Among many other things at my house, a project that i was always interested in undertaking was creating my own base rock, out of aragonite, crushed shell and such. Depending on one's source, it actually has the potential to be just about as cost effective as dry base rock, as opposed to seeded live rock, but it also allows the craftsperson to create shapes of their own.
This is the reason why I ultimately chose to undertake this task. I want pieces that I can have control over on fabrication for my next build.
I have worked a little bit with construction muds in my professional career, but I had never made aragocrete before. The following is my journal of my first day.
Basics:
Current recipe 1:2:4:4 rock saltortland quikrete 1/2:coarse aragonite:crushed coral
As this was mostly just an experiment, i didnt make any truly desirable shapes, yet.
I have to spray down the molds, right now, about once every hour for the next 24 hours. Once they are dry, I will let them leach for a couple weeks until the water they are in does not change its pH.
More pics as the plot continues.
This is the reason why I ultimately chose to undertake this task. I want pieces that I can have control over on fabrication for my next build.
I have worked a little bit with construction muds in my professional career, but I had never made aragocrete before. The following is my journal of my first day.
Basics:
Current recipe 1:2:4:4 rock saltortland quikrete 1/2:coarse aragonite:crushed coral
As this was mostly just an experiment, i didnt make any truly desirable shapes, yet.
I have to spray down the molds, right now, about once every hour for the next 24 hours. Once they are dry, I will let them leach for a couple weeks until the water they are in does not change its pH.
More pics as the plot continues.