DIY rock

ok here's some rock. I've got about 9 more pcs. in the thing hardening. I'll take pics of them tomorrow night. I'm also getting crushed oyster shells from our local f&s cheap!!!!! so..I've got about 50# left of the portland cement and with a 50# bag of the shells, I'll be able to make a bunch more! I've got a hard plastic kiddie pool that I'm going to set up out back to cure this rock in.

the smaller pieccs of rock will be cured too and with glue they can be used to build up or out

as I'm making them I'm figuring out different ways of making them and they are getting more and more complex. I can't wait to pull out the others, but I do have to wait at least 24 hours or they'll break.

 

Girl!!! You have got some nice cavework going on there.

 

just wait till I pull out the pieces tomorrow I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I think it's gonna be gooooooood!;D


btw thanks!!!

 

pics!!!!

I'm going to get the crushed oyster shells to do more today. I'm using the old 55 gal to cure them all in..

whooops not the whole thing LOL you really don't need to see all my pics

gotta do them on here.

 

VERY cool!!! Nice "tonga" looking pieces in there! Can't wait to see them in your tank!

BTW--You're going to have to PM me how you did this, later when I set up my 175G (that is still in the dream stage) I'm going to have to try it. I am not paying $9 a pound for 200 lbs of rock!!!

Gin

 

Thank You! and I have an even better way of doing the "tonga" rock. I did my roots today and you know the plastic gloves that come with the kit....well, I figure latex will peel off really easily, so, I'm gonna get a bunch of them, cut off the fingers and then make the tonga shapes. To attach them together I'll just add the mix in the center and place them around to look like tonga I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also thought about using dry dog food to hold up caves better. It will just get gooey in water and wash off after the rock dries.


it's VERY easy! just have to have the patience for 10-12 weeks of curing;D
wooooooo hoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

portland cement 80# for I think 28.00(?) can't really remember, but I haven't even used a quarter of the bag yet
crushed oyster shells 50# for 23.00
water change once a week 15.00(guestimate) x 10 weeks avg 150.00

total monetary investment 201.00 if I did the math correct. for a whole lot of rock in the shapes I want!

oh yeah the floor tiles are 12x12 to give you some kind of visual reference

 

Wow, Cuttingras, you ROCK!!

 

thanks dude!

 

$150 for water changes? are you curing in saltwater? i wouldn't think that's necessary?

the rocks look cool, i want to make a "bridge" to sit on my existing rockwork... maybe this weekend

 

I really have no idea what water costs, we just pay the bill. gotta have it. hubby does that stuff. plus, I do use about 30 gallons to cover over the rock about 4" in my 55 gal

btw...I bought the crushed oyster shell today and it was $9.99 for a 50# bag at my lhs. don't get chicken scratch, it has feed in it. gonna make more rocks tomorrow! wooooooooo hooooooooooo!