Making your own live rock

Ok, so here goes. I have been watching a few vids on making my own porous rock and seeding it with live sand/ rock to spread the beneficial bacteria more efficiently. The only thing is this is actually mixed with portland type 1/2 cement. I love the fact that it offers me the chance to create the shapes I desire, however I am a bit skeptical about how this might affect the parameters of the tank. I have set up a small tub to try this out and watch the levels in this separate environment. I have live rock with coralline algae and have started the setup. I would love some feedback and I will submit some pics and tell everyone how this experiment goes.

 

I believe the biggest thing to worry about is the pH spikes. I've never made my own rock but have read about it and watched videos. I believe you must let it sit in freshwater and change the water every week for a month or so.

Hopefully people with actual experience will chime in.

 

Yes, it must be cured in freshwater first. The reason for the pH test is because it leaches impurities for which we cannot test otherwise until the portland is fully cured. Luckily those impurities upset the pH balance, so you need to check the pH and change the water weekly until the pH remains stable.

 

The videos and reading I have done about it say to put the rocks in a container with water and then monitor the pH. It is supposed to spike pretty high, but then slowly come back down to safe levels(mid 7's i believe). Like coastie said, change the water fairly frequently and monitor the pH.

 

It can take up to around 3 months for it to settle down, so be prepared to wait. You want to check the pH of the water you are using before you put it in and keep doing changes weekly as mentioned above. Once the pH stays stable to what it was before going into the container you should be good to go.

HTH and GL

 

Here is the link to what I feel is the better video I have found so far on it. DIY Live Rock - by Ed - YouTube
I wash the oyster shells before hand and I do soak them in freshwater for 2 months after the initial 24 hours setting in the sand. I have one set I have started so seeing how all goes. It is also important from what I read to check the salinity of the water to make sure the rock salt has evaporated. I just want to think of the potential. Thanks for all the responses and looking forward to hearing more feedback.

 

Do you have any pictures of what you started? I made some of my own rocks w/ portland cement & crushed oyster shells, but I haven't used it yet....actually haven't gotten my aquarium up and going yet. I'd be interested to see what your rocks look like.

 

Yeah, I'll snap some photos tomorrow and post them. I have them curing in the freshwater and have a storage tub with salt water at 1.024 running with a penguin 200 filter, heater, air pump for aeration and live rock and live sand. No fish- don't want the hassle with ammonia spikes and the works. trying to keep things real simple. Thanks to Brett for hooking me up with some nice live rock covered in coralline algae. Much appreciated. I will still keep a check on the parameters even though there is no fish in there.

 

So you want to start a reef in a storage tub?

Sorry if i got this wrong..