DIY Live Rock

mornewil said:
Nice Diy. Perfect for the guys with the big tanks. Can make nice large rocks with your own shapes etc:thumbup:
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I saw so many DIY video's but I liked this one the most as it was so straight forward and basic...I always noticed with me..:blush:.. that I "grasp" something better when I have "visual info/instructions" as apposed to pictures...:blush:
 
Nice video @belindamotion ,, ur up way to early on a Sunday morning.... ;)

I had a go at this DIY thing, but I used styrofoam to mold ... Thought I'd be able to mold to my exact desire... Came out ok, but a little more practice should make it perfect....

Have u given it a go?
 
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belindamotion said:
I saw so many DIY video's but I liked this one the most as it was so straight forward and basic...I always noticed with me..:blush:.. that I "grasp" something better when I have "visual info/instructions" as apposed to pictures...:blush:
Click to expand...

True. Will definitely attempt this if i go big again.;)
 
from experience the oyster shells will give off too much Phosphates into the tank, if you're prepared for that good DIY, if not, use crushed medium sized coral instead of the oyster, and a lot less water.

Also a problem with this is the live rock won't be very porous. Well, not as porous as crushed coral.

Maybe I should do a vid?
 
Wes said:
from experience the oyster shells will give off too much Phosphates into the tank, if you're prepared for that good DIY, if not, use crushed medium sized coral instead of the oyster, and a lot less water.

Also a problem with this is the live rock won't be very porous. Well, not as porous as crushed coral.

Maybe I should do a vid?
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Yes please make a Video..:)..and you are correct about the Oyster shell...I wouldn't use all the "ingredients" in this Video..I just wanted the "visual info" to this ..to help me better understand the mixing and adding of the ingredients... I figured this Video and this Thread..
http://www.marineaquariumsa.com/showthread.php?p=348958#348958
would help me make some decent DIY Rock..:blush:
 
I used coarse crushed coral and marbelite,mixed it together,and added the coarse salt just before moulding. About 4weeks after construction,it was cured,and it is now sitting in my tank.
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Good morning peeps!!! Happy monday !! :whistling:

So here's a few pics of what I've tried...

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And the end result:

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The sand will fill to the lip of the above picture,,, and you can see I tried to create a nice little cave like section at the bottom left section...

It didn't come out quite as I expected it to, but I suppose I'll have to practice my 3D thinking skills... ;)

Let me know what you guys think...
 
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frankie fish said:
I used coarse crushed coral and marbelite,mixed it together,and added the coarse salt just before moulding. About 4weeks after construction,it was cured,and it is now sitting in my tank.
Click to expand...

Very nice!!! :thumbup:
 
Thanks @Ayoob ;)

That was just a test pice... This weekend it's time to start sculpting the large pices... Once will be as big as 40cm by 20 cm... :eek:
 
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Any updates from the guys who have made DIY rock?

Would you do it again, have you done it a few times since your first batch?

If its in your tank, what have your results been, Pics are worth a thousand words I have heard ;p
 
One of the main issues with DIY live rock is making it porous as it is inside the LR (in anaerobic areas) where the biological magic happens..

This morning while I was mopping up a water spill caused by me forgetting the RO unit on overnight :( the thought came to me "why not use rubbery sponge mop heads as part of the DIY LR?"
The Mop heads coudl be cut to say 15cm sections and buried in the artificial live rock while it is being made, with one end exposed to the surface to allow free ingress of water.
 
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