erlite:sand)
If you want more holes in your rock(and make it a little lighter weight) you can also mix in chunks of water softener salt crystals. After it is hardened 48 hrs you melt them out in a 5g bucket of RODI water. It also creates more surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. Only add the salt chunks after the initial mix and right before pouring the mix into your sand mold.Just wanted to post to show others who are considering trying this but are too afraid to try it today, this is easy as cake!
I did a few test pieces with grey cement last week. Really half-done tries i promise, and this is what i got:
Both casted in sand. The small one is 2:3:3 and the big one is 4:7:6 (portland
Both were casted in sand. The small one i did in a little bucket and i capped it off with the remaining mix i had to make a stand of sorts. the big one is more representative of what i'm going to need for my build.
Only recommendation i can have, unless you want smooth rock surfaces, don't pack it down too hard. The big rock i wanted to try having a flat bottom so i put the mix into the container FIRST and then i added sand around that and piled more mix, more sand more mix and finally sand on top to be able to pack the rock a little bit.
One thing i have been experiencing, and it's expected i suppose, is the small appendages of rock (a rock here or there sticking out of the mass) do break off but it doesn't hurt the look of the rock i think, if anything i think it can make it look more natural!
Defintiely need to keep doing demolition on the house, next step is moving my current tank out of the way!
Yes way more lol. I paid $21 for a 94lb bag of white Portland
Do what I did.
Go to Home Depot and check real good at the bags of Portland II cement (if I recall its Type II), look for a damaged bag that you can carry out or put in a plastic bag. They should give it to you for .52 cents (unless it has a tiny hole, then they will just mark off a %)
Yes, 52 cents!
No contractor will buy a damaged bag but a DIYer will
That's great news! I have to travel an hour to get my hands on it LOL. But at least it's possible to do
Just keep in mind it could take 2 months to cure them.Didn't do rocks this weekend
In concrete industry its known as admixture, not certain what types of chemicals it may have. Not a necessity to use IMO...
There is a saying in reefing, nothing good happens fast only bad. That being said I wouldn't use it. Concrete has a average ph of 10-11. It needs to naturally leach (Which is the kuring process) to fall to 8.4 and stay there. Buffers are only temporary anyway. If you place your kuring rock container (tank, trash can ect) outside in the shade and change the water every day or two, it'll kure faster.
