Rock making (2 Viewers)

[MarkieB]

Although it is not the look I want, I did a trial run today!

Pretty easy and neat the way it turned out!

The rock is 18 wide 20 front to back and 20 tall!

I learned a lot with the first trial and know what I am changing on run 2.

Just thought I would share the trail run 1 with you!

 

[Guest]

WOW that looks great.

 

[MarkieB]

Thank you Chris!
I want more ledges but I just figured out how to make that happen so I am off to the fed store for more crushed oysters!

 

[Style23]

looks more porus then i expected it to be, how much does it weigh?? give it a couple months to be covered with coraline and coral you wouldnt be able to tell the difference between that and ocean harvasted LR

 

[AquaNerd]

i love the shape. it is very unique and not something you see everyday. but more ledges and flat surfaces is always a plus.

what's your recipe/techniques?

 

[KrAs]

It looks nice Mark, better than original description.

Just out of general curiosity how much do you think that beast weighs?

 

[MarkieB]

Style once dried it will weight about 60 lbs but this is a BIG rock.
Actually I should not say rock! It is half of my reef structure. I am off to try 2 more. Looking at this more I might actually go with this one but it'll have choices.

You cant tell in the picture but there will be a cave right underneath. It is just filled with salt right now until the structure dries. The only bad thing is it is a 6 week cure time but that's how long my tank is taking go get here so the timing is right! I think you are right though, once coralined no one will even know I made it!

Brandon the reciped I am using is at

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/6279/RaiseCementRock.html

 

[i_am_poor]

Would the small pieces break off? I'd like to try this!

 

[Guest]

tank

I'm sorry what size tank is that going in

 

[decimal]

that, my friends, looks pretty interesting 8O 8O

 

[Guest]

rock

I wonder how hard it would be to use sticks or even re-bar,
somehow covered with something so you could slid out when dry
to even get a more holey porous look

 

[Guest]

I've only made small, frag-mountable pieces. That is one large piece you've got there!

I'm all about the ledge idea. Make sure and post a pic. The one thing i've noticed in my tanks is that flat pieces (ledges etc) can accumulate detritus easily, so make sure you've got plenty of flow.

 

[Guest]

I've only made small, frag-mountable pieces. That is one large piece you've got there!

I'm all about the ledge idea. Make sure and post a pic. The one thing i've noticed in my tanks is that flat pieces (ledges etc) can accumulate detritus easily, so make sure you've got plenty of flow.

 

[MarkieB]

The tank is 48x30x24.
I want only two large reef structures on each side open in the center.
Lyod I used pvc for holes! There are 5 holes that run completely through it you just cant tell by the pictures, and then the big cave underneath.

Will pieces fall off?
Have no idea/ I'll let you know! If they do I am ok with being it will look more natural! Just did the ledge piece and not sure if i like the look.

Going to make number three now!

 

[deepsea43]

cool very creative

 

[mr_surfer_Dude]

can u use crushed oysters to mount coral frags on?

 

[MarkieB]

Sure

 

[The Reef Whisperer]

Markie,
I used an exacto knife kit to make my edges.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m232/turbo1974/DSC00516.jpg

You will not want to wait until it thickens but maybe 30 minutes after it has set. Make sure to use a paint brush and water to brush off excess amounts. USE PLENTY OF WATER! Clean the brush off after each swip to stop the pulling of shell from the rock. I got a spray bottle and spray the area before cleaning with a brush

There will be flaking but that is where the spray bottle and brush come in handy to clean the area. Also the more water you spray on the rock, the less flaking.

 

[jimR]

What is the recipe for the rock mix?
Oyster Shell and ?

 

[AquaNerd]

look on the first page...a few posts down...it's a blue hyperlink.