DIY Ceramic reef rock?

MarineGirl411 · 05/02/2013, 11:33 PM

Does anyone have a recipe, for diy ceramic reef rock? I know there is a pretty slim chance. I've tried to find something like this all night and can't. I am interested in doing a ceramic wall like this one in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvokrLBNQw. I would only want it on part of my overflow and on some of the back wall and side walls of my tank. I have done diy live rock before, but I can't "build up" enough cement to make it like this. Just curious. Thank you.

MarineGirl411 · 05/03/2013, 02:54 PM

Anyone?

dattack · 05/04/2013, 01:48 AM

You can buy the walls i think from aquariumspecialties. I think these systems are popular in europe . Do a search for riffsystem.

I would think if you want to do all in ceramic form, you probably need someone who has a big large clay oven is my guess.

I found a thread on reefcentral that might give you an idea.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1300282

MarineGirl411 · 05/04/2013, 03:21 AM

I was looking at that thread earlier. =) TY. Also, yes I have been debating the reef scenes ceramic rock from aquariumspecialties. I just thought it would be more cost effective if I could make it myself. It would be fun too! Thank you dattack.

Evan LL · 06/27/2013, 04:15 AM

I'm a ceramics artist and I have been working with clay over a decade. I have a 72gal bowfront reef tank with half liverock and half DIY ceramic rocks, the clay that I used which is called B-mix 5 by Laguna.

I didn't make the rock hollow, but I poked tons of hole in different sizes with some tools and my fingers. Let it dry and it takes a long time to completely dry, but you can dry it in the kiln. Then just bisque fire it to cone 04. (around 1060C or 1940F) After kiln fired the ceramic rocks, it is still porous, because the temp. for that clay is between 1196 - 1222C or 2185 - 2232F, we call it cone 5 - 6.

In your case, you should mind the shrinkage of the clay, because it shrank when it is dried.

Good luck!!

ingtar_shinowa · 06/28/2013, 04:57 AM

Evan did you have any cracking while the clay dried with the rocks not being hollow?

MarineGirl411 · 06/28/2013, 11:54 AM

Evan,
Do you have any pictures of your reef tank? I would love to still do this. I purchased some 10 cone clay. When it starts to dry, it begins to crumble. I have not had much success getting it to dry without cracking. Before firing, doesn't it need to dry completely?

Evan LL · 09/01/2013, 06:59 AM

It is a 72g bowfront and I took this pic in Jan of this year, it is different now, because I'm upgrading to a large tank. I took everything out, moved the tank aside and put everything back into the 72g, so that I could place the 135g to where it was.

Evan LL · 09/01/2013, 07:02 AM

http://s856.photobucket.com/user/eva...734a1.jpg.html

Evan LL · 09/01/2013, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingtar_shinowa

Evan did you have any cracking while the clay dried with the rocks not being hollow?

no, i never have any cracking with this method, even if it has some cracking that's not going to be a problem, right? eventually it will be covered by the coralline algae, as long as it doesn't blow during the firing.

well, it's not completely solid though, when i was making it, i first used my bare hands shaping and pinching to make some big holes with my fingers. once i have the desire form, i poke it with different size of hole making tools and fianlly with a needle tool

Evan LL · 09/01/2013, 07:44 AM

http://s856.photobucket.com/user/eva...b1031.jpg.html
here is a recent not high quality pic with my iPhone. i'm trying to make an internal overflow box with clay.

MarineGirl411 · 09/01/2013, 10:26 AM

Wow. Your tank is beautiful! Why did you take the pictures down though? I don't see them in the thread.

Evan LL · 09/02/2013, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarineGirl411

Wow. Your tank is beautiful! Why did you take the pictures down though? I don't see them in the thread.

Thanks!! The reason why I don't post it in the thread that is because I don't think it is good enough.

monkeytank · 11/11/2013, 05:50 PM

You should post more pictures. Your work is outstanding!

monkeytank · 11/12/2013, 03:07 PM

Evan LL, I found a local place that sells the b mix 5 from Laguna and they will let me use their kiln. They say they fire everything to 06. You recommend 04. Do you think that would be a problem?

Joerooster · 07/14/2018, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan LL

I'm a ceramics artist and I have been working with clay over a decade. I have a 72gal bowfront reef tank with half liverock and half DIY ceramic rocks, the clay that I used which is called B-mix 5 by Laguna.

I didn't make the rock hollow, but I poked tons of hole in different sizes with some tools and my fingers. Let it dry and it takes a long time to completely dry, but you can dry it in the kiln. Then just bisque fire it to cone 04. (around 1060C or 1940F) After kiln fired the ceramic rocks, it is still porous, because the temp. for that clay is between 1196 - 1222C or 2185 - 2232F, we call it cone 5 - 6.

In your case, you should mind the shrinkage of the clay, because it shrank when it is dried.

Good luck!!

Did it ever leach out any impurities like phosphate or heavy metals and silicates? I want to try and have access to a pottery friend that i do metal work for so trade in our careers is feasible. I know this is an old thread anybody have any help they can chime in on?

