How to Make Nano Reef Rock

[kimikozembower]

informative video

[TheIllusionistGuy]

is there anyway to speed up the ageing process? I've heard of adding vinegar or something about an acid wash.. Also is there any other method to making reef for aquarium, such as the stryofoam and grout method one would use for a dry terrarium? Thanks:)

[dalpiero]

hey, just one question...

I need to put rock salt also? our not???

ALOHA,

surf é vida!

[GeraldHeslinga]

<<----<< Click to see some cool giant clam farming videos!

[lesterclaypool1]

i love it i ve been doing my own type of thing like this since the eightys ,,, i first put tanks out side with covers and skimm and filled them old waste water fro,m my tanks and pet shop , well in no time calerpas were going insane , then the realy wonderful stuff started happening , thing i did know i introduced , some via brine shrimp some ???? but things started growing , any ways cheers and thanks , p. s. that was in canada so theres no excuse for any one south of me to not do it

[GeraldHeslinga]

@lesterclaypool1 Thanks for the great letter! You have discovered how to start an ecosystem the natural way. Introduce some very simple organisms and let nature take its course. Wonderful results, all it takes is patience.

[lesterclaypool1]

@GeraldHeslinga yes check out my friend dick at tropicorium , hes been doing the same ,for a very long time he got a much better seletion of tri dacs and corals than i do , he was the first guy to ship corals in vermiculite ,,, peace oh and i used straight white vinegar to add to the soaking solution to help modifie the ph of my rock ,,, only as a first step

[lmposible]

Do You guys let the ph drop from the cement before you sell it/use it?

[ipsfdotcom]

@lmposible Yes, in the video and in the "more info" section we talk about aging the new rock for a month. This is long enough to cure it and leech out anything that might raise the pH.

[ipsfdotcom]

@lmposible Yes of course:-)

[ipsfdotcom]

The rock remains intact while curing. It should not break off or become soft. It behaves like concrete.

[leeandstacie]

Hi

Not sure if I am missing something but how do you make this rock into living rock?

Thanks

[ipsfdotcom]

@leeandstacie See our video on Growing Great Coralline Algae. The dead base rock needs to be seeded with coralline spores and given time to develop a nice covering of living coralline, as shown in the video.

[GroinStabbingPro]

@ipsfdotcom Coraline is one of a huge biodiversity that cultures liverock, so how does lifeless sterile rock covered in coraline make it LIVE? Coraline, is attractive sign of good water quality and proper calcium levels...But just grows a smooth layer on the exterior of rocks thus sealing off many of a rocks pourus structure. Sure does make your man made rock look natural, but I can only see it's positive as a peace of mind that because of lack of bioversity, that no undesirable life is present.

[Ciaglewruchu]

Should I change the water and how often? Can you add anything to the water to speed up the process??

Thanks guys,

You are great help!!!

[ipsfdotcom]

Please see answer below :-)  No additives needed.

[Ciaglewruchu]

Hey,

How long did it take for the rock to cure? How many days and how many water changes?

Thanks!

[ipsfdotcom]

Thirty days submerged in water will cure the rock (saltwater or freshwater is okay); change the water every 10 days. At the end of the month (optional) check the pH to be sure -- it should be close to 7 (neutral) in fresh water or close to 8.3 in seawater.

[dylandabomb230]

how do you make it so that it doesnt come out like real cement grey i kinda want it like light grey like yours

[ipsfdotcom]

All the rocks made from cement and coral sand looks gray when it is new but after it really dries out thoroughly it lightens up like the rocks shown in this video.

[dylandabomb230]

this video made this all make ALOT more sense,,,, when you are curing the rock can you use like untreated tap water/well water just mixed with salt put in a container and throw in the rock and let it cure??

[ipsfdotcom]

Yes -- straight tap water, real seawater or mixed seawater. All work fine for curing the rock. You can even put it outside in the back yard and let the sun and rain cure it. This takes a little longer though.

[dylandabomb230]

just to make sure, you said just plain tap water will work? no salt mix just plain tap water (mine is from a well) because i dont want to have to spend more money on salt mix.

[kvblakely]

Thanks for all the info. This is exactly what I want to do with a 92g corner tank being set up. Have you ever used this technique to make entire walls? (say 24" x 30"). I would like to essentially create reef walls on the sides (the aquarium is pie shaped) but thought it would be far more realistic than stacking rocks. Any suggestions or recommendations ??

[TENDURA22]

Hello, love your videos. Do you use regular #1 portland cement or #2 white portland cement. wondering if there is a big diference.

[ipsfdotcom]

Aloha. To keep things simple and cheap use regular Portland cement. White cement works too but it is more expensive and has no advantage :-)

[Ciaglewruchu]

I did everything what is shown on your video and my rocks came out dark gray just like the color of the cement... I am very disappointed in all my work... :-((((

Please help me out!

