Experienced Aragrocrete rock needed - Aquarium Advice

ChazYork · 12-20-2005, 03:39 PM

I was thinking of trying to build my own rock, specifically a one piece arch from aragrocrete mix. I got the ingredients online, but it only calls for low alkalinity cement...

Does anyone have experience with this? and would anyone know if the lye or any other chemicals in the cement have an effect on the water parameters?

Help or suggestions wanted

12-20-2005, 04:34 PM

I believe it is Riverside White cement that they use at GARF. You may be able to pick a bag up at a pool supply warehouse. Whether or not is leaches harmful chemicals in the water, I don't know.[acronym:0914e07a98="Just My Humble Opinion"]JMHO[/acronym:0914e07a98], by the time you pay the $22 or more for the cement, and $40 a bag for the araganite sand, your time! etc... it is less hassle to just buy live rock from an online distributor. You can also have your rock in the tank much faster.

Phyl · 12-20-2005, 04:40 PM

One of the guys in our reef club was making his own rock... I think it was about 6 months or so ago. His first batch was unreasonably heavy and not very pourous. I think for his second attempt he tried putting salt into the concrete but this has reported ill effects on the curing process. The third time I think he used pasta, lol.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...12#post4854812

That thread has some of the history on the rock making.

Brenden · 12-20-2005, 04:47 PM

Chaz, sounds like you may be better off glueing your [acronym:5dff093ae2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5dff093ae2] together to make a arch. Anyone have direct experience with a good glue that can be used to glue [acronym:5dff093ae2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5dff093ae2] together to make a arch?

12-20-2005, 04:56 PM

Epoxy works great. comes in white, black, pink and red. There also is green and grey...

Here is a link to Marine Depot...

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_....asp?ast=&key=

Brenden · 12-20-2005, 05:24 PM

I had recommended that to him also timbo. I was hoping someone would chime in with standard epoxy from lowes is safe?...and cheaper.

mykpoz · 12-20-2005, 05:27 PM

That was recommended to me, as others have used it for years without any effects, and the packaging is spot on to many of the brands in the [acronym:aeadae7834="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:aeadae7834]

12-21-2005, 10:23 AM

That is a good question.. JB Weld is great stuff and cures under water.. I do notice that when using it on outside/vehicle maint... it smells heavy on the sulfur side.. I haven't talked to anyone wh has used it...

swissfish · 12-21-2005, 01:02 PM

You can use the epoxy from [acronym:35850cc2d8="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:35850cc2d8], it's a stick wich you have to cut and then mix it between your fingers. I think it's caled marine epoxy comes in a tube and shows some kind of pool repair on the picture on the outside.
I love that stuff!

Jermz79 · 12-21-2005, 03:34 PM

I use the same stuff too! I can't remeber the name for the life of me right now, but I now that you acn find it in the paint section at [acronym:2f0c681ad8="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:2f0c681ad8] ... right in front of the paint counter!

and swissfish is correct it has a picture of a hand repairing a pool on the front and the package is kind of blueish/green colored!

Good Stuff!

12-20-2005, 03:39 PM	#1
ChazYork Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: York PA Posts: 72	Experienced Aragrocrete rock needed I was thinking of trying to build my own rock, specifically a one piece arch from aragrocrete mix. I got the ingredients online, but it only calls for low alkalinity cement... Does anyone have experience with this? and would anyone know if the lye or any other chemicals in the cement have an effect on the water parameters? Help or suggestions wanted

12-20-2005, 04:40 PM	#3
Phyl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,107 Images: 30	One of the guys in our reef club was making his own rock... I think it was about 6 months or so ago. His first batch was unreasonably heavy and not very pourous. I think for his second attempt he tried putting salt into the concrete but this has reported ill effects on the curing process. The third time I think he used pasta, lol. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...12#post4854812 That thread has some of the history on the rock making. __________________ Phyllis Join the NJ Reef Club Today! Saving the world's reefs one living room at a time! Next meeting: Eric Borneman, Dana Riddle, & Charles Mazel on October 25, 2008

12-20-2005, 04:47 PM	#4
Brenden Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 3,876 Images: 32	Chaz, sounds like you may be better off glueing your [acronym:5dff093ae2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5dff093ae2] together to make a arch. Anyone have direct experience with a good glue that can be used to glue [acronym:5dff093ae2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:5dff093ae2] together to make a arch? __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist. If guns kill people...Spoons make Michael Moore fat.

12-20-2005, 05:24 PM	#6
Brenden Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 3,876 Images: 32	I had recommended that to him also timbo. I was hoping someone would chime in with standard epoxy from lowes is safe?...and cheaper. __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist. If guns kill people...Spoons make Michael Moore fat.

12-20-2005, 05:27 PM	#7
mykpoz Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pensacola Posts: 478	That was recommended to me, as others have used it for years without any effects, and the packaging is spot on to many of the brands in the [acronym:aeadae7834="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:aeadae7834] __________________ 75g w/ 30g sump, 160# [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym], 60# sand: Inverts =18 turbos, 30 nassirus's, 40 blue leg's, 5 emeralds, 1 CBS, 1 skunk cleaner, 1 brown gulf shrimp? and various other [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] hitch hikers yet un discovered or un-[acronym="Identify"]ID[/acronym]'ed Fish=1 yellow tang, 1 yellow headed jawfish, 1 pink/blue shrimpgoby, 2 perc clowns. Future fish = 1 sixline, 1 lawnmower blenny

12-20-2005, 04:34 PM	#2
Guest Posts: n/a	I believe it is Riverside White cement that they use at GARF. You may be able to pick a bag up at a pool supply warehouse. Whether or not is leaches harmful chemicals in the water, I don't know.[acronym:0914e07a98="Just My Humble Opinion"]JMHO[/acronym:0914e07a98], by the time you pay the $22 or more for the cement, and $40 a bag for the araganite sand, your time! etc... it is less hassle to just buy live rock from an online distributor. You can also have your rock in the tank much faster.

12-20-2005, 04:56 PM	#5
Guest Posts: n/a	Epoxy works great. comes in white, black, pink and red. There also is green and grey... Here is a link to Marine Depot... http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_....asp?ast=&key=

12-21-2005, 10:23 AM	#8
Guest Posts: n/a	That is a good question.. JB Weld is great stuff and cures under water.. I do notice that when using it on outside/vehicle maint... it smells heavy on the sulfur side.. I haven't talked to anyone wh has used it...

12-21-2005, 01:02 PM	#9
swissfish Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 306 Images: 5	You can use the epoxy from [acronym:35850cc2d8="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:35850cc2d8], it's a stick wich you have to cut and then mix it between your fingers. I think it's caled marine epoxy comes in a tube and shows some kind of pool repair on the picture on the outside. I love that stuff! __________________ Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, No one but ourselves can free our minds. Bob Marley

12-21-2005, 03:34 PM	#10
Jermz79 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 1,157	I use the same stuff too! I can't remeber the name for the life of me right now, but I now that you acn find it in the paint section at [acronym:2f0c681ad8="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:2f0c681ad8] ... right in front of the paint counter! and swissfish is correct it has a picture of a hand repairing a pool on the front and the package is kind of blueish/green colored! Good Stuff! __________________ God grant me the serenity to accept the thing's I can not change, the courage to change the thing's I can and the wisdom to know the difference! R.I.P Walena K. Cox 7/7/62 - 8/11/2002

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