DIY Reef Rock

[cmantis]

Can someone please link me or tell me how to go about making reef rocks? I have a 30g cube (20") and I figure since its sort of difficult to scape I should just design and make my own structure. This way I can make plug holes and everything. Also looking for ideas on scaping cubes. Thanks.

 

[KathyC]

There is a lot of good & bad posted about DIY rocks and your best bet is to Google the topic and read all about folks who have done it as there are multiple 'receipies' to make them. The curing time for some of these DIY rocks can run 6 months depending on the ingredients you use.

Cubes can be tricky to scape and many come out looking like a volcano
The more successful ones have scaped in the shape of a 'C' with perhaps an island down in front..depending on the size of the cube. Take a look through the Tank Threads forum for cube threads or perhaps some cube owners will chime in. I recall Lenny718 had a cube (not sure if it's still up) and IIRC the aquascaping was very nicely done.

 

[fishman1069]

Pm peteyboyny on here. He made a bunch of his own rock. It came out sweet. I made my own rock too but he figured out a better mix that looks great

 

[peteyboyny]

I made probably 200+ lbs of my own rock. Learned from You Tube, Google. It took almost a year before it was ready to go into my DT. If you decide to go this route, you must be very patient! 90% of the rock in my DT is DIY.
Most of the "recipes" call for:
Crushed arrogonite (I used different size grades. #15, #5, and sand grade).
#1 Portland (white Portland)
Morton's rock salt.

 

[vio]

I made probably 200+ lbs of my own rock. Learned from You Tube, Google. It took almost a year before it was ready to go into my DT. If you decide to go this route, you must be very patient! 90% of the rock in my DT is DIY.
Most of the "recipes" call for:
Crushed arrogonite (I used different size grades. #15, #5, and sand grade).
#1 Portland (white Portland)
Morton's rock salt.

+1, take long time to cure, cast on sand will give nice finish. Good ideas on Youtube.

 

[peteyboyny]

Some of the sites say to use play sand to make your molds. I found it can stick to the rock somewhat. Arragonite sand works best for the molds.
I also did my soaking in muriatic acid, white vinegar baths, acid buffer baths, even a 24hr dip in the Long Island Sound. I've heard of people putting small pieces or homemade frag plugs in the back of the toilet. Constant water changes this way but, you will have to strip phosphates that enter the rock through tap water (I've heard lanthium chloride works good).
I could go on...
Shot me a PM if you have any questions. I'll see if I can help.

 

[peteyboyny]

Here's some of the pieces that I've made. The first 2 pics are smaller pcs that I put together as one. I used marine epoxy.
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/peteyboyny/WP_003161_zpse0fd3561.jpg.html?newest=1&pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2bRPjmFvTcYqwcrshksXj3ZOBYFDlNs1mRFYxXfs%2B9%2FtB3p5stQZPfT8HcrIjHRCH%2Fv50SZqbQhr3tsutaq%2F1TgWt%2FYe8pYM5a%2FJQVFl8JNVNb6G05t%2F9Uc2bXPFl%2F8e6S9rcT8DybthOVxBq9m7wdQ%3D
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6S9rcT8DybthOVxBq9m7wdQ=
This is some of the extra that i made. They're in a 40b for size reference.
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6S9rcT8DybthOVxBq9m7wdQ=
And, my DT
http://m1268.photobucket.com/albumv...VNb6G05t/9Uc2bXPFl/8e6S9rcT8DybthOVxBq9m7wdQ=

 

[reefer4eva]

I went to the beach and collected a bag load of shells crushed them up adding aragonite,Portland cement and rock salt.it probably took about 4 months with the help of bacteria additive to speed up the process

 

[peteyboyny]

I went to the beach and collected a bag load of shells crushed them up adding aragonite,Portland cement and rock salt.it probably took about 4 months with the help of bacteria additive to speed up the process

I did that too. Collected clam shells and oyster shells. Adds some nice texture to the rock.

 

[d5332]

In the end, does one really save money or is it just a challenging entertaining project to do?

I've thought about making some rock but for the sole purpose of molding pieces to accept plugs firmly and tightly in place.

 

[peteyboyny]

In the end, does one really save money or is it just a challenging entertaining project to do?

I've thought about making some rock but for the sole purpose of molding pieces to accept plugs firmly and tightly in place.

It cost me less than $90 for enough supplies to make 200+lbs of rock. Works out to about $0.45/lb. Definitely worth it. It was a lot of fun as well. As far as soaking time, I slacked on my water changes. Sometimes I changes it every day, sometimes up to 2 wks. I could have finished it quicker if i changed the water ebery 2-3 days. I've heard of it being done in as little as 6weeks. The "soaking out" process is very important. Portland cement has a natural pH of 14. This would kill anything that is alive in the tank. My understanding from reading I've done is that RO/di water is very aggressive at absorbing the pH buffers found in the cement. Think of the RO water as a squeezed out sponge, just waiting to absorb chemicals and other undesirable elements. Tap water is still loaded with trace elements, heavy metals, phosphates, etc. Using tap water to soak out your rock will add another step to remove these elements from the rock before you can use it.

 

[reefer4eva]

It cost me less than $90 for enough supplies to make 200+lbs of rock. Works out to about $0.45/lb. Definitely worth it. It was a lot of fun as well. As far as soaking time, I slacked on my water changes. Sometimes I changes it every day, sometimes up to 2 wks. I could have finished it quicker if i changed the water ebery 2-3 days. I've heard of it being done in as little as 6weeks. The "soaking out" process is very important. Portland cement has a natural pH of 14. This would kill anything that is alive in the tank. My understanding from reading I've done is that RO/di water is very aggressive at absorbing the pH buffers found in the cement. Think of the RO water as a squeezed out sponge, just waiting to absorb chemicals and other undesirable elements. Tap water is still loaded with trace elements, heavy metals, phosphates, etc. Using tap water to soak out your rock will add another step to remove these elements from the rock before you can use it.

I couldn't agree more...the only thing I bought was the Portland cement,I used the shells and the sand from the beach,the only thing I did different was have them soak in saltwater.and did weekly water changes ...ooh and i used the water from the beach aswell(i pinched pennies on my rocks)after a month I started adding live bacteria after every water change.

 

[peteyboyny]

I couldn't agree more...the only thing I bought was the Portland cement,I used the shells and the sand from the beach,the only thing I did different was have them soak in saltwater.and did weekly water changes ...ooh and i used the water from the beach aswell(i pinched pennies on my rocks)after a month I started adding live bacteria after every water change.

Cool beans. The only concern I would have is using sand from the beach. Sand here is silicate based. This could cause some serious diatom blooms.

 

[reefer4eva]

My i laws have there boat at a yacht club in college point I was thinking of making the rocks and putting them in the water over there ...either way your going to have to cure them somehow..even before they hit the tank

 

[peteyboyny]

Just my opinion...i would be very careful placing them in the water near a yacht club or anywhere there boats in the water often. Gas and oil from the boats could poison the rock AND your tank. I put mine in the Long Island Sound overnight, towards the end of winter, away from any harbors or docks. Did a full set of tests on the water before we put the rocks in (nitrates are higher during the summer months). You still can't test for gas and oil though. Fishman1069 did some of his own rocks and left them in the sound ALL winter, he lost one rock. Just be careful where and when you place them.