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Rock making (1 Viewer)

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scottk

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Good work!

To cut down on the weight and give it some more pores, add several cups of rock salt from Lowe's ($9/40lb bag) to the mix. Then during the water soaking after curing, the salt melts out and you get lots of holes and a less dense rock. Works like a charm.

Got that tip off of RC.......doesn't affect shaping qualities either.
 
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landfish

scottk said:
Good work!

To cut down on the weight and give it some more pores, add several cups of rock salt from Lowe's ($9/40lb bag) to the mix. Then during the water soaking after curing, the salt melts out and you get lots of holes and a less dense rock. Works like a charm.

Got that tip off of RC.......doesn't affect shaping qualities either.

you beet me to it. That is what I was going to suggest. I have also read about people using ice with mixed results. If you get a bag of salt for a water softener the salt is in nice big random chunks as long as you do not get the pellets.

I would try and make it lighter and more porous. The more porous you make your rock the greater surface area you will have and the greater surface area you have the more biologically active your rocks will be
 
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MarkieB

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I could not wait until Friday to perform V.3.0
What you see is not what you get! :wink:
They WILL be my best yet!
These will be more inline with what I use in the tank!
More on it later! :-o

 

AquaNerd

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is that a bunch of salt on those rocks??? i'm assuming you used the cheap salt, please tell me you used the cheap stuff.
 

AquaNerd

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wow, what kind of salt is that...generic grocery store salt?

and what did you mean by the last comment...you have a humongous pile of rock under that huge pile of salt?
 
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MarkieB

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camaroracer214 said:
wow, what kind of salt is that...generic grocery store salt?

and what did you mean by the last comment...you have a humongous pile of rock under that huge pile of salt?

I keep a pond as well!
Solar Salt is well know for being Ok for fish! (Koi ponds)

It is found at Home Depot and sold as a water softener agent!

As far as the riddle you will have to stay tuned! :D
 
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MarkieB

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Thanks John!

5 people have seen them in person now and every single one has said wow. They look much better in person!
My camera can't capture the true detail where they are located.

Today I made some ledges to use as caves and overhangs!
Lots of detail and unique shapes but still not caught well!
4-6" long



These dry to a point of handling faster than the larger ones I still cant reveal because they are too fragile to move yet!




My neighbors are starting to slow down as they go by my house!
I think they are getting concerned!
Could be I am out of control!
:D

Notice the growing pile in the top left of the picture!
 
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MarkieB

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jdeveaux said:
At the rate you are building rocks you'll need to install a pool to cure all of it :D
:

That is hilarious because I am using a childs pool to do the curing!
I am doing fresh initially then will start adding my water changed left over and corlaline from the tank in the pool to start some growth!
 
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MarkieB

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This is probably the last update on this as I am ready to go to the curing stage next. That is pretty boring just rocks sitting in a pool of water.

I wanted to make some really neat shaped and holey rocks.
I got the look I want from this last batch!

AS you look you can see a lot of salt! Just image all that open after curing!
Here are some examples!

I would highly recommend this process for anyone starting up a new tank!







 
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