Cement rocks

[Cory]

Sounds great.

Got any pictures?

Ill post some when im home

 

[Cory]

Here it is started over with frags after i got dinos under control.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Nice!

 

[Reyco77]

I would worry that the rock would disintegrate over time.

For example, when installing a water softener in a home, it back washes the resin with saltwater to regenerate it. On the installation guide, they specifically tell you not to plumb it into the homes plumbing if you are on a septic system. This is because that most tanks are cement and saltwater will corrode cement overtime.

I would think the same issue would exist for cement DIY rocks. That said, I have not done research on this and I know DIY rocks are growing in popularity. I'm sure there are some users our there with firsthand experience that can advise on how they hold up.

If they do disintegrate, no amount of freshwater rinse and soak will get remove the aluminum as new rock will be exposed over time since the cement is dense and not porous like reef rock is.

Hope my rambling helps!

Totally agree. Cement bricks use to be desintegrated in mi breeding cichlids aquarium system

 

[Paul B]

Some of my combination cement/rock rocks are over 40 years old. No decomposition yet.





Most of my newer rocks like this are hollow.

 

[dadarara]

please advise anyone with experience

making my own rocks.
1 to 1.5 parts of portland II white
1 part clean sea sand
3 parts of perlite medium grains

this mixture is the best, visually wise, option I liked. mixing crashed corals or clams was not nice.
my build of rocks took lots of time. layers on top of layers and additions branches etc..

The thing is , it was for 2 months in the open air before I put it in the water. And now there is no residue in the water. and I measure the PH as ~8+
SO what does it mean? the process is done ? no need to keep it in the water anymore ??
I was prepared for weeks of leeching out scum gunk and stuff and the PH of 11 and up.
I know from reading that people say if you leave the rock in an open air, the kuring process takes much less time.
BUT IN MY CASE , there is no kuring needed ?

 

[Cory]

please advise anyone with experience

making my own rocks.
1 to 1.5 parts of portland II white
1 part clean sea sand
3 parts of perlite medium grains

this mixture is the best, visually wise, option I liked. mixing crashed corals or clams was not nice.
my build of rocks took lots of time. layers on top of layers and additions branches etc..

The thing is , it was for 2 months in the open air before I put it in the water. And now there is no residue in the water. and I measure the PH as ~8+
SO what does it mean? the process is done ? no need to keep it in the water anymore ??
I was prepared for weeks of leeching out scum gunk and stuff and the PH of 11 and up.
I know from reading that people say if you leave the rock in an open air, the kuring process takes much less time.
BUT IN MY CASE , there is no kuring needed ?

You used cement? If you haven't soaked it it must release alkalinity and ph in water.

 

[Paul B]

I would soak it in water for at least a couple of weeks. Most of my rocks are hollow cement like that