reef165 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I was just wondering what I could use to keep the mix from sticking to a mold? I am wanting to make a mold something like the reef balls but much smaller but am at a loss on what to use to keep the cement from sticking to whatever I use as a mold. (scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 When I poured my back patio steps I put veggie oil on pretty heavy on the molds and that seemed to work good. That was wood though so it absorbed the oil rather well. What are you using for the material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 I was thinking of going to the craft store and seeing if they had any styrafome balls about 10 to 12 inch round. and then using cling wrap on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 We form the rock in a bucket of sand/crused coral. Put in a layer of sand, put cement on top, sand around, more cement, more sand, more cement, etc. Just don't let the cement come in contact with the side of the bucket, it makes a funky looking (unnatural) edge to the rock. If you don't have the sand or crushed coral you can get a bag of water softener salt at any of the home improvement stores. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Dennis' method has proven very good. He has some nice rocks. I would go with his method. You don't want to be putting anything too unnatural in your system like styrofoam... If you can find it, get the stuff that cures much faster also. Dennis can tell you all about that... (whistle) (scratch)Here's another thought. Just go by dennis' house and buy some of his rock. For the price and trouble of making your own you could get it from him. He sells at ridiculous prices if I remember correctly...(scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 The styrofoam wouldnt be in my tank I would just be using it as a form, Im thinking of making to reef balls http://www.reefball.org/index.html for my tank, thinking of a 10 inch inside diamiter and 2 inches thick making them 14 inches round on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancecobb1 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 What if you were to use a blown up balloon? When it hardens enought then just pop the balloon and pull out the rubber? you might need to coat or wrap the ballon with something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Why make reef-balls? Why not just make DIY rock? I am not trying to be obnoxious, Just curious. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Just wanting to try something new, I've seen pics of the reef balls when the corals have grown out and they look great and I want to try to get away from the pile of rock look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 It won't stick to plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 It won't stick to plastic. Really, so I could use pvc for the holes in it? I didnt think I could cuz the large cement tanks ive seen built use pvc through the cement and I assumed that it formed a water tite bond but I guess thats what I get for an usumption! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Really' date=' so I could use pvc for the holes in it? I didnt think I could cuz the large cement tanks ive seen built use pvc through the cement and I assumed that it formed a water tite bond but I guess thats what I get for an usumption![/quote'] I wouldn't unless you intend to leave the PVC in there. Cement shrinks a little which for a small inside diameter would tighten the fit making it harder to remove unless you can easily collapse the PVC (which isn't going to be too easy). If you can find a thin plastic tube that you can easily collapse after the cement sets up then it shouldn't stick to the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Really' date=' so I could use pvc for the holes in it? I didnt think I could cuz the large cement tanks ive seen built use pvc through the cement and I assumed that it formed a water tite bond but I guess thats what I get for an usumption![/quote'] I didn't say PVC which is polyvinyl chloride, i said plastic. You could line your mold with a plastic garbage bag and it would pull off after dry with no problem. I use plastic baggies to make holes and caves. They pull right out once the mixture hardens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 One of the places I read uses rubber gloves as well. PVC is a type of thermoplastic. (The term plastic is a general term covering many materials rather than a specific type) Regardless PVC that is thin enough would likely be fine but normally it isn't flexible enough to easily remove once it's encased in something. Because of this you will need to find a thinner material that can easily be removed once it has something encasing it. Something that will collapse (thin tube, baggies, rubber gloves, etc.) will work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 I will prob use the pvc for through holes and wrap them with cling wrap and spray the forms with pam cooking spray. its food grade and prevents sticking ya know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cklskypilot Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 OK TAKE A BALLOON COVER IT WITH SHORTING THEN PAT ON CORSE ROCK SALT OR YOU MAY WANT TO USE MACCARONI OR SOME TYPE OF PASTA THAT GIVES YOU THE TEXTURE YOU LIKE.. MAKE YOUR 2 PART MOLD .. SET AND LET DRY.. SEPERATE MOLD HALF WASH OUT SALT OR PASTA AND THERE YOU HAVE IT I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quigley Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I took a look at the reef ball site. I love the idea for mangrove planters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 Ive got the salt and cement, Im going to get some sand for the forms and build a couple basic form boxes to work in. Hoping to get the project started in the next day or two to be able to take advantage of the up and coming rain were suposed to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I just use old salt buckets for forming rock. It does limit the size of the rock you can make. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 I was just out in the garage about a 1/2 hour ago looking at the buckets thinking the same thing! Thinking since Im working with a 40 breeder thats 18 front to back and 16 tall , I could make two pillers abought 12 to 13 inches tall and then the size of the bucket round. and then some other rock to fill out the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Ok so my tryal piece is out of the salt, I used salt insted or sand for the texture and well just cuz. anyway heres the first fock, its flat on the bottom cuz im going to have a bare bottom and the sand thats in the tank now is getting incorporated into the DIY rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Nice shape! You didn't use any sand? Sand is the most important part, its what is used to help bind everything together. I think those might just crumble without any sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 It is the same piece just dif angles, but yes I am using the sand out of my tank to go into the rock because Im going with a bare bottom and dont need the sand in the tank. I used a mix of. 3 parts cement 1 1/2 part cruched coral sand 3 parts salt ( of the water softener veriaty ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Gotcha. Nicely done i like the shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Thanks, Ive got another piece in the drying stage that has a slightly longer base and 2 pillers then like a doughnut round connecting the pillers. I'll have pic's in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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