930Reef · 07/14/2018, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joerooster

Did it ever leach out any impurities like phosphate or heavy metals and silicates? I want to try and have access to a pottery friend that i do metal work for so trade in our careers is feasible. I know this is an old thread anybody have any help they can chime in on?

This is also my question. Will be upgrading from a nano to a 55 at some point (just picked up the tank yesterday used), and I'm really interested in taking the most eco-friendly (and cheaper!) alternative to live rock. I'm a teacher and have art teacher friends with art classroom kilns!

Following closely....thanks guys!

BTW that ceramic rock looks great Evan!

930Reef · 07/16/2018, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan LL

no, i never have any cracking with this method, even if it has some cracking that's not going to be a problem, right? eventually it will be covered by the coralline algae, as long as it doesn't blow during the firing.

well, it's not completely solid though, when i was making it, i first used my bare hands shaping and pinching to make some big holes with my fingers. once i have the desire form, i poke it with different size of hole making tools and fianlly with a needle tool

My art teacher friend with the kiln says anything thicker than 1/4" can blow in the kiln. But yours aren't hollow?

How does that work? Thanks so much for your insights.

gamerunr · 07/16/2018, 01:13 PM

Your tank is beautiful. Nothing to be shy about. Be proud of all you've done and show it off.

05/02/2013, 11:33 PM	#1
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	DIY Ceramic reef rock? Does anyone have a recipe, for diy ceramic reef rock? I know there is a pretty slim chance. I've tried to find something like this all night and can't. I am interested in doing a ceramic wall like this one in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvokrLBNQw. I would only want it on part of my overflow and on some of the back wall and side walls of my tank. I have done diy live rock before, but I can't "build up" enough cement to make it like this. Just curious. Thank you. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

05/03/2013, 02:54 PM	#2
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Anyone? __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

05/04/2013, 03:21 AM	#4
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	I was looking at that thread earlier. =) TY. Also, yes I have been debating the reef scenes ceramic rock from aquariumspecialties. I just thought it would be more cost effective if I could make it myself. It would be fun too! Thank you dattack. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

06/28/2013, 11:54 AM	#7
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Evan, Do you have any pictures of your reef tank? I would love to still do this. I purchased some 10 cone clay. When it starts to dry, it begins to crumble. I have not had much success getting it to dry without cracking. Before firing, doesn't it need to dry completely? __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

09/01/2013, 10:26 AM	#12
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	Wow. Your tank is beautiful! Why did you take the pictures down though? I don't see them in the thread. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

05/04/2013, 01:48 AM	#3
dattack Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 4,992	You can buy the walls i think from aquariumspecialties. I think these systems are popular in europe . Do a search for riffsystem. I would think if you want to do all in ceramic form, you probably need someone who has a big large clay oven is my guess. I found a thread on reefcentral that might give you an idea. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1300282

06/27/2013, 04:15 AM	#5
Evan LL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	I'm a ceramics artist and I have been working with clay over a decade. I have a 72gal bowfront reef tank with half liverock and half DIY ceramic rocks, the clay that I used which is called B-mix 5 by Laguna. I didn't make the rock hollow, but I poked tons of hole in different sizes with some tools and my fingers. Let it dry and it takes a long time to completely dry, but you can dry it in the kiln. Then just bisque fire it to cone 04. (around 1060C or 1940F) After kiln fired the ceramic rocks, it is still porous, because the temp. for that clay is between 1196 - 1222C or 2185 - 2232F, we call it cone 5 - 6. In your case, you should mind the shrinkage of the clay, because it shrank when it is dried. Good luck!!

06/28/2013, 04:57 AM	#6
ingtar_shinowa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Billings MT Posts: 1,610	Evan did you have any cracking while the clay dried with the rocks not being hollow?

09/01/2013, 06:59 AM	#8
Evan LL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	It is a 72g bowfront and I took this pic in Jan of this year, it is different now, because I'm upgrading to a large tank. I took everything out, moved the tank aside and put everything back into the 72g, so that I could place the 135g to where it was.

09/01/2013, 07:02 AM	#9
Evan LL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	http://s856.photobucket.com/user/eva...734a1.jpg.html

09/01/2013, 07:44 AM	#11
Evan LL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10	http://s856.photobucket.com/user/eva...b1031.jpg.html here is a recent not high quality pic with my iPhone. i'm trying to make an internal overflow box with clay.

11/11/2013, 05:50 PM	#14
monkeytank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 31	You should post more pictures. Your work is outstanding!

11/12/2013, 03:07 PM	#15
monkeytank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 31	Evan LL, I found a local place that sells the b mix 5 from Laguna and they will let me use their kiln. They say they fire everything to 06. You recommend 04. Do you think that would be a problem?

07/16/2018, 01:13 PM	#19
gamerunr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 90	Your tank is beautiful. Nothing to be shy about. Be proud of all you've done and show it off.