made some rocks what ya think of the texture?

[evsalty]

For my new 40br build I have decided to make my own rocks. I did a couple test rocks to see texture and recipe mix. Then last night I built one of what I hope will be a final product. I have to wait a few days before I can handle it so for now I have just scooped back some of the sand so that I could see some of it's shape.

This is a test rock.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/testrock2.jpg


Texture shot of the one that I hope to be a final product.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/righttexture.jpg


All the sand will come off once the rock has hardened.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/rightrock2.jpg

Other side of the above opening. There are more opeings but they are still filled in with sand.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/rightfronthole.jpg

Most of the rock. The bottom is still buried. You can kind of see the conical shape of the top around the hole that the stand pipe for the closed loop will run thru. The conical section is part of what will hide the intake screen. I am going to make a top hat to fully hide the intake screen. Oh and yes the rock is two different colors thruought. Once dry though both they grey and white look almost the same.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/rightrock1.jpg

Had some left over mix so I made these two small guys.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/playrocks.jpg

Another shot of the test rock. I might make the other rock formation modular so I might use this one.
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu343/evsalty/40br/CIMG2278.jpg[/QUOTE]

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Very nice! Good texture and interesting shapes. I love making rock - it's very rewarding and creative, yet there's always a bit of a random nature to the process. Looks like you're getting good results.

[Phil125]

Nice looking rocks. What recipe did you use if you don't mind me asking. Looks like you kept really dry.

[evsalty]

For these ones I made two different mixes at the same time one in white and one in grey. The ratios however are the same just different color ingredients.

The test rock was at 3:1.5:1.5:1 for the grey of 3 parts crushed coral, 1.5 parts CaribSea special grade white sand and 1.5 parts Nature's Ocean araganite #5 to one part Portland type I/II cement. The white is the same but using all white sand insted of the #5 part of the grey mix and uses white unfortified thin set motar.

I found the above to be a bit weak when it comes to the thinner sections/designs of the rocks so I decided to go with 4:1 type ratio like seems to be the NORM.

So the 4:1 is actually 2:2:1 for the white and 2:1:1:1 for the grey. Seeing the color once fully dry however has made me think that the white is not necessary. Beside not one of my real live rock has ever been white lol.

To get that texture I feel it is more important to keep the mix some what on the dryer side and just plop in scoops at a time or you will end up with the sand/coral falling to the bottom and the surface will be smooth.


Also for areas of the rock that are bulkier I mixed in some Morton water softner rock salt to help keep it porus. I also poked it with tooth picks in the thicker sections. I tried the addition of pasta shells but yuk is all I can say abouth them when they are wet so I decided to not use that method ever again.