Make Your Own Live Rock

[jaylam]

Has anyone on here done it, im interested but would not know where to start.

 

[lewiss]

Do you mean make? or seed dead live rock?

 

[dayzofspeed]

i have read up on this and although its quite simple to do and obviously cheaper than lfs LR its also quite time consuming i also read mixed reviews about it. one advantage it does have however is you are only limited by your own imagination regarding the shapes you can create, and unless you can self seed it by storing it in the ocean you still need some natural live rock to to seed it
this is a link to the 1st one on google after searching diy live rock..... http/www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reef-eden.net%2Fdiy_9.htm&ei=wHwMTqS3EMfBhAfDoNzsDQ&usg=AFQjCNHth-uglgvrzEKT65T86Vsw55ttNg
p.s i decided against trying it in the end as i was able to source cheap natural LR

 

[jaylam]

Do you mean make? or seed dead live rock?

Making your own then seeding it from a piece of real live rock.

i have read up on this and although its quite simple to do and obviously cheaper than lfs LR its also quite time consuming i also read mixed reviews about it. one advantage it does have however is you are only limited by your own imagination regarding the shapes you can create.
this is a link to the 1st one on google after searching diy live rock..... http/www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reef-eden.net%2Fdiy_9.htm&ei=wHwMTqS3EMfBhAfDoNzsDQ&usg=AFQjCNHth-uglgvrzEKT65T86Vsw55ttNg

Thanks im just reading up on it now, from what im reading it takes about 3 months to seed once you have made it. Thats not as bad as I thought, I might have to give it a go.

 

[woody88]

It takes months and months to seed/cure. You can make your own LR but will need to place it in a tub with un cured or cured LR and once there is no trace of ammonia you need to drop in a piece of live food for it to decompose to feed the nitrifying bacteria.

the rock you use needs to be porous so bacteria, critters etc can live on and amongst the rock. Having porous rock will also take less to seed.
But like I said, IT TAKES MONTHS!

Best way IMO is to add half cured LR and half dry/base rock amongst it straight into the tank and use the dry rock for your base of your rock scapes.

 

[dayzofspeed]

making it porous isnt really all that difficult, its the time needed and the amount of water changing whilst its being cured that put me off although i could be tempted if i ever decided i wanted a particular shape to fit into my scape

 

[jaylam]

It takes months and months to seed/cure. You can make your own LR but will need to place it in a tub with un cured or cured LR and once there is no trace of ammonia you need to drop in a piece of live food for it to decompose to feed the nitrifying bacteria.

the rock you use needs to be porous so bacteria, critters etc can live on and amongst the rock. Having porous rock will also take less to seed.
But like I said, IT TAKES MONTHS!

yeah the guides im reading say to mix concrete with oyster shells which displaces the concrete to make it porous.

Im seriously considering it because I have a bit of space in the house to house a bucket of rock with a heater and powerhead. Leaving it there for a few months would be worth it in the end as to buy the weight of rock you could make would cost hundreads if purchased from lfs.

 

[lewiss]

interesting. keep us updated how it goes if you do do it!

 

[dayzofspeed]

you dont necessarily need the oyster shells and you dont actually need the salt crystals either, you can actually use pasta shapes or macaroni mixed into the rock to give porosity as they will break down leaving all sorts of shaped holes in the rock. on another note i have actually made fake rock/boulders for use in my garden

 

[jaylam]

interesting. keep us updated how it goes if you do do it!

Im still in the "Thats not a bad idea" train of thought at the mo but if I do it I will be sure to keep everyone posted.

you dont necessarily need the oyster shells and you dont actually need the salt crystals either, you can actually use pasta shapes mixed into the rock to give porosity as they will break down leaving all sorts of shaped holes in the rock. on another note i have actually made fake rock/boulders for use in my garden

Interesting, that would work out even better.

 

[woody88]

This is interesting.

Hope one of you have a go at this so you keep us updated on the progress.

I have a HUGE piece of ex cured (man made) LR which basically sat on a shelf for a few weeks before I purchased it. It was man made, Dumped in the ocean for 9 months and then returned. Its Very porous and full of dead organisms. I simply jet washed and scrubbed the #105### out of it and placed it in my tank. It weighs just over 3kg and is T shaped. It has yet to be covered in the lovely coraline and it has been in my tank around 3-4 months which is one reason why I wouldn't try and make my own as it simply takes too long but I hope one of you lot try it.

Could be a potential goldmine!

 

[jaylam]

Oh im not interested in selling any or making money off it, just want to do it because it can be done really.

I will work out tonight what exactly I will need etc and see if 1 its worth doing and 2 if the wife will let me have a bucket water and rock in our spare room for the next 3 months.

 

[woody88]

Oh im not interested in selling any or making money off it, just want to do it because it can be done really.

I will work out tonight what exactly I will need etc and see if 1 its worth doing and 2 if the wife will let me have a bucket water and rock in our spare room for the next 3 months.

3 months and the rest!

 

[fishy55599]

i saw someone on here do it, i think it was Nemo

 

[dayzofspeed]

for anyone who is interested, this is an interesting read..... http/www.garf.org/newreef/arag.html
as long as you realise this is not a replacement for live rock, but could be used for creating a good base rock and supplemental rock where you can make the shapes that you want or for fragging plugs