Best aquascaping cement and why?

[Reef Bullet]

I am trying to decide what kind of cement or epoxy to use to build a rock wall for the back wall of my 240g. The product by Marco Rocks below was recommended by a highly regarded friend but it is out of stock and would be quite pricey for the amount I would be needing.

So I would like to hear everyone's opinion of what they think would be the best choice and why... please include any info or reasons for your choice such as it's ability at blending in well, price point, ease of use, etc.
Thanks for your input!

 

[Adrock]

call age of aquariums they may have some its been awhile but I remember them having some of this

 

[johnwin84]

i had a bucket of the marcro 400 i gave to Juan. i would see if he still has some left over.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Don't build a rock wall.

It becomes a trap for detritus. Same as stacking all your rocks together. No flow, crud will build up.

 

[reefes pieces]

Quickcrete hydraulic cement. much cheaper and reef safe. Just don't use it to make rocks but only to bond it. Rock walls are so 2000 and late.

 

[Reef Bullet]

Don't build a rock wall.

It becomes a trap for detritus. Same as stacking all your rocks together. No flow, crud will build up.

I disagree. There won't be anywhere for detritus to get stuck behind because it will be a solid wall. Stuck in crevasses maybe, but no different than LR in the main part of the tank.
A rock wall on an 8' tank looks so much better than the alternative. It will also allow me to have a lot of rock in the tank like I like, yet still be able to have a more minimalistic scape.
Plus, it will help hide my closed loop outlets and I will have a ton of flow in the tank so I'm not too worried about detritus build up.

Quickcrete hydraulic cement. much cheaper and reef safe. Just don't use it to make rocks but only to bond it. Rock walls are so 2000 and late.

I have been reading about it some and was thinking of using Portland cement and reef sand mixed since its silica free. I hadn't heard of thorite before my buddy told me it's the best thing to use.

i had a bucket of the marcro 400 i gave to Juan. i would see if he still has some left over.

Oh pooooooool boy!...

 

[TheJedi]

I am using white portland cement. There are plenty of aggregate's you can use, oyster shells, crushed coral, sand, limestone, etc etc. I am also mixing in sea salt to create voids and pores. The regular portland cement is a dark grey color.

 

[Riblet]

I really like the marco stuff, I just ordered some more. It's easy to work with and u can mix it thin or thick as u need also it stick to wet or dry rock. The more of the Liquid part you mix in the faster it sets up so be careful, better to make more then waste it by letting it dry up. U can also use ro water to thin it out.

 

[Reef Bullet]

I am using white portland cement. There are plenty of aggregate's you can use, oyster shells, crushed coral, sand, limestone, etc etc. I am also mixing in sea salt to create voids and pores. The regular portland cement is a dark grey color.

I want to do the same with the salt. Maybe a dumb question but I'm assuming you mean you're using reef salt mix and not sea salt found in the kitchen, right?
Any tips or guidelines to follow on how much salt to mix with it and how to go about it?

Where did you get the white Portland cement? Is it about the same color as dry, bleached LR?

I really like the marco stuff, I just ordered some more. It's easy to work with and u can mix it thin or thick as u need also it stick to wet or dry rock. The more of the Liquid part you mix in the faster it sets up so be careful, better to make more then waste it by letting it dry up. U can also use ro water to thin it out.

Where did you order it from?

 

[Riblet]

http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx

Ask them to give u a better deal on a larger amount, they r pretty cool there. It goes a long way.

 

[TheJedi]

I want to do the same with the salt. Maybe a dumb question but I'm assuming you mean you're using reef salt mix and not sea salt found in the kitchen, right?
Any tips or guidelines to follow on how much salt to mix with it and how to go about it?

Where did you get the white Portland cement? Is it about the same color as dry, bleached LR?

Where did you order it from?

