Agrocrete Rocks!

mameloot · Mar 27, 2006

Not meaning to steal the tread...
...but if anyone is interested, I have a couple big bags of oyster shell available, pick up only, on the East side of Detroit. $5 each.
Oyster shell is a popular agrocrete ingredient as it can offer some natural calcium and PH buffering.

I can't check them, as I'm at work, but I'm guessing they're at least 40 lb bags.

Michael

PS...we now return you to our regularly scheduled thread-devil

Reefdaddy · Mar 27, 2006

To make caves I use the GARF method, I take a rubber glove and inflate it, Then place in the Box of sand and place the crete around the glove till its covered and then brace with sand until covered. The figers of the glove actually make little holes troughout and get spider web effect. Its rather fun to make if you dont mind digging in a sandbox.

Taylor_made · Mar 27, 2006

Great job Tek!!! thanks for sharing, very interesting, where I work we make tools for sand castings, you guys do not know it but you are foundrymen! Again good job!

pista01 · Mar 27, 2006

Have you tried to make reinforced pieces? I'd like to make some larger pieces that will act as a base for the rest of the rock, with legs that extend through the sand to the bottom. Mostly to keep the weight of the rocks off the sand so they won't shift.

tekknoschtev · Mar 27, 2006

pista01 said:
Have you tried to make reinforced pieces? I'd like to make some larger pieces that will act as a base for the rest of the rock, with legs that extend through the sand to the bottom. Mostly to keep the weight of the rocks off the sand so they won't shift.

I personally havent, however, I've seen it done. People make platforms with agrocrete legs so as to have a more efficnent DSB (more available sand surface area with the rocks lifted off the bottom).

Reefdaddy said:
To make caves I use the GARF method, I take a rubber glove and inflate it, Then place in the Box of sand and place the crete around the glove till its covered and then brace with sand until covered. The figers of the glove actually make little holes troughout and get spider web effect. Its rather fun to make if you dont mind digging in a sandbox.

I ALWAYS forget the glove method. I have to remember that one for the next batch(es). As for playing in the sand, I can say its much more fun than some of the things we reefers (as a whole) do for our tanks.

sambo · Mar 28, 2006

I supported nearly my entire structure on three pieces of aragrocrete. Each piece was placed on PVC "pilings" which rest on the bottom of the tank for stability. It does touch in a few more spots, but 90% is supported on just 10 of these pilings.

PVC Pilings

Support pieces

Entire structure

RobMoll860 · Mar 28, 2006

The rocks are really nice. I've been trying to figure out how to make my own rocks now for awhile. One thing has me confused though, when you say you dont have enough 'toilet space' I assume you are putting the 'raw' rocks in the filling tank to keep water flowing over them and dissolve the salts?

tekknoschtev · Mar 28, 2006

Well, once you first make them, the concrete will spike your pH (I measured a pH of 12 out of the tank water after 1 day of curing). The salts are melted within a few days generally, but the pH over time (with water changes) will stabalize. Generally it takes us 3-4 weeks for the pH to drop - the more waterchanges the better, and I've heard that aerating the water helps as well.

The fill tank for a toilet gets many water changes daily (somtimes hourly

).

sambo · Mar 28, 2006

If you make a larger batch, you can cure it in ice chests. I used two large Igloos and a couple of MJ1200's for circulation/aeration. Changed my water weekly for about two months.

DLBerlin · Mar 28, 2006

Sounds like a good use for RO/DI wastewater?
Slow constant waterchange.

tekknoschtev · Mar 28, 2006

DlBerlin said:
Sounds like a good use for RO/DI wastewater?
Slow constant waterchange.

If we didnt use it for laundry, I'd be right there using it for that! Currently, my mom takes about 5 hours to do a load of laundry (she fills it first AND catches it at the rinse cycle when I need lots of water for water changes or up in Lansing).

wrestler669 · Apr 10, 2006

So is it safe to say that this doesn't need to be cured in ro or salt water just cure it in any water for 4-6 weeks and it should be ready to go. Also is the rock salt you are using just regular rock salt from the grocery store and when you say parts is part=to cup thinking about making some of this and want to check.

tekknoschtev · Apr 10, 2006

I just cure it in tap water, or RO waste water. I think curing it in RO water or Saltwater would just be a waste

And parts is volume. I just used a measuring cup filled to the top was one part.

The rock salt is just normal rock salt for use on driveways available (or at least it was, I dont know if it'd still be available) at Home Depot, Meijer, etc.

Agrocrete Rocks!

mameloot

Reefdaddy

Taylor_made

pista01

tekknoschtev

sambo

RobMoll860

tekknoschtev

sambo

DLBerlin

tekknoschtev

wrestler669

tekknoschtev

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