Newbie looking for a mentor and ID

[TheReefGeek]

So you first combined the concrete powder and the rock salt in approximately 3:1, then you kept adding water and stirring until what kind of consistancy?

[Glennrf38]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

So you first combined the concrete powder and the rock salt in approximately 3:1, then you kept adding water and stirring until what kind of consistancy?

It was pretty soupy. I tried it with a fairly dry mix but it was too hard to mix. So I just kept adding water until I could mix it. The roundish ones I made in a sand mold the others were just drop and plop on to a plastic garbage bag.

[TheReefGeek]

Which got better results do you think, a mold, or just hand-done on a garbage bag?

[Glennrf38]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Which got better results do you think, a mold, or just hand-done on a garbage bag?

I like the looks of the hand molded on myself but it is a personal preference I think. With the sand mold, I used a plastic bag between the sand and the concrete but if you like the sand (or aragonite) texture, I would just skip the bag. I have some pretty course aragonite that I might use for the mold next time to give the rock more texture.

[Glennrf38]

Well I went out and got 20 more lbs of live rock, stacked it up on the pvc tubing just the way I wanted it, put everything back in. And now to see if it all worked. I still need about 5 lbs of rock to finish up but it'll get there.

Thanks Keith for coming over and giving me your suggestions and encouragement.

Damn that was a long night.........

[Glennrf38]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

So you first combined the concrete powder and the rock salt in approximately 3:1, then you kept adding water and stirring until what kind of consistancy?

The kewl part of this that I have found is that there is no right or wrong consistancy, form, or ratio. I just pretty much guessed. if there is anyone in the area that wants to try this, give me a shout. I really don't need much more rock, I just want to try it cuz it sounded fun. I still have most of the bag of concrete left and alot of salt crystal too. Bring your own beer and hammer. Oh yeah also bring a bucket and a bin for the molds.

The mold was just an old rock I found in the back alley. I was thinking of trying a real "live rock" for the mold next time but I don't feel like wasting $7/lb. to make a mold incase something happens to the rock.