@jjamontan Eventually, I have a millions of things going on right now, my tank is coming along fine, I will post a follow up video as soon as I can. Sorry for the lack of a follow up video, I can't believe I even have time to write this :)
@Itsiebit I watched many video's on youtube, tried a few of them, with terrible results, so after a few trials and errors I came up with this recipe and decided to make a simple vodeo showing what I had learned.
Exellent vid mate! Can reef crystals be used to make the rock porous or does it have to be white rock salt crystals. I'm just using normal white rock salt which is very fine and don't think will make my rock porous. I'm also using white portland cement and crushed sea shells with a mixing ratio of 3-1-2 [shells-cement-salt]. Is it wise to mix a bit of sand in it also?
Will this type of rock break down in a salt water tank over time and leech back into the water coloum?
@mgkdcx As far as the salt goes; The large rock salt crystals for water softeners seems to be the best, I tried using regular rock salt and the porousness of the rock was not good enough.
I am not sure how important the ratios (like 3-1-2) are, I found the ratio of 3-1.75-2 worked well with the type of oyster shell, cement, large rock salt I was using, the important part is that the rock will not fall apart after 36 hours of curing, the large rock salt will help insure the porousness.
@mgkdcx As far as the sand goes, I could not figure out what benefit would be obtained by adding the sand, if your rocks turn out better with sand than without please let me know.
I would cure the rock in a spare tank or large trash can, with frequent fresh water water-changes, check the PH of the tap water from your water supply, when the curing live rock no longer effects the PH and the PH is back to original tap water; your rock is cured, this usually takes about 90 days.
@alexrex20 Thank you Alex, most the videos I saw were too long with too much information stretched out over 2 or 3 videos, so with a little video editing I wanted to make one that was to the point and easy to grasp, for for some reason the pop-ups I added via You Tubes video editor do not show unless viewed via a computer?
@nymxcar The local home depot caries it here in Austin, TX, what part of Georgia are you in, I use to live in ATL and know the area. In north ATL there is Lehigh Portland Cement
6555 Button Gwinnett Drive
Doraville, GA 30340-1577
(770) 441-9237
Tell me if they can direct you or if you were or were not able to find it.
@jc37224 Il try this, but I really wanted to get them in mold tonight. I was thinking in using quikee portland cement type I, all thought I wanted the white look. But I am assuming it wont matter since later on the rock will be cover with algae giving it a much better natural look.
Any idea how to start life on that rock I mean what steps after PH is OK just put in aquarium? any additives like may be algae spores or ... I am kind of new in that aquarium business Thanks!
@polievets1- I take small pieces of live rock that are covered with the types of coralline algae I desire, take a small bowl of tank water and with a small knife and do scrapings of the coralline algae into the bowl. After you are finished sprinkle the scrapings over the man made liverock an it will greatly facilitate the growth of coralline algae over the new man made rock, you will have to dose with the normal calcium and other suplimates.
Nice !! video, definitely will try do the same I need rock for my 65 gallon, prices are ridiculous so this will help who's play that music? Very cool sound .....
@macmainuk I think only african cichlids could handle the PH of the water with the crushed oyster shell, in fact my son's 90 gallon african cichlid tank has the same crushed oyster shell as the bedding.
So it has been a while since you made this video. I assume that the rock is in a tank? Where is the update video with results?
jjamontan 3 weeks ago
@jjamontan Eventually, I have a millions of things going on right now, my tank is coming along fine, I will post a follow up video as soon as I can. Sorry for the lack of a follow up video, I can't believe I even have time to write this :)
jc37224 3 weeks ago
I have a similar Rock DIY project in one of my coral magazines. And in the it said to wait about 2 weeks. Awesome vid!!
sol2reef 1 month ago
did you come up with this yourself?
Itsiebit 1 month ago
@Itsiebit I watched many video's on youtube, tried a few of them, with terrible results, so after a few trials and errors I came up with this recipe and decided to make a simple vodeo showing what I had learned.
jc37224 1 month ago
Thanks, that's the reason I made the video (after watching 100's of them). I'm not into making videos, just wanted to cut out all the fluff!
Any questions just email me Tenneseevols (at) suddenlink (dot) net , Subj "Live Rock"
jc37224 2 months ago
Nice job. Straight, to the point, no b.s.. I will be trying this myself soon. Thanx.
C81oakley 2 months ago
so does the salt just dilute and makes porous rock?
tylercoakley14 3 months ago
Exellent vid mate! Can reef crystals be used to make the rock porous or does it have to be white rock salt crystals. I'm just using normal white rock salt which is very fine and don't think will make my rock porous. I'm also using white portland cement and crushed sea shells with a mixing ratio of 3-1-2 [shells-cement-salt]. Is it wise to mix a bit of sand in it also?
Will this type of rock break down in a salt water tank over time and leech back into the water coloum?
Sorry for all the Q's mate
mgkdcx 5 months ago
@mgkdcx As far as the salt goes; The large rock salt crystals for water softeners seems to be the best, I tried using regular rock salt and the porousness of the rock was not good enough.
I am not sure how important the ratios (like 3-1-2) are, I found the ratio of 3-1.75-2 worked well with the type of oyster shell, cement, large rock salt I was using, the important part is that the rock will not fall apart after 36 hours of curing, the large rock salt will help insure the porousness.
jc37224 5 months ago
@mgkdcx As far as the sand goes, I could not figure out what benefit would be obtained by adding the sand, if your rocks turn out better with sand than without please let me know.
I would cure the rock in a spare tank or large trash can, with frequent fresh water water-changes, check the PH of the tap water from your water supply, when the curing live rock no longer effects the PH and the PH is back to original tap water; your rock is cured, this usually takes about 90 days.
jc37224 5 months ago
@mgkdcx My email is TennesseeVols (at) Suddenlink (dot) net
jc37224 5 months ago
thanks for taking the time to make this video. this is the best DIY Live Rock video on youtube. :)
alexrex20 5 months ago
@alexrex20 Thank you Alex, most the videos I saw were too long with too much information stretched out over 2 or 3 videos, so with a little video editing I wanted to make one that was to the point and easy to grasp, for for some reason the pop-ups I added via You Tubes video editor do not show unless viewed via a computer?
Anyways, thank you for the comment.
jc37224 5 months ago
By the way I stay in Marietta by Austell and East west conn
nymxcar 5 months ago
I can't find this white portland cement here in GA. Any ideas where to find it?? Freaking home depot or lowes doesn't carry it.
nymxcar 5 months ago
@nymxcar The local home depot caries it here in Austin, TX, what part of Georgia are you in, I use to live in ATL and know the area. In north ATL there is Lehigh Portland Cement
6555 Button Gwinnett Drive
Doraville, GA 30340-1577
(770) 441-9237
Tell me if they can direct you or if you were or were not able to find it.
jc37224 5 months ago
@jc37224 Il try this, but I really wanted to get them in mold tonight. I was thinking in using quikee portland cement type I, all thought I wanted the white look. But I am assuming it wont matter since later on the rock will be cover with algae giving it a much better natural look.
nymxcar 5 months ago
did you use Lehigh 94 lb. White Portland Cement??
nymxcar 5 months ago
@nymxcar never mind!! lol after watching the whole video you answered all my questions! Thanks for this awesome video!!!
nymxcar 5 months ago
Any idea how to start life on that rock I mean what steps after PH is OK just put in aquarium? any additives like may be algae spores or ... I am kind of new in that aquarium business Thanks!
polievets1 6 months ago
@polievets1- I take small pieces of live rock that are covered with the types of coralline algae I desire, take a small bowl of tank water and with a small knife and do scrapings of the coralline algae into the bowl. After you are finished sprinkle the scrapings over the man made liverock an it will greatly facilitate the growth of coralline algae over the new man made rock, you will have to dose with the normal calcium and other suplimates.
jc37224 6 months ago
Nice !! video, definitely will try do the same I need rock for my 65 gallon, prices are ridiculous so this will help who's play that music? Very cool sound .....
polievets1 6 months ago
can this recipe be used in fresh water setup
without salt
macmainuk 6 months ago
@macmainuk I think only african cichlids could handle the PH of the water with the crushed oyster shell, in fact my son's 90 gallon african cichlid tank has the same crushed oyster shell as the bedding.
jc37224 6 months ago