Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > Reef

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-13-2008, 02:10 PM
liftcrew liftcrew is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Okanagan
Posts: 6
liftcrew is on a distinguished road
Default Another new member

Hi everyone
I have caught the reef bug again, set up a new tank, and broke the bank.
Same old story.
I was hoping to get some input from those experienced with home made concrete rock.
Recipes?
Styles?
Curing techniques?
PH woes?
Any experiences you may have had, good or bad.
Also looking for more Zooanthus if you are overgrown and wish to sell.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-13-2008, 02:47 PM
phillybean phillybean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kelowna
Posts: 270
phillybean is on a distinguished road
Default

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1156212

Good information on the first page.

I was going to make my own rock, but decided just to buy some off a local instead. If you give it time, you can find rock on canreef or castanet for $5/lb.

What size tank do you have?

I don't have anything to sell/trade right now, but I think we'll be doing a frag swap in the early Spring.

And welcome to Canreef
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-13-2008, 02:54 PM
new but handy new but handy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: vernon b.c.
Posts: 303
new but handy is on a distinguished road
Default

Morning.
Use portland cement mixed with reef sand also if you mix in rock salt (driveway salt), after you cure the rock it all dissolves and leaves very porous rock. The rock has to be cured for along time(I left mine for 4 months)
I cured mine in a rubbermade bin full of fresh water, I also did a water change every week or so.
If you use rock salt, you have to be carefull how much, or the rock just falls apart
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-13-2008, 04:17 PM
reef bound's Avatar
reef bound reef bound is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 129
reef bound is on a distinguished road
Default

I think ARGAN from Kamloops made some of his own rock as well. Maybe PM him.
__________________
65 gallon mixed reef and 34 gallon mixed reef
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-13-2008, 04:28 PM
Bugsy's Avatar
Bugsy Bugsy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Vernon B.C.
Posts: 185
Bugsy is on a distinguished road
Default

Welcome to Canreef.....

Where do you live in the Okanagan??

Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-13-2008, 04:52 PM
liftcrew liftcrew is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Okanagan
Posts: 6
liftcrew is on a distinguished road
Default

I am near Penticton.
I have set up 65 gal in a 36 inch high tank. 400 watt MH 20K, skimmer, 400 gph wave maker, deep gravel bed cranking 800 gph and an outside nitrate chamber.
Used concrete, coral sand, and ground styrofoam to duplicate a fave dive site. The concrete reef was done in three stacking pieces and cured for 8 weeks in running water.
The ph spike, when I went to salt water, was impressive. I was two weeks and a 50% water change before I got the ph down to 8.3. Seems to be fine now and several small mushrooms have taken residence on the structure. I seeded the tank with 40 lbs of small uncured liverock. I am thinking that estimates of a one month cure time you read about is cutting it a little close and the 4 - 8 months is closer to the safe truth.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-13-2008, 07:06 PM
argan's Avatar
argan argan is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kamloops (Brock)
Posts: 189
argan is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to argan
Default

Hi there, welcome to the forums!

I used the Basic GARF recipe with a little less cement and added sand and Water Softener Salt instead of Driveway salt.

I did that because the Softener salt is fit for human consumption, so i figured its more fish safe.

Here is some links to threads on here

My Build thread

MMLR

More with pics

Reefer Rob's tank has some nice DIY rock and links to his pics are on the MMLR thread, 3rd page
__________________
My Other Car is a Reef Tank

Last edited by argan; 12-13-2008 at 07:09 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-13-2008, 09:49 PM
brizzo's Avatar
brizzo brizzo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kelowna BC
Posts: 504
brizzo is on a distinguished road
Default

Welcome aboard! Funny, I was wondering a couple days ago if there were any salt stores in Pentiction...

So wheres the pictures?
__________________
28g Nano Cube drilled with 13g sump in stock stand. Vertex IN80 Skimmer, Phosban 150 Reactor, Apex Controller, DIY LED with stock hood, dimmable
Established March 2006
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-13-2008, 11:20 PM
liftcrew liftcrew is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Okanagan
Posts: 6
liftcrew is on a distinguished road
Default

Total pet is in Penticton and has good deals during their 2 for one sale.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-15-2008, 05:31 PM
pinner_28 pinner_28 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: penticton
Posts: 24
pinner_28 is on a distinguished road
Default

welcome aboard lift crew
i'm also in penticton and have some leftover base rook if your in need of some
Terry
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
concrete rock


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 03:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.