DIY Purple rock?

[PAXpress]

Anyone know of a good, safe, cheap and effective way to change dry rock into natural looking coralline purple rock, without reducing the effectiveness of the filtration the rock provides? Similar to the walt smith rock? I've seen threads warning against this, however I'm wondering if anyone has a good solution for this aside from "patience and nature will take its course."

[CleanReef]

I'm pretty sure it has been scientifically shown that coraline algae doesn't inhibit the filtration capability of LR. This is because coraline is very porous on the microscopic scale. I say embrace coraline, at least it is more desirable and consumes nutrients that other algae would otherwise consume.

Best of luck.

[PAXpress]

Originally Posted by CleanReef

I'm pretty sure it has been scientifically shown that coraline algae doesn't inhibit the filtration capability of LR. This is because coraline is very porous on the microscopic scale. I say embrace coraline, at least it is more desirable and consumes nutrients that other algae would otherwise consume.

Best of luck.

I love coralline I'm not trying to prevent it. I just want my rocks purple on day one. The coralline can grow over the purple rocks as they see fit. I'd just like to find a way to have purple rocks without having to wait!

[mcgyvr]

RIT dye

[j tavares]

Krylon fusion Spray tI on I used it for yrs in tanks

[PAXpress]

Originally Posted by j tavares

Krylon fusion Spray tI on I used it for yrs in tanks

I used the black fusion for the back wall and had good luck with it. I was worried that painting it like this would cause the porosity of the rock to be clogged up and cause it to be less effective at filtration... Any ideas? as for the rit dye this sounds like it wouldnt cause that first problem but would it leach into the water and cause problems (obviously I could soak it in water for weeks to prevent this as I'll need to cure any dry new rock anyways). Thanks for the advice guys. Anyone actually done either of these on their rock?

[mcgyvr]

Costs a few dollars to try the RIT... and soda ash and even baking soda + water should set its color so it doesn't leach (not that it would cause problems anyways other than potentially tinted water)..


I would NOT use paint.. It WILL seal pores...

Well.. I wouldn't do either because I think you are just a cheater/poser.. Real men don't paint their rocks purple.. They let nature do it..

[PinkPunisher]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Costs a few dollars to try the RIT... and soda ash and even baking soda + water should set its color so it doesn't leach (not that it would cause problems anyways other than potentially tinted water)..


I would NOT use paint.. It WILL seal pores...

Well.. I wouldn't do either because I think you are just a cheater/poser.. Real men don't paint their rocks purple.. They let nature do it..

Not all real men have an extra $7+ a pound to spend on rock that is otherwise identical Or the patience to wait a year plus for purple rocks

[mcgyvr]

I will never understand why people like coralline growth... :shrug:

[billdogg]

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I will never understand why people like coralline growth... :shrug:

This.

One fo the reasons I really like my urchin. It's easy to see where he's been overnight. There will be a swath of bare rock leading right up to his daytime hidey spot.

[PAXpress]

Originally Posted by billdogg

This.

One fo the reasons I really like my urchin. It's easy to see where he's been overnight. There will be a swath of bare rock leading right up to his daytime hidey spot.

Thanks for visiting and leaving your two cents however I'm not really interested in your opinion of coralline, your pincusion's eating habits, or your take on what real men are or aren't. Seems like a straight forward question like this receives more bogus responses than actual input.
Obviously if products like the walt smith reef rock 2.1 is for sale, theres a market for it. I've also seen other threads of people asking similar questions So regardless of your opinion on the matter I'm more interested in ways to simulate coralline growth. I appreciate the helpful input on the rit dye and krylon, however still a bit fearful of the dye slowly leaching into the water. Has anyone used dye on anything in their tank?

[EMeyer]

This messageboard community is so funny. I dont know any other online community where people so regularly try to police the responses to threads.

I suggest that if you post about how to dye your rocks purple, you should *expect* a handful of responses directly answering your question, a handful of responses telling you your goal is a bad idea, and a whole bunch of responses barely related to the original topic. Thats what message boards are and have always been. Its not a bug, its a feature.

My two cents -- when you set up a reef tank it'll be months before youre past the uglies, and months before you should stock the tank. Why worry so much about the color of your rocks on day 1? The color of your rocks will change a dozen times over those first few months anyway, regardless of what they start as. By the time youre really stocking the tank you'll have plenty of cca growing, in my experience.

[homer1475]

Waiting for your rock to "purple up" is a lesson in patience. Something we all need to learn to have in this hobby.

if you can't wait it out, maybe this hobby isn't for you.