| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
chrisslc 
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Aragocrete Shapes?
Posted: July 04 2004 at 10:10pm |
I'm getting ready to produce 'crete in major quantity and am wondering, What shapes would people want this stuff in? My thinking thus far is that most people would want aragocrete for utility shapes like tables and bases (it's frickin' strong) so that's what I've made. But possibilities are endless and I can make shapes like the better branch pieces or arches if people want it.
Or should I just make tons of perfectly round balls in all sizes to make the strangest looking reef tank ever (just so I can shed the designation eh, adam )
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
 |
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2004 at 4:23am |
|
Personally, I get turned off by shapes that have the manufactured look. Tables and bases do not occur in nature! Besides, I don't need tables and bases. I can spot those Aragocrete tables a mile away. The aquascaping job can be done just fine with what I call "the tripod".
Take three smaller rocks shoved on their edge into the substrate at different angles to each other and lay one larger somewhat flat rock on top, but try not to have it end up exactly level. Let the slightly different size of the three individual base rocks determine a random slope. Nuture is random. Put two of these tripods next to each other and a structure 1-2 feet tall easily form above.
It can lean against the back glass at one point or it can stand on it's own. The key to making it look natural is to use random rock shapes and sizes above the initial tripod.
For larger tanks, or for smaller tanks with smaller rocks, another tripod can be placed on top of two or three tripods. Look at the mountains and see how they form peaks and valleys. Try to end up like that with your aquascaping.
A large rock at an angle across between two peaks or saddles forms an arch. And on and on it goes.
Keep trying, stand back and observe whether it looks natural or whether it looks like a brick wall. If it looks like a wall, remove a couple bricks, turn some rocks 90 degrees so they are facing away from you....
Ledges can be formed by taking a flater rock, setting the heavier end on a rock and placing a rock on top of that end to hold it in place sticking out away from the rest. Every rock placed above holds it that much more secure.
So...make some rocks; irregular, curved, branching, arching, round, kind of flat, all with protrusions... just like we find in natural LR.
Well gotta run, it's time to go get some Utah Lake Bonnevile Rock and sand!
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 05 2004 at 8:54am |
I like branching pieces.
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
Jared Wood
Guest
Joined: January 27 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 490
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:32am |
I'd like to see if you can do plates or sheets of aragocrete.
I definately like more natural looking rock. So I would use sevaral rocks shaped like plates and branches to make the arches and shelves in stead of having one rock that is an arch by its self.
I also think that a large thin sheet of rock would be cool to set against the back glass of the aquarium to make a shear rock face all the way up the back.
Another thought about looking natural. I think that anything that has been in the aquarium for over a year starts looking pretty natural especially if it has been encrusted with a couple layers of coralline.
|
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth ... then He let it cycle. Have you read my dinosaur theory yet?
|
|
chrisslc
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:02pm |
ARAGOBACKING!!! Sweet Idea, I can easily form it flat backed with whatever surface shapes desired. From about 1/2"-3/4" thick to "soapdish" ledges, or craggy overhangs, I could even build a custom job concealing powerheads, intakes, returns what-have-you. If anyone is looking at putting a tank together and wants to try this, just lemme know and I'll gladly cast up a piece and cure it for you. You could start the tank then install the piece over the workings once it's cured. If noone pops up I may have to convince my wife to let me setup another tank as a test  !
Edited by chrisslc
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
|
tileman
Guest
Joined: November 05 2003
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 5368
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:07pm |
|
How heavy would that be if you were to cover a back the size, let's say 2' by 3'?
|
|
335G Reef
TOTM.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium
ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month
&
|
|
chrisslc
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:22pm |
|
maybe 8-12lbs. it's very, very pourous, so not nearly as dense as you'd think.
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
|
tileman
Guest
Joined: November 05 2003
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 5368
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:31pm |
I would like to see some of this, do you have any pictures posted anywhere?
Brad
Edited by tileman
|
|
335G Reef
TOTM.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium
ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month
&
|
|
chrisslc
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 06 2004 at 8:59pm |
not as yet, but I'll bring some to the swap / frag meet. or your welcome here anytime, pictures wouldn't really do it justice anyway. you need to see how water runs right through the stuff. did I mention it's light!
