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Aragocrete Mixing and Curing Without Images

When you purchase one of our 1.5 gallon ready to use DIY Aragocrete Mix'es you have everything you need to start designing your new Aragocrete Designs except the water.

In this brief article we'll explain the proper way to mix and use our kit.

First is a few items youll need to properly create your designs.

Large preferrable flat bottom square bucket for mixing everything in.

Mixing utensil being either a hoe, small hand rake or similar.

Water

*Color Additive If Using*

Box or flat area with plastic sheet layed down for actually making the design on.

You will also need some dry sand or gravel, to help hold your designs shape with.
Youll be using this to actually create your design or shape in. We usually moisten ours a little to help it hold a shape while were adding our aragocrete mix around it. Once dried simply remove the excess material.
You can see a sample of our arch's we make and the dry gravel was made into a hump to add the aragocrete mix across the top.

Now on the the fun parts...

First empty your 1.5 gallon bag of mix into your mixing bucket and stir together while everything is dry. This step is very important to ensure you get a even consistency thruout