It is more white than bleached LR IMO, but similar. I am using mortons water softening salt ( 99.8% salt or something ), about $5 for a 40lb bag. I got both at Lowe's. Mix in the salt AFTER you have your cement mix at the desired consistency. My last test was 3:1 cement:aggregate, a handful or so of the crystals, and about 10 pellets. I think my next test will be 3:2:1 cement:aggregate:salt, also a bit dryer on the mix for more porosity. You can check out my thread in the members tanks section and see how white it is without much aggregate mixed in.

 

[Spinner]

You don't need any of that stuff unless your making your rock for your rock wall.
A foam/dryrock wall is made out of:
a. Egg crate
b. Black uv rated pond foam(ebay country girl) best price
c. Dry Macro rock or like
d. Large chunck water filter salt...40lbs $ 5.00+- Lowes. Home Depot
e. Option....Sealer
f. Option.....1/2" pvc pipe and fitting's if making removable panels which is how i would do it for your size DT.
This pic shows panels and also notice the supports at the bottom which once finished won't allow foam wall to move.

Sorry for dirty panes ran out of acrylic cleaner

 

[wickedfish]

She needs to hide the hideous plumbing she needs to do. I agree if you design the wall properly it can be maintained. A good CUC and not over feeding and awesome mix of flows will suit it best. I just could never commit to one structure. I'm OCD in that respect.

 

[Reef Bullet]

http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx

Ask them to give u a better deal on a larger amount, they r pretty cool there. It goes a long way.

Yeah they're currently out of stock. That's why I asked... wondering if you'd found it somewhere else.

It is more white than bleached LR IMO, but similar. I am using mortons water softening salt ( 99.8% salt or something ), about $5 for a 40lb bag. I got both at Lowe's. Mix in the salt AFTER you have your cement mix at the desired consistency. My last test was 3:1 cement:aggregate, a handful or so of the crystals, and about 10 pellets. I think my next test will be 3:2:1 cement:aggregate:salt, also a bit dryer on the mix for more porosity. You can check out my thread in the members tanks section and see how white it is without much aggregate mixed in.

Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely check out your build thread.
Do you know what effects, if any, the water softening salts will have in your tank?

You don't need any of that stuff unless your making your rock for your rock wall.
A foam/dryrock wall is made out of:
a. Egg crate
b. Black uv rated pond foam(ebay country girl) best price
c. Dry Macro rock or like
d. Large chunck water filter salt...40lbs $ 5.00+- Lowes. Home Depot
e. Option....Sealer
f. Option.....1/2" pvc pipe and fitting's if making removable panels which is how i would do it for your size DT.
This pic shows panels and also notice the supports at the bottom which once finished won't allow foam wall to move.

Sorry for dirty panes ran out of acrylic cleaner

Thanks to Spinner for putting the rock wall idea in my head in the first place. (my husband thanks you, too, Btw... NOT! Lol)
I really think I like the idea of using all rock and cement to make the wall rather than foam for several reasons. Plus I have more than enough LR in hand to make it with. I look forward to seeing how yours turns out!

She needs to hide the hideous plumbing she needs to do. I agree if you design the wall properly it can be maintained. A good CUC and not over feeding and awesome mix of flows will suit it best. I just could never commit to one structure. I'm OCD in that respect.

I don't consider this a structure, but more of just a backdrop. I am like you about my actual scape though and don't want to be 100% committed to any scape permanently.

 

[Spinner]

If you want to make your own rock there is tons of video's on youtube that show materials and how to. If you do build your own rock use Perlite in your mix as it disolves in rince water and leaves rocks light weight and porus.

Research!
Tons of ways to do it check youtube

 

[Reef Bullet]

If you want to make your own rock there is tons of video's on youtube that show materials and how to. If you do build your own rock use Perlite in your mix as it disolves in rince water and leaves rocks light weight and porus.

{THANKS BUTTON HERE}

I will look into all of that! Any idea where I can get the Perlite?

Thanks again, Mace!

 

[TheJedi]

If you want to make your own rock there is tons of video's on youtube that show materials and how to. If you do build your own rock use Perlite in your mix as it disolves in rince water and leaves rocks light weight and porus.

Perlite will not dissolve. It will leave rock porous, because the perlite itself is porous by nature.