5 crushed oyster shell.

http://synthetix.org/pics/reefcentral/diy-rocks/8-19-rocks-test-1.jpg

http://synthetix.org/pics/reefcentral/diy-rocks/8-19-rocks-test-2.jpg

[airinhere]

Well, I got a few new shots of a tank I put together recently.
Its a 168 gal Cube. Its been set up for about a month now,
so its starting to show a little bit of diatom algae on the rockwork.
Had to make a plywood mock-up of the tank to build the rockwork.
Each piece can be removed if necessary. Even the rock covers for the closed loop system.

This tank is installed in the wall between the Living Room and dining room at my friend Carlos's house.

View from the Dining Room

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0434_edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

View from the Living Room

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSCN0433_edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

This can help identify the overflow and closed loop.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSC4_edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/airinhere/DSC3_edited.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[customcolor]

love the bridge!!

[airinhere]

Actually, its an arch. Kinda hard to tell in the picture, but The overflow has an arch that goes out 3/4 across the tank and then terminates in a pillar. Offset from that by at least 8 inches is the other wall of rock. The lone piece really only covers a corner of the tank. The numerous branches that protrude from the arch and the lone wall of rock do give the appearance of a connected piece in the tank.

This tank is 3 foot on each side roughly!

[CyclistMT]

Here's mine. 100% DIY rock except for the rubble I put in the sump to help seed it.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/CyclistMT/9-12-07015.jpg

[Insane Reefer]

Thought I'd post some of my latest pieces - hoping others will too :)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/med-arch.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/huge.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/drive-thru2.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/cool1.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/skull.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/skpillar2.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x176/Insane-Reefer/rocks/slant1.jpg