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
|
jglover
Guest
Joined: February 10 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 576
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 07 2004 at 6:41pm |
|
How exactly do you make it pourous? What are your steps?
|
|
chrisslc
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 07 2004 at 7:31pm |
It involves keeping your mix super dry, you have to presaturate your aggregates and then use as little mix water as possible. If done right, the cementitious materials don't fill in the viod spaces between the large pieces, rather it coats them and adheres them together. I think the analogy to rice krispy treats works well. I'll be giving a short presentation at the DIY seminar in september and I'll have an article ready to post afterwards for future reference.
Or anyone who wants is welcome to come get a quick demo if theyre interested in making some.
Edited by chrisslc
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
|
ssilcox
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Sandy
Status: Offline
Points: 3428
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 07 2004 at 7:41pm |
Hey Chris - I am setting up a new 55. Lets talk aragobacking... 
|
|
chrisslc
Guest
Joined: November 13 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 799
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 07 2004 at 7:56pm |
coool.... , do you want to get together at the meeting or do you want to get going sooner?
|
|
Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
|
|
ssilcox
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: Sandy
Status: Offline
Points: 3428
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 07 2004 at 8:29pm |
|
I am installing the overflow this week - so maybe the meeting would work best. I'll bring measurements to the meeting with me.
|
|
Richard L.
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 363
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 12:05pm |
Could you cast a section of log with some contours, bark, etc for a pinnacle or vertical tower in a corner of a tank? Maybe 6", oh sorry Jared- about 18-20 cm at the base and 6-8 cm at the top, perhaps 55 cm tall? The idea would be to create a canyon effect.
I would also be interested in learning a little about your casting process. I have a few window wells (6'wide,4' tall, 30" deep) downstairs that heve been turned in to various biotypes depending on the interest of the son in that particular bedroom. One is a tropical forest setting with a 15 gallon pool and various mosses, ferns, rushes, tillandisa, bromilliads, coffee tree, frogs, toads, newts, etc. One is an aviary with tree branches, bushes, Diamond Doves and Button Quail. One is Red Sandstone desert with cactus, desert ferns, Horned lizard, Swifts, Whiptails, Spadefoot toads. I have two more windows in the family room that I am scheming for now. I am wondering about forming a backdrop for attaching rocks, plants, integrated waterfall etc. I would like to help on some project you are doing to learn how the process works. What about adding colors, like red?
|
|
Richard
Alpine, UT
|
|
jfinch
Guest
Joined: March 06 2003
Location: Pleasant Grove
Status: Offline
Points: 7067
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 12:31pm |
I have a few window wells...
That is just too cool for words.
|
|
|
|
Richard L.
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 363
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 1:26pm |
Maybe we could have a special guest lecturer do a hands on Agrocrete demonstration at one of the future meetings? I know this arteest sculpture guy named Chris . . . . How about it Adam? Maybe we could have several DIY presentations in one night. Share some local flavor. . . .sanding, shrimping, acrylicing. Heck, in one night we could actually make a tank and all the accessories too, then raffel it off. That would be way cool. We could set in motion the beginning of the next scientific advancement- known as the "WMAS Tank" method.
|
|
Richard
Alpine, UT
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 1:30pm |
Hey Richard!!
Click over there on upcoming events <------
Looks like you described the September meeting.
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
Richard L.
Guest
Joined: November 17 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 363
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 1:53pm |
Adam, you are way too cool. How did you know I would suggest that and run out and get it done before I even posted?
I guess I should change from the Active Topics to go out to the Home Page so I can see those updates, huh?
Great work guys! Is Chris on the aquascaping presentation segment?
|
|
Richard
Alpine, UT
|
|
Adam Blundell
Presidency
Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
Status: Offline
Points: 18526
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: July 08 2004 at 2:04pm |
He is indeed. Has been on that schedule for oh... well accounting for the June postponement... about 6 months now.
Adam
|
|
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
|
|
