Homemade live rock and rebar

[Tre' Landrum]

Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made live rock
(Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I want to
make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no way
cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of rebar would
hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to the eco
system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions for a
non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.

Tre'

[Charles Spitzer]

titanium
acrylic
pyrex glass

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:NIp1d.58069$nk.38543@okepread05...
> Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made live
rock
> (Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I want
to
> make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no way
> cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of rebar would
> hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to the
eco
> system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions for a
> non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.
>
> Tre'
>
>

[Billy]

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:NIp1d.58069$nk.38543@okepread05...
| Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made
live rock
| (Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I
want to
| make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no
way
| cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of
rebar would
| hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to
the eco
| system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions
for a
| non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.
|

PVC frame. If you don't think it will be strong enough, look at
www.oregonreef.com. This 850 gallon tank uses a PVC framework under
the LR. Do not under any circumstances use the rebar. Bad!

billy


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[Anthony Pruitt]

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:NIp1d.58069$nk.38543@okepread05...
> Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made live
> rock
> (Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I want
> to
> make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no way
> cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of rebar would
> hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to the
> eco
> system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions for a
> non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.
>
> Tre'
>
>

Try some PVC pipe. Use the largest diameter you can fit inside the ledge
piece. It's fairly strong and since it's hollow it will greatly reduce the
final weight of the piece.

[Philip Lewis]

Along with suggestions of PVC (Which i would drill to give a
"keystone" effect) consider using fiberglass reinforcement.
I get white portland cement with the fiberglass already mixed in (home
depot- i think), but i understand you can also get it at some
construction yards.

You may need to take a blow-torch to the final piece to melt of any
"fuzzys" left from the pour. be careful.. if the concrete has water
in it you might have pieces pop off.

good luck

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

[SNC]

There is a product that is "fiberglass rebar" it cuts... 1/4 the weight of
steel... but... can't be bent...

check it out....
http://buildingforhealth.com/rebar.html

HTH

Sky

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:NIp1d.58069$nk.38543@okepread05...
> Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made live
rock
> (Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I want
to
> make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no way
> cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of rebar would
> hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to the
eco
> system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions for a
> non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.
>
> Tre'
>
>

[Tre' Landrum]

Has anyone actually tried any of these things?

"SNC" > wrote in message
...
> There is a product that is "fiberglass rebar" it cuts... 1/4 the weight of
> steel... but... can't be bent...
>
> check it out....
> http://buildingforhealth.com/rebar.html
>
> HTH
>
> Sky
>
> "Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
> news:NIp1d.58069$nk.38543@okepread05...
> > Here is something new for me. I am wanting to make some home made live
> rock
> > (Portland cement, coral skeletons, crushed coral, and sand). Well I want
> to
> > make the base a large ledge... kinda like a table. Well there is no way
> > cement will hold all the life rock on top alone. A few rods of rebar
would
> > hold it without any problem, but I know I don't want to add iron to the
> eco
> > system... talk about begging for an algae bloom!!! Any suggestions for a
> > non-iron rebar? Any experience? Thanks all.
> >
> > Tre'
> >
> >
>
>

[Billy]

"Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
news:aKK1d.58141$nk.31408@okepread05...
| Has anyone actually tried any of these things?
|

I made a post, but it seems to have disappeared. Check out
www.oregonreef.com

He used PVC for a LR framework. His tank is in excess of 700 gallons,
so it should be fine for yours.<g>

billy


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[Billy]

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
|
| "Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
| news:aKK1d.58141$nk.31408@okepread05...
|| Has anyone actually tried any of these things?
| I made a post, but it seems to have disappeared. Check out
| www.oregonreef.com


I also must add, DO NOT USE THE RE-BAR!!!!! The iron will corrode and
detroy your livestock in short order. In the ocean, there is enough
dilution to render this type of thing harmless, not so in a reef
tank.


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[Ken]

Thanks for the link Billy. I read the whole page from start to finish in one
sitting... that thing is AWESOME.

Ken

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
> news:aKK1d.58141$nk.31408@okepread05...
> | Has anyone actually tried any of these things?
> |
>
> I made a post, but it seems to have disappeared. Check out
> www.oregonreef.com
>
> He used PVC for a LR framework. His tank is in excess of 700 gallons,
> so it should be fine for yours.<g>
>
> billy
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.760 / Virus Database: 509 - Release Date: 9/10/2004
>
>

[Billy]

"Ken" > wrote in message
...
| Thanks for the link Billy. I read the whole page from start to
finish in one
| sitting... that thing is AWESOME.
|

I did the same thing. That guy lives not far from me. I MUST become
his friend.

I actually caught myself thinking the guy was nuts, then realized
that if I had the means, I'd have one too.


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[Tre' Landrum]

What... rusting iron is not good for a tank? (irony) FYI, iron is one of the
micronutrients which plants need to flourish in near sterile ocean waters.
We in the Aquarium world think mostly of nitrogen and phosphorus because we
so often add these nutrients in things such as food. But add iron and you
will get a very similar bloom in things you don't want.
Tre'
"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Billy" > wrote in message
> ...
> |
> | "Tre' Landrum" > wrote in message
> | news:aKK1d.58141$nk.31408@okepread05...
> || Has anyone actually tried any of these things?
> | I made a post, but it seems to have disappeared. Check out
> | www.oregonreef.com
>
>
> I also must add, DO NOT USE THE RE-BAR!!!!! The iron will corrode and
> detroy your livestock in short order. In the ocean, there is enough
> dilution to render this type of thing harmless, not so in a reef
> tank.
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.760 / Virus Database: 509 - Release Date: 9/10/2004
>
>