DIY Base Rock: A journal

Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
999
Likes
24
Points
18
Location
Redlands, CA
#1
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.

IMG_20180318_104138.jpg IMG_20180318_104143.jpg IMG_20180318_104151.jpg IMG_20180318_112823.jpg IMG_20180318_112820.jpg

Basics:

Current recipe 1:2:4:4 rock salt:portland 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.
 

Latest posts

Top