Created my first test rocks today using aragonite sand in two different grades, oyster shells, and portland cement.
The first several batches were trial and error, learning very quickly that the amount of water used in the mix is extremely detremental in the final outcome of the rocks and also how detailed the design of the rocks can be. Too dry and they crumble apart, too wet and they look too artificial. Also found that once cured, the rocks that are more dry seem to be stronger and more durable than the wetter rocks that were created.
After several hours of different mixes, a heck of a mess and hundreds of little unidentifiable little heaps of oystercrete laying around found a decent and good working base mix to start using regularly.
Started making basic cave designs and arch designs as well as natural rock shaped designs from rock and coral outcroppings I had seen MyCams over the years while diving and ones that seem to have the most growth and hold the most fish in the wild.
The basic cave was created by first placing a nice thin, flattend out area of aragocrete/oystercrete on the working table, mashing it as thin as possible (about 1/4″) and approximately the diameter that I wanted the finished product. Then I would place a basic perimeter wall of mix approximately 1″ high all the way around 3 sides of the base to create the foundations of the cave wall while leaving one side open for the finished cave opening. At this point I filled in the center of the cave (what will be the JasminLive finished open part of the cave) with sand and left over pcs parts from the disaster pcs created earlier to fill what will become the void area of the cave. I extended this 2″ past the opening area of the cave to ensure full coverage of the top in the next step.(found that keeping the fill media moist it held together better instead of spilling out everywhere). Next I started slowly adding more aragocrete/oystercrete up the rest of the cave walls I had started, and up and over the media filler I had piled up to completely enclose the cave with exception of the intended opening.
I tried to keep the mix as open as possible, so I started kinda plopping the mix into place thru my fingers from a height of 3″-6″ above the cave, and letting it loosly fall from my fingertips and plop down onto the final Camera Boys product. This gave a much more natural effect to the rocks, and created more voids and surface area as this is the final effect and style im aiming for anyway.
Few things learned not to do during this phase….
Never get the mix too wet, they become very brittle, dont look natural, and become too dense for intended use.
If mix is too dry, it doesnt end up with enough binder (cement) between the joints and will come apart at the JasminLive weak area’s. It cures out to be stronger, but does have the weak spots.
It takes a good bit of trial and error to determine exactly how wet or dry the mix needs to be based upon what you want for a final product and look.
For my designs, I found that with my mix when mixed properly and creates nice voids, very porous, and looks nice that it should basically have the looks of a very thick oatmeal. To kinda give it a test, grab a handfull, squeeze it into a ball and then release in the palm of your hand, it should hold itself together but shouldnt have water or waste streaming into a puddle in your hand or off the product. It should hold its shape nicely on its own. Below is an image of a properly mixed batch as used with our Mix…