Portland cement question?

[jake]

So I had picked up some sand that I decided not to use and was going to make some tonga style branches with the kids and such.

Garf recipe calls for type 3 portland cement and I have not found any at the usual spots around town. Does anyone know where I might get a bag of it?

Side note I wont be adding any filler (rock salt etc..) just sand and cement.

thanks in advance

[937 Reefer]

Type 3 is rare from what I researched ,

Use Type I/II . Stick rocks in a bucket or rubbermade full of water and change water daily until PH is 8 or lower

Recommend 3 parts Oystershell or Crushed Coral to 1 part Cement go very light on the water add it as needed when mixing .

I just made 75lbs for a reef tank Im building (75G) This will give your rock the nooks and cranies your looking for and will drain water instantly w/o run off  down the sides Takes bout 2-3 months for the DIY rock to leech everything out. and be safe . Putting them in a tote and drilling holes and dumping the tote into a creek or river will help speed things up
 

[jake]

I gave up looking it is no where to be had. Plus I started getting worried about long term leaching and what not. I hope to keep this next one up for a long time.

[corrod]

I found the cement at Lowes.  Also I used rock salt with the crushed coral and cement.  The salt will dissolve and make the "live" rock very porous and light.  Then let it set for 6 months or so doing a water change every week.  That is the fun part.

[937 Reefer]

I make/use this rock all the time  (over 2yrs now)

1 Part Cement
4 Parts Oyster Shells or Crushed Coral

My opinon salts make rock weak and brittle
The rock in this pic was 1:4 ratio of Cement and Oyster shell

Do water changes often as possible - 8 weeks It be ready for salt
(Test PH see if its the same as the water before adding rock on last water change)
Mix sample house paint (pure paint) with a little water and u got this . Call this crazy but it works . ***Seen a large company who I wont put out there in Florida do this***

[lazylivin]

What can you find the  Oyster Shells. looking forward to seeing your finished product

[Twizted1]

They sell crushed oyster shells at just about any farm store. They are fed to chickens to help harden their eggs.

[937 Reefer]

This is the rock I make minus the 2 Fiji pieces on top
You can buy oyster shell from any farm and feed grain seed store . TSC should have it
Just a budget 100$ nano we tossed together lol . To see if we could keep it under a 100$
That's real coralline algae rock is 6months old 8months including leeching time for cement
The post before is paint and water

[lazylivin]

That pretty impressive. Nice job

[937 Reefer]

Haha impressive for a budget tank . I suppose . I was not sure about my skills when starting the hobby. So I tinkered with a 10 gallon . Did everything cheap as possible all but the AC 70 on her . See if I wanted to go further. Now im awaiting income tax check to purchase a 125G and got everything for it outside of fish . Rock is fun to make  .  Not impressed with shape of those rocks . But they work .

[937 Reefer]

220 gallon were doing with man made rock at 1 part cement 4 parts oyster shell rock 72 x 24 x 31 H

[chromiumlux]

Looks great.

[937 Reefer]

Tank belongs to a buddy . This is what he wants to start his salt adventures with lol . I just made the rock for it . We will be seeding it with Fiji and Florida Premium Deco

[937 Reefer]

MY DIY Dyed Fake Coraline Rock. Some said something bout finished product earlier ? Sorry about Hijack