diy live rock

[wierdale24]

so to save my self a bunch of money and to add creativity to the tank ive decided to make some live rock. i have a few questions to start with should i leave the rocks in from the cement i got or sift them out plus instead of using crushed oyster shells can i just use crushed coral substrate as it's easier to find and i think it will look better. right now i have quickcrette general use cement 80lbs and quickcrette playground sand for molding im going to get the substrate tomorow so let me know if i cant use crushed coral by tomorow morning. once i start this i will take pictures and everything.

 

[pat8you]

Don't know much about making LR but i know that it needs to be porus to increase the surface area for the bacteria to grow on as well as pods and other critters make their home inside the rock.

 

[wierdale24]

yeah i got some water softener pellets to and the crushed coral should be more porous then crushed oyster.

 

[roka64]

I don't know if you can use that cement...look into this:
Reef Aquarium Farming News #15 p 1

 

[wierdale24]

it looks ok to me but ill look into it. http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/diy-rock-104715.html
he used just general use cement. i don't see to much of a difference except it might be a higher ph since the type garf used had a little lower ph i guess ill just have to soak it longer.

 

[wierdale24]

oh and i found out garf used quickcrette before but stopped because it was flaking so ill try it but if it doesn't work then not much of a loss only have 1 snail and 4 crabs http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/t_miller_052498.html