Building live rock???

I have been reading many posts saying that people are "making" dry rock / live rock designs ( combining smaller peices into more intresting pieces )

How is this done and what do you use to "stick'em" together ......epoxy.....silicone.....do large peices need a brace of some sort??? I am super curious to know how this is done ?

I would like to try this out

Jonathan

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there are lots of epoxies and other glues out there you can use. There is also a method (not completely sure on this one so help me out guys) of making a mold and using cement made out of aragonite sand to really make your own rock.

 

yeah thats right and then you take some GARF stuff and put it in there and it molds..its something like that..but i think i read somewhere where you have to use the garf stuff to get all the beneficial stuff in it..i bought a toadstool from a guy that bought some a company is making in new orleans..its looks different, and its hollow on the inside in a way, which is good, but its weird..you would just have to sit it to know what im talking about..also when i redo my tank im going to use it, they have some crazy shaped pieces..the dudes tank looked good too with the different all kinds of wild shapes..

 

I did a google search and came up with this site.

Poor Man's Aragocrete, Concrete Live Rock

I didn't read too much but this seems like something you were looking for. I plan on never buying rock again and just seeding something like this with what I have in the 29. I say no thank you to more hitchhikers.

 

Im with you on that one after have a small atapasia out break I'm done with live rock.

 

Live rock is a too expensive and is over rated. You might get some cool hitchhikers on it but you will also get a bunch of nuisance algaes and pests on it. I just used dry Florida base rock from reef cleaners. It turns purple and comes to life after a few months and let's you have complete control over what is going into your tank. Plus it's way cheaper.

 

ya, I don't know guys. I started, my first few tanks with all live rock and was very happy with it. Now I've started with dry rock and some live rock and imho I just don't have the diversity of fresh live rock. I love the ability to work with it dry, and if you look up the tread with the "deli sliced rock" it's just freaken soooo cool, but I'm thinking about getting a mixed pack of live rock to get some diversity. This could all just be in my head, but I think it helps.

 

Diversity in better shapes or in color? I already have anything I'd want growing on the rock for color but I do think that dry rock is not as appealing in shape, but if you make it you could make a single piece arch or something cool.

 

I don't seem to have as many different colors, I also wonder if my tank could have less bacteria diversity compared to a tank with rock from a verity of locations, but like I said this could all be in my head. I think dry rock is better than live when it comes to shapes because it's easier to glue and drill, but you defiantly could make some really amazing stuff with molds.

 

Hi Damon: mixed reviews on making live rock, I made some with portland, oyster shell, and rock salt for porosity. I made some a year and a half ago, leached it for 6 mo. then drilled and rodded (3/8 masonry bit and 1/4 driveway marker rod made of fiber glass) This works well used in conjunction with purchased live rock. It gives nearly limitless options for aquascape as one can mold the shapes you wish to incorporate. You can still epoxy them also but I like the flexibilty of loose rodding and I drill each piece from multiple angles to allow for options, and increased porosity. I use my old water from w.c.'s to cycle this rock during summer hours in a sunny tub behind the garage with a small pump to circulate. I save rubble mixed in to "seed" my diy. I would recommend using no more than 25-30% of diy rock and DO cycle a minimum of 6 months before tank introduction. jmo. im me if you want to brainstorm more. I am always game to try new things. I want to try to get some limestone slabs and cut into layers then rod these for a rock wall simulation, hand hew some caves...