Glad you enjoyed it!

and adding vinegar to the water will speed up the process.

@@dustintinsley3899 I don't recommend adding any type of acid in any amount. Been doing this for a long time...

Erika Gregersen i love you

So glad to hear it!!!

You'd still want to cure it

Enjoy it! I did start using reef aragonite sand. It's just a much cleaner, better reef material without potential silicate leaching.

Have fun. It makes for some creative outlets

Works great even now

I would still add additional ammonia, but used water would help

Yes. I've seen them before

However the bubbles are a bad idea in a reef tank. You want water circulation, not bubbles.

Thank you. I hope it works out for you if you decide to give it a go!

You don't have to color the rock. With time coraline will color the rock natural

Just don't use the primer. It will naturally change color in the tank anyways

Acrylic paint should be safe once dried. You could maybe even add it to the cement aragonite mix while wet before it's poured. Might be worth an experiment.

Should work well

I don't think I would try any paints as they will break down and enter your system

@@AquaticOasis Thanks for your advice.

just use aragonite and coral sands instead of play sand. I've done it many times. This was all developed by Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation.

It shouldn't

It shouldn't come off, but honestly, it's just short-term appearance anyways

Tap water is fine. I would reserve ro for your tank husbandry.

Nothing that I have ever noticed. I did have high tin at one point, but I don't think that was from the rock.

I would love an update too!!

No issues

Yes as well as pulling out any unnecessary lime that is in the rock from the cement.

I think so

Id say at least a day if left in a good place to dry.

I was wondering the same about the silica?

do it with just aragonite sand and Portland no sand or shells

I'm not aware of that being an issue. My understanding is that the curing process is intended to strip silicates and leaching material from the rock prior to use. I've used this rock in a heavily stocked reef for years with no noticeable issues. I'm willing to learn from everyone's input though about it.

Aquatic Oasis any long term issues? Back in the day, people told us not to use regular play sand as the substrate in our reef tank, some of use wanted to use play sand instead of actual live sand, but was told the silicates are bad for the corals, and play sand will leach it and eventually kill the corals. I myself don’t know cuss I’ve never tried it. Only thing I’ve done is buy small pieces of live rock/real reef rock and built structures out of it with the mortar they sell that’s safe for our reef tanks. It’s called emaco. And that’s how I build structures, small rocks stuck together with emaco.

Crushed shells or aragonite are made of calcium carbonate, silica won't be a problem as they don't react at the high ph of the marine water

I wouldn't suggest it

Yep

I made my own rock back 2014. The salt doesn't too long to dissolve out but, the curing process takes longer because, the ph bounces around for awhile.

It is while it's wet. I think what is happening is the pvc primer evaporates away, and the purple component is just a pigment that is left behind.

Follow the same process, minus the final saltwater inoculation. The salt used in the cement mix is just to make the rock porous, and it does this by dissolving out during the washing process.

you can do yes. I do it in my rock manufacturing as long as it is done while you mix the cement and my purples coralline rocks of which we have made tons of has been going well for more than 6 years when i started making rock

Do you by chance of a fish safe adhesive that could join these type of rocks together?? Thanks!!

@@cooljz82 Instant Ocean hold fast. It's a 2 part epoxy.

@@scotty2salty327 Awesome!!! Thanks for reply!!!👍👍

I'm sure it would be able to without issue

@@AquaticOasis the concrete rocks i make works well in cichlids tank and marine.And putting smaller amounts in soft water tanks never been an issue but diy rocks does harden water even after months in curing

Ant large grain/pellet salt

No you cannot

Pumice maybe? Has to be super clean grade though. Seachem matrix is pumice stone

I have a huge pumice rock in my reef and I have no issues

Make sure the pvc primer is completely dry first. Personally, I wouldn't bother with using pvc primer to color the rock.

@@nefariousyawn what would you use?

Yes you can if you have that access and your local government allows the collection.

Be careful doing that though. You can bring ocean parasites into your tank.

I love it