mardi 22 mai 2007

Comment créer une roche vivante ?

Voici ce que j'ai trouvé sur un site anglais pour confectionner une roche vivante "maison".
Désolé je ne l'ai pas traduit


MATERIALS:

  • Carib SeaTM aragonite sand
    in styrofoam fish shipping box for making mold.
  • Carib SeaTM aragonite sand
    for making aragocreteTM
  • Portland cement

  • Plastic buckets
  • Small shovel
  • Fresh Water for mixing aragocreteTM
  • Fresh Water for washing equipment

molding a rock cave
INSTRUCTIONS:

Fill the fish box 1/2 full of Carib SeaTM aragonite sand and dampen with fresh water - the sand needs to be only moist.
Dig an oval hole in the sand that will be the shape of the finished rock.
Mix 5 parts Carib SeaTM aragonite sand with 1 part portland cement.
Pour the aragacrete into each hole in the mold.

Hollow out a hole in the middle of the rock and pour in some Carib SeaTM aragonite sand. This sand will form the inside of the cave.

Cover the rock with Carib SeaTM aragonite sand and tap on the side of the box about 20 times with your hands -- this will settle the sand into the aragocreteTM

Let the aragacreteTM set for 24 hours before you remove the rock from the sand.

Soak the rock in white vinegar for 12 hours and rinse them in fresh water before you use them.


finished molded rocks
SAND MOLDING AN ARCH SHAPED LIVE ROCK

This is a simple form to make and it sells very well in several sizes.

STEP 1. Dig out the sand in your box to form the basic shape you want. Be careful not to expose the bottom of the box or your rock will have an unnatural flat spot.

STEP 2. Place the aragocrete mix into the mold hole and insert any sea shells or rocks you want use 1/2 way into wet aragocrete.

STEP 3. Cover the rock with sand - a very natural looking rock is made by using a different sand on the top of the rock. This will look like the rock was formed in the ocean.

STEP 4. Allow the rock to dry 48 hours and wash it in fresh water. Your rocks will be much stronger if you cure them in cold fresh water for 1 week.



diagram of rock project
CREATING A HAND MADE ARAGOCRETE LIVE ROCK
The sand molded rock is washed in white vinegar and rinsed in fresh water.

The rock is placed in a grow out system with good light and water flow.

STEP 1. Treat the system water with extra SeaChem Reef Builder and Reef Calcium to start the coralline algae.

STEP 2. After the rock starts to grow coralline algae you can glue several small cuttings to the rock with super glue gel.

STEP 3. Allow the live rock to finish growing. Watch for unwanted algae and Aptasia anemones. We use Copper Band Butterfly fish and Reef Janitors in our grow - out systems to control these pests.

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