rockinreefs 125

[ROCKINREEF]

hi all, just started to get things going after my move. just fill up tank tonight, and working on setting up a 55 gallon refuguim with a mrc2 skimmer. got alot of work ahead of me, gotta skin the frame stand with exotic wood. good thing im a cabinet maker,lol. will post as i go along.

 

[Akwarius]

Nice start! I like the title on the trim. It looks like the stand is built well so that it wont literally be a "rocking reef".

 

[ROCKINREEF]

thanks, but there will be lots of rock in reef,lol. gonna put alot of my custom rock in that i make.
some samples what will be going in

 

[xmetalfan99]

thanks, but there will be lots of rock in reef,lol. gonna put alot of my custom rock in that i make.

Do you have any photos of the rock you made? I love the idea of making your own rock to the dimensions that you want, but have yet to give it a try.

 

[ROCKINREEF]

just posted some pics

 

[Akwarius]

Those rock structures are very cool. What kind of aragocrete mixture are you using?

 

[ROCKINREEF]

crushed, like medium size, not sand

 

[Akwarius]

Then what concrete mixture do you use and is it adhered to some sort of armature?

 

[ROCKINREEF]

gonna also put in some custom frag shelfs like these in there too

 

[ROCKINREEF]

no armatures at all.

 

[xmetalfan99]

That frag shelf is cool looking. Looks like it belongs in the tank and coming from a hidden ceiling like in a cave.

 

[Akwarius]

How is the shelf affixed to the tank? It looks like it would be heavy.

 

[ROCKINREEF]

yes, the frag shelf hangs on the rim of the tank, and make how deep i want it to from the surface of the water. i use eggcrate

 

[ROCKINREEF]

heres a set up i did for a 20 gallon

 

[Akwarius]

yes, the frag shelf hangs on the rim of the tank, and make how deep i want it to from the surface of the water. i use eggcrate

Oh, so it protrudes from the water then? Do you see any salt creep from that? I love the 20g setup- still plenty of space for swimming.

 

[ROCKINREEF]

no salt creep at all

 

[Akwarius]

Thats a very unique idea. I like the idea of making your own rock, much more sustainable.

 

[ROCKINREEF]

like this

 

[ROCKINREEF]

cheaper too make than buy live rock, that rock had life in 3 weeks.

 

[Akwarius]

Thanks for showing the work in progress. How long does it typically take to cure and become reef-safe?