DIY Live rock, currently my favorite thing to do. So for the first post I'm going to tell you how to make some rock for your tank. It can be used for aquascaping or as frag plugs. If you're really creative you can make your rocks to accept plugs so that those pesky turbos won't knock over your favorite coral!
Materials Needed:
Oyster shell from a feed store $3-$8 for 55lbs
Bag of Portland Cement $4-$6 for 90lbs @ Home Depot
two buckets from walmart $2
good pair of thick rubber gloves (easy cleanup) $2 walmart
1 or 2 bags of "play" sand $2-$3 for 50lbs @ home Depot
2 hard plastic cups to use as scoops (wife's cupboard - don't get caught!)
foam cooler to use as a mold box $1 @ walmart
Instructions
Fill up one bucket with clean water
In second bucket add 4 scoops of oyster shell and 1 scoop of cement, you can substitute scoops of sand for shell to make it stronger, but less porus.
mix well, then add 1-2 scoops water and mix till it looks and feels like lumpy oatmeal. If you add too much water add a bit of the dry to even it out, or more water if too dry.
In foam cooler add a couple inches of sand, make "pancakes" or any interesting shapes in the sand, use pure sand to make caves as it'll not stick to the mix. sprinkle dry oyster shell on wet mix in the mold for a more "rough" look. You can also stick stuff into the mix like plumbing, shells, live rock pieces, pretty much anything.
cover with sand, put lid on cooler to retain moisture, leave for 24-48 hours, 48 being the best!
After setting, take out and spray with hose to remove sand that has stuck to the rock, I bought a brush from walmart to scrub mine too as it speeds up the process.
Take the cleaned rock and put it in a large water tight container, use the foam cooler? Fill with water to cover rocks, let sit for 2 days.
After 2 days take out and spray or scrub rocks, put back in for 2 more days covered with water.Repeat this step for upto 6 weeks!
Although I say 6 weeks, this is so that the pH of your tank isn't raised. If you check your rock after soaking for 2 days and the pH is 8 or less, go ahead and use it! I've used rocks that were 1 week old cause they were small and the tank was big. You might be able to go 2 weeks soaking, then put in with your normal live rock during that curing process.
Good luck!
Materials Needed:
Oyster shell from a feed store $3-$8 for 55lbs
Bag of Portland Cement $4-$6 for 90lbs @ Home Depot
two buckets from walmart $2
good pair of thick rubber gloves (easy cleanup) $2 walmart
1 or 2 bags of "play" sand $2-$3 for 50lbs @ home Depot
2 hard plastic cups to use as scoops (wife's cupboard - don't get caught!)
foam cooler to use as a mold box $1 @ walmart
Instructions
Fill up one bucket with clean water
In second bucket add 4 scoops of oyster shell and 1 scoop of cement, you can substitute scoops of sand for shell to make it stronger, but less porus.
mix well, then add 1-2 scoops water and mix till it looks and feels like lumpy oatmeal. If you add too much water add a bit of the dry to even it out, or more water if too dry.
In foam cooler add a couple inches of sand, make "pancakes" or any interesting shapes in the sand, use pure sand to make caves as it'll not stick to the mix. sprinkle dry oyster shell on wet mix in the mold for a more "rough" look. You can also stick stuff into the mix like plumbing, shells, live rock pieces, pretty much anything.
cover with sand, put lid on cooler to retain moisture, leave for 24-48 hours, 48 being the best!
After setting, take out and spray with hose to remove sand that has stuck to the rock, I bought a brush from walmart to scrub mine too as it speeds up the process.
Take the cleaned rock and put it in a large water tight container, use the foam cooler? Fill with water to cover rocks, let sit for 2 days.
After 2 days take out and spray or scrub rocks, put back in for 2 more days covered with water.Repeat this step for upto 6 weeks!
Although I say 6 weeks, this is so that the pH of your tank isn't raised. If you check your rock after soaking for 2 days and the pH is 8 or less, go ahead and use it! I've used rocks that were 1 week old cause they were small and the tank was big. You might be able to go 2 weeks soaking, then put in with your normal live rock during that curing process.
Good luck!
