Neon Reefer Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Wanting to go a different route with the rock in my tank. I have always used lots of live rock and the old method of stacking rock in the tank. Now I am wanting to go a different route and to use rock in the sump and go a minimal look in the display. However I want to utilize columns for the look I want in the display and am looking into making my own. I have looked at a method and recipe for making the columns and was wanting feedback on the recipe ingredients on the overall long term health of the tank. The recipe is: 1 part Portland white cement 1 part reef sand 1 part crushed coral 1 part rock salt Directions: 1 mix the cement and aggregate with RO water to achieve an oatmeal consistency. Add the rock salt at end of mix just prior to going into the mold. 2 Allow the mix to dry overnight them remove from mold and let set for 3 days 3 Place green (uncured) rock into RO water with pump and change water every 2 days until pH reaches 7.5 and salinity count = 0.0 Note this may take a couple of weeks. 4 Now treat dry rock like any other and seed to grow live rock in saltwater bath as normal. Note: As the rock salt dissolves in the fresh water bath it leaves holes in the rock for bacterial growth. Question: Will the Portland cement cause any disruption in my pH or other water qualities over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Seen some really cool stuff made that way. I've also seen some of it start to break apart in as little as a couple years. My preference is to drill out rock (See KImP's videos) and use PVC but I imagine using the fiberglass additive to make concrete stronger would work just fine using the technique you've listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Seen some really cool stuff made that way. I've also seen some of it start to break apart in as little as a couple years. My preference is to drill out rock (See KImP's videos) and use PVC but I imagine using the fiberglass additive to make concrete stronger would work just fine using the technique you've listed. I agree with Timfish. About 2 years ago making rock structures out of hydraulic cement was the newest craze on ARC. I've talked to three people in the last two months who tried it and all of them have experienced joints crumbling. I used Portland Cement back in 2003 to make some rock caves. They started to break down after about a year. On the second year I tried to remove the rock to catch a fish and the whole structure crumbled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 I would never use hydraulic cement again... Total waste. That being said, I'm told the Marco rock motor (or at least what it really is) is solid. Might look into using it as a binder? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Looks like I will be adding the nylon fibers to the mix for added strength. I will keep ya'll posted when I begin the process. Thanks Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted June 25, 2016 Share Posted June 25, 2016 Maybe it was a misquote but I would definitely not use nylon fibers. My experience has been nylon degrades in saltwater and will become very brittle. Fiberglass fibers should greatly extend the life of rock made this way but I have not tried it myself and do not have any solid experience if it will last 5, 10 or 20 years although I would expect it to last a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 And where does one acquire fiberglass strands? Maybe it was a misquote but I would definitely not use nylon fibers. My experience has been nylon degrades in saltwater and will become very brittle. Fiberglass fibers should greatly extend the life of rock made this way but I have not tried it myself and do not have any solid experience if it will last 5, 10 or 20 years although I would expect it to last a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyb3 Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000COCDCM/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1467225518&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fiberglass+strands&dpPl=1&dpID=41PKERBTC9L&ref=plSrch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share Posted June 29, 2016 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000COCDCM/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1467225518&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fiberglass+strands&dpPl=1&dpID=41PKERBTC9L&ref=plSrch That would be the nylon strands, which was all I could find myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyb3 Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 ops sorry didn't see the bottom other then that I just see sheets of it be is a lot more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyb3 Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 There is https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TVD99BI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467231709&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=chopped+glass+fiber&dpPl=1&dpID=51d1T532OnL&ref=plSrch or fibreglast.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Reefer Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 There is https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TVD99BI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467231709&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=chopped+glass+fiber&dpPl=1&dpID=51d1T532OnL&ref=plSrch or fibreglast.com Yes Thanks I did find it here right after your last post. It should arrive this week. Already have assembled the Type 1 cement Dry reef sand Crushed Coral Crystal salt 6" Pipe 1" Pipe and will start the process in about one week to make 3 each 2' columns and 3 each 1' columns and will keep you all posted along the construction phase as well as the fresh water wet curing phase and finally the salt water curing into live rock. So far costs is about $100 and have enough material to make ~100# rock. With investment of another $40 to make another 100# if needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FluxCapacitor Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I'm definitely interested to see how this turns out. I think it would be cool to make your own live rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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