"Tidepool Geek" writes:
I can't remember where I first heard of the oyster shell alternative but the
pasta idea used to be on the GARF site (maybe it still is).

I made some rock years ago with oyster shell, coral sand, and portland (not
riverside white) cement. i always seemed to have structure
problems with my rocks... most seemed too soft to me.

I've had some "curing" under water for about 5 years (made the rock,
moved while still curing, had fire in bedroom in new place...which
destroyed tank-- so the rocks sat soaking in several buckets for a
couple years.)

I've just recently started a new system..... it's a couple months old.
not much in the way of animal life... large brittle star, several
snails, couple mushrooms (only one species), couple tiny stars,
several hermits, opaeula shrimp, and a peppermint (had to get rid of
the aiptasia). I recently notices some rather large "scud-like"
shrimp... scared the begeezus out of me (light were out for several
hours, and once i repaired the circuit, i saw them...guess they
usually hide). When i put a piece in there, the mushrooms clamped up
for several days.... i think i took that piece out. I'll have to see
if i have any pieces in there now. if not, perhaps i'll try to put
some in again.

As for the salts... you might be able to use rock calcium chloride in
the mix. IIRC, it's added to cement mixes for winter pouring to help
them cure... so it might not hurt the cure.

I've been thinking about trying to find some of those packing peanuts
that dissolve to throw into the mix. Perhaps mini marshmallows would
work.

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