Cementing rocks together

[Tristan23]

Does any one have any experience with this? I plan on going to do a bonsai aqua scape and seeing anyone here has done one here before.

[allan]

I've done it with the emaco stuff from Marco rocks.

Pretty much built a big rock with it, pulled it out of the tank yesterday, still one big rock.

Learned the trick from firewater.


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[FireWater]

I used it on my last build and so has some others. Depending on how much you need it is easy to buy the kit at Marco rocks. If not it is a hassle to find it locally and you have to buy a large quantity. You can use it to stick any rocks together and build whatever shape you want.
You can also use nylon threaded rod or acrylic rods and drill the rock too. Lots of ways to make whatever you want.

[Tristan23]

Cool ill check it out. What kind of drill do I need if I were to drill the holes in the rocks.

[Zen Reef]

I would use a masonry bit with a hammer drill.

[Paul28]

I used it on my last build and so has some others. Depending on how much you need it is easy to buy the kit at Marco rocks. If not it is a hassle to find it locally and you have to buy a large quantity. You can use it to stick any rocks together and build whatever shape you want.
You can also use nylon threaded rod or acrylic rods and drill the rock too. Lots of ways to make whatever you want.


Yeh it looks insane i wish i did something like that to my tank , Johns rock work is nice

[Tristan23]

I used it on my last build and so has some others. Depending on how much you need it is easy to buy the kit at Marco rocks. If not it is a hassle to find it locally and you have to buy a large quantity. You can use it to stick any rocks together and build whatever shape you want.
You can also use nylon threaded rod or acrylic rods and drill the rock too. Lots of ways to make whatever you want.

How many pounds did you end up getting on your build?

[FireWater]

Pounds of mortar? I think I went through 30 pounds of mortar and almost a gallon of acryl liquid.

Depending on what rock you are drilling you can get away with any bit. I prefer long paddle bits. Be careful if you use a hammer drill as it is easy to shatter the rock.

[Tristan23]

Pounds of mortar? I think I went through 30 pounds of mortar and almost a gallon of acryl liquid.

Depending on what rock you are drilling you can get away with any bit. I prefer long paddle bits. Be careful if you use a hammer drill as it is easy to shatter the rock.

I'lll keep that in mind. I'm not to sure what kind of rock I have. I can take a picture of it in the way I would like the rock layed out tomorrow...

Is the acrylic liquid came with the kit or was it something else you added? I plan on ordering the 5lb kit to connect the rocks together.

[FireWater]

If you go through MarcoRocks it will come in the kit. It is a bonding agent that you use to mix the mortar. You don't use water, only the Acryl.

[FireWater]

Don't know how much rock you are doing. I can tell you I did a back wall and a large centerpiece for my 120. So 30 lbs might be a little off for you.

[ramsey]

I just bought the 15lb mortar kit from Marco. John, you said you went through 30lbs? How much rock did you have? I'm starting to think 15lbs isn't gonna go very far.

[Tristan23]

Im actually in the process of ordering 10lbs of the kit. How much rock are you using ramsey?

[ramsey]

I'm not 100% sure but if I had to guess I'd say 200-250lbs. I don't need to mortar all the rocks, just enough to make some arches.

[FireWater]

I did a bunch. I cemented 5 large rocks, about football sized, together and filled in an area about 1' x 4' on the back wall.

[Keelynnsreef]

John can you post a oick of your rock that sounds like what I want to do to my 185 gal tank.

[allan]

Kristy, while we wait for John to wake up and get to work... here are the links to the pages that have the rock walls that John helped me build for my 190... and the last link halfway down shows the showpiece rock that he helped me build by cementing a few large pieces together.

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page3 (http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page3)

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page4 (http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page4)

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page6 (http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?68070-Allan-s-RE-Rebuild-post-213/page6)

[Keelynnsreef]

Thanks Allan that looks like what I want to do is it hard?

[allan]

It's very hard, and heavy.

Putting it together is pretty easy.


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[FireWater]

I'm out of town at a training conference with no wifi. I will post some pics up later. There is a whole build thread on my tank in the large tank forum.

[FireWater]

I have also had several people ask me about doing a meeting this year about scaping with the mortar.

[FireWater]

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?63476-John-s-new-water-holder/page13

Here is a link to the back drop in my tank. I also used the mortar to make a center piece out of 5 large rocks. It i further in the thread.

[FireWater]

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?63476-John-s-new-water-holder/page21

[ramsey]

Thanks John. I can't wait to start my new project! I just hope my tank looks half as good as yours when I'm done!