[jakefishing1]

i live in canada i dont think they have this in homedepo what else can i use to make it do i need the crushed corals and sand plzz git back to me

[dat673]

i have used pea pebbles and regular playground sand from home depot for the rocks I have tried out for the first time

[dat673]

I had got my info from hotvws3 check out how he did it

[Ciaglewruchu]

Can these rocks be used in a fresh water tank?

Thanks for your help!

[ipsfdotcom]

Yes.

[Shervanilla]

Feels good to be in hawaii (:

[SuperGrowPlants]

Cannot find Coral Sand or Crushed Coral... :(

Anyone in Los Angeles Area know where I can find some?

[Pipethekind]

fish/pet store....

[ipsfdotcom]

You can also use regular sandbox sand. Once it is made into rocks as described in this video and allowed to cure for a month or so in seawater, it is essentially inert and will work fine for base rock.

[ipsfdotcom]

Try a garden supply store -- it does not have to be coral sand or crushed coral. Sandbox sand will work as well.

[mobilechange]

I have searched everywhere for this pro-pak coral. Nowhere can this be found (at least in ohio) Can anyone help? Have a sku # if you purchased from lowes or something??

[revoltkid123]

yeah im in ohio too ( bethel ) i cant find it anywhere too

[ipsfdotcom]

Yes, if you can't find aragonite sand you can use regular sandbox sand, which should be available in the big box hardware stores or in a garden supply store. It is not absolutely essential to use coral sand to make culture base rock as we are doing in this video. Other sands will work.

[jossmalo]

Awsome Video! Thank you very much for the helpful tips

[ipsfdotcom]

No risk. Just follow the guidelines here and be sure to let the newly made rock soak and cure for a month or so.

[Ciaglewruchu]

Can I use this recipe for my fresh water tank?

[ipsfdotcom]

Yes, the same instructions apply as for saltwater tanks,

[pilotmanmax]

IS there risk in using cement in the reef environment?

[MmFord45]

Hey this is great advice and I do appreciate it and gonna give it a shot.

[M0Etivation]

so will this rock grow the same bacteria that grows on natural live rock

[ipsfdotcom]

Yes, but you have to add the beneficial bacteria to the system. Our Liquid N-Reducer is designed for this purpose.

[flyingSnakess]

id love to work at indopacific seafarms, looks pretty interesting from all your vids

[ipsfdotcom]

Thank you for the comment! Yes, it's a fun place to work. Being an aquafarmer is a great lifestyle. Even after more than 30 years it's still exciting because there is so much to learn. We'll never know everything there is to know about the ocean and its inhabitants! When we explore, we learn.

[crazybeavers155]

i wold just buy live sand and live rock and save the time and money

[ipsfdotcom]

Thank you for the comment!  We feel that using man made rock is better for the environment.

[betalover1]

Where in Southern Cal can one find the coral sand and 3/4 coral?

Looking

[ipsfdotcom]

Have you tried Home Depot? Look for a product called Play Sand there. Or try Lowes, Walmart, or any well stocked garden supply shop. If that doesn't work find our where folks in your area get sand for sandboxes and use that for the rock mix.

[K3V1NR083RTS0N]

I have some of the Play Sand in my kids' sandbox...isn't that stuff silica instead of aragonite? Does that make a difference?

[ipsfdotcom]

You can use the sandbox sand mixed with Portland cement to make rock. Once the mix has fully hardened (cured) it is essentially inert and the silicates will not matter. For the sandbed however you should use a true aragonite sand.

[K3V1NR083RTS0N]

Great! Thank you...love your vids by the way!

[ldsidahoinmatt]

Love the hand motions in the shadow

[peacehopelovemusic]

hmm i cant seem to find any coral sand or crushed coral at any dept. store around here, any alternatives?

[ipsfdotcom]

You are most welcome. Thank you for Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and all the great Swedish players!

[sploonge1]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge to us!!! =)

Very helpful tips in all your shows!

/sweden

[ipsfdotcom]

You are most welcome. Thank you for Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and all the great Swedish players!

[DiewLayLowMow]

Would it be possible to buy some home made rock then buy a live rock then putting them in the same tank to bring the home made rock live?

I want to start a SW but keeping a low cost.

Sorry I'm still trying to learn about SW tanks.

[ipsfdotcom]

Aloha to all -- There's a contest running right now on our Channel Page, with $100 in free livestock to be given away (4/16/09).

[1mkwiet]

fantastic, thank you very much for this video.

[ipsfdotcom]

thank you Rick, for the suggestion to make it! hope it helps give you the basic idea.

[MondoGeraldo]

We use coralline algae booster plates produced on our farm to seed the rock. this is covered in two of our videos:

*Growing Great Coralline Algae and

*Nano Lagoon (14): Big Diatom Bloom

[DaytonaRoadster]

this looks useful but dont you still need some real live rock to seed the aquarium?