GLENNRF38...Awesome!:biggrin: Maybe by then my first couple of batches will be ready. I'll bring the cement!!:lol::lol:

Kewl cuz I forgot to bring mine in the house last time I did it LOL

I made a few batches up about a month ago and should be almost cured. The smaller pieces I put in the toilet tanks in the house (several 100% wc's daily), the larger ones in a plastic tub I used the 1 cement 3 salt 1 sand mix and am very happy with the result. My only regrets are I couldnt get the white cement, and I think smaller salt pellets would have been better. Will post some pics tomorrow. They aren't anything fancy, just base rock.

For salt try the local farm feed store. They have bags with a nice size crystal for adding to feed troughs I think.

I'm not so "sold" on the adding salt idea...From what I have read, it can greatly weaken the integrity of the cement...but that can be overcome by adding other items into the mixture. Other thing about salt, is that it needs to be "boiled" out of the MMLR (well...not quite boiled...but up over 130 F).

Since I am planning on making 1 fairly large structure...I would have no way to boil something that big:cry:

I don't go by ratio, just mixed it so it looked good to me then formed it in some damp oyster shells for a nice top layer. I also used Lava rock inside the pieces for lighter weight.

The salt really adds to the porousity. Curing time was about 6 weeks and the rock seems fine to me.

Where did you read about needing to boil the salt out of the rock? I've never heard that before, maybe that is why mine is taking so long to cure.

I would say you might need to boil it if you are using water softener pellets but I had no problem with mine.

K, here's the pix I promised.
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...328_resize.JPG
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...331_resize.JPG
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...320_resize.JPG
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...335_resize.JPG

As you can see they are very pourous. Water flows right through the rock.
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/dat...334_resize.JPG