Aragocrete

[wlmiller54]

Woo Hoo,
Fedex just dropped off the White Cement. That means it is time to make some Aragocrete rock tonight.

Family fun in the sand box

 

[morganatlanta]

If you haven't seen a recipe that uses salt to create voids in the rock, definitely google it. You can put handfuls of salt in to create tunnels and such, and the salt just dissolves when you soak the rock.
I tried aragocrete to make a rock wall for the back of my 125. It came out nice, but I ended up going a different way with the aquascape. Good luck and post pics.

 

[wlmiller54]

Here is the plan.... I am basically following the GARF Aragocrete process

1 Part White Portland cement - (FREEBEE!!)
.5 Part mix of crushed coral - ($2 from Craigs list)
.5 Plastic Shavings (From an old white bucket)
2 Part Crushed Oyster Shell ($9.99 from TSC)
1 Part Salt Rock - I had some

Total Cost: $12.00

I will be using a sandbox and moist sand for the bed.
2 days to setup + 5 or 6 LONG weeks to cure

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[lilrobb]

What is the plastic for????

 

[wlmiller54]

LilRobb;666638 wrote: What is the plastic for????

Per: http://www.garf.org/newreef/arag.html">http://www.garf.org/newreef/arag.html</a>
[QUOTE=]. The plastic will make the finished rocks light weight and porous. Drilling holes in black plastic pipe can make one of the best types of plastic we have found. You can experiment with the size of hole and the speed of the drill so that you create spirals of plastic. The small spirals will create airspace that will fill with water when the rock is in the reef. [/QUOTE]

 

[morganatlanta]

Watch out that the crushed oyster and coral might make the surface very sharp. I'd just stick with aragonite sand.

 

[wlmiller54]

MorganAtlanta;666658 wrote: Watch out that the crushed oyster and coral might make the surface very sharp. I'd just stick with aragonite sand.

Thanks for the tip. I will keep an eye on it.

 

[legalreefer]

Subcribed!

 

[peaches7412]

Following

 

[wlmiller54]

Completed 2 batches of rock. One with the salt and plastic, one without. The salt and plastic does make it very porous. I have a tank full of curing rock. It will be a long 5 weeks to get this to cure.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

 

[peaches7412]

Can we get pics?

 

[spike]

At least 5 weeks, frequent water changes are important. Even when the pH is low it seems like when you put the rock in saltwater there is another pH spike.

 

[wlmiller54]

1 week update.....

Rocks have been soaking for 1 week now. I have the majority in a bath tub, and the rest are soaking in the back of the toilet tank. Several water changes a day.

I have not tested the Ph because I am sure it is too high to test.

I made more than I needed for the simple fact that some won't come out well, and won't be used. Some will be extremely usable. I also added a lot of holes for frag plugs.

Pictures Attached:

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- My son made this one, it is a cave base, with two arms extending from the top.

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- soaking - week 1

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- One of the arches

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- Some of the detail - You can see the plastic, and caves

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- A pretty cool dimensional base rock

 

[wlmiller54]

Give or take, yes. I did a small batch with just 1 Part Cement + 4 Part Shell

 

[wlmiller54]

Getting close to the 5 week mark, and the PH is still over 10 on the Aragrocrete.

I have continued to do daily or at least every other day water changes. I am really getting anxious to get this going.

I did get my tank setup with a DSB. Until the rock is ready and the funds are available I have to settle with just a picture of a fish.

- William -

 

[wlmiller54]

Day 37, and I am still getting at above 10 ph on the fresh water test. The tap water I am curing is high to begin with (8), but I am still getting elevated ph over a 24 hour period.

<ul>
<li>I read somewhere where curing with warm to hot water may speed curing so I am using hot water now instead of cold.</li>
<li>Some of the rock remains in the toilet tank so it gets a water change several times a day</li>
<li>The main bunch of rocks are in a bath tub and gets a change every day or two</li>
<li>I am extremely happy with the shape and look of several pieces of rock. I am really looking forward to seeing how they do once we get the tanks seeded</li>
</ul>
- William -

 

[wlmiller54]

Day: 51, Week: 7

Rocks are still very high pH. I called Leroy at GARF and spoke to him about the curing time for these. He mentioned that Ga does have a high pH and it will take a couple of weeks longer to finish the proper cure.

I did put water in the tank, and ordered some Grunge and Janitors to get the tank going. Grunge arrived and Janitors will show up next week.

- William -