DIY Dry Rock aka Aragocrete/Oystercrete (fresh water soak day1)

I decided to shoot a quick video of my fresh water soaking process, which needs to be done to leach out all the bad high ph from the cement process. This will take anywhere from 1-2 months depending on frequency of water changes. My pH is instantly over the top of the range of my test kit (8.8+) the moment the water touches the rock. I have a ways to go. Updating this frequently would be boring for everyone involved, so I will probably just shoot some updates when I see my ph going down some just as a sort of guideline for anyone interested in making this rock.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• aragocrete
• oystercrete
• diy
• dry
• live
• rock
• saltwater
• marine
• aquarium

[revnobody]

If you used salt in your recipe the white you see floating on the top is likely coming from the anti-clumping agents in the salt (not lyme). It will not break down in water and isn't harmful to fish. As long as your PH is safe the rock is safe for the tank. It will likely leach the white stuff for some time even after the PH has stabilized.

[LordoftheReef]

@revnobody no salt. THat stuff is most definitely very basic. It fizzed like mad when I introduced an acid to it.

[ZurichONE95]

where'd you get that rubber maid tub? Looks like a horse trough haha

[LordoftheReef]

That is actually exactly what it is. But they make for great sumps, which is why I bought it. It is predrilled with a bulkhead *although my bulkhead failed me) and will not bow like the less expensive rubbermaids. It is also food grade, so no leaching. If you can score one used I have seen them for about 30 bucks. I had to get mine from a farm supply for 60.

[belavet]

@br0ken68 I have stopped doing daily water changes since I found them to be a waste. I left it for about a week at a time, shop vacuumed the precipitate up and kept it going. It took about three months. (answering this from another one of my accounts)

[br0ken68]

I've been doing this for about 3 weeks doing daily water changes and still getting the same stuff you are. How long did it take you to get rid it all.