Chadderboxx 240 build

[chadderboxx]

How long are you guys giving your DIY rock to cure? I have been doing 30 days in a black bin, being sure to keep the humidity up and then 30 days in freshwater with daily changes. Its painful to wait a full 2 months to use the rock, but I'm terrified of messing up my system just to cut corners.

I went to one HD in my area to get white portland cement 2 times and got nothing out of it and then went to another store and got a sack special ordered for me easy peasy. After using both the white looks better initially, but the grey colors up just the same in very little time and I kind of feel that the grey is stronger, but it could just be a batch to batch thing. My recipe is usually 1 part cement, 2 parts aragonite (or playsand if its just for frags) and 2 parts perlite (puffed glass sold at nurseries) to add bulk and cut down on weight.

I'm giving it 24h to cure and straight into the soak tub. Concrete will cure in water the same as in air and will continue to cure for 1y but I figured 60 days in water or untill water ph is 7. Post up some pic y'all are more then welcome give me some ideals! And patch to patch this yes my first piece broke in 2 think I made it to dry but still works as a base.




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[amppdx]

I'm working on a Pagoda style soon. I'm thinking 3 layers with a replacable slanted roof.

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

Ya I will wait about 60 to 90 days but i let my rock cure in direct sunlight. from sun up to sun down and after about 90 days i put it in my Live Rock Tank witch is a 95 gallon tub i got from a yard sale for 5 bucks. I have 3 100 gallon Hang on back filters on it. and when i do a water change in my tank i put the water in the tub and i also put in some cured live rock and after about 9 weeks to 13 weeks I test the water and if it is good to go than booyaa

 

[amppdx]

I made a little table to practice with before I try the pagoda layout. I cut a piece of styrofoam out and then packed it in wet sand, pulled the styrofoam out and started dropping the mix in.

 

[chadderboxx]

Dude I like that! Just make another shelf. Piece what you think?

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[sexycorals]

ugly toes..

 

[chadderboxx]

The caves

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[chadderboxx]

ugly toes..

Lol and I'm flat footed


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[Lilmatty5dimes]

I made a little table to practice with before I try the pagoda layout. I cut a piece of styrofoam out and then packed it in wet sand, pulled the styrofoam out and started dropping the mix in.

That's a pretty sick piece.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

The caves

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Those are going to be nice. Keep showing some pics need more ideas for when I start making some.

 

[chadderboxx]

Those are going to be nice. Keep showing some pics need more ideas for when I start making some.

I didn't want to use PVC and make it look " Unnatural" so I just used sand on top of the rock and I will say it looks rugged and very natural. So hopefull the fish will love it as much as I do. Need to get more Sand ran out today and more crushed oyster shell maybe have enought for 2 more batches


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[Bluesaltwater87]

dude nice rock pieces. if you can try to make an arch it is a pain but if you can pull it off it would be awesome

 

[amppdx]

After doing a bit more with larger pieces I have to say that I am really impressed with using wet sand as a casting material. I thought it would cause problems, but it really seems to allow for building forms and letting the rock retain texture. Nice pieces there Chadderboxx.

 

[Fatmike92]

looking awesome man! im loving the DIY rock. you are making me want to do it in the future

 

[chadderboxx]

Does anyone like this or no It's a toss up for me.

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[Swine]

Personally I just like letting the tank do the work and color up the rock. You notice coraline better and its cool to see the tank change. I bought a bunch of rock from bulk reef supply and am just letting it do its thing. But that's just me. For some reason I don't like the all purple rocked tanks. I'm pretty new to the hobby and that might change

sent from my phone.

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

I let my tank do the color on my rocks because I think that it looks better that way. it looks like purple algae and not a purple stain.

 

[chadderboxx]

Finished

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[Dmmz]

Looks great

 

[chadderboxx]

Looks great

Thanks I'm shooting for Monday to install the tank need 1 more person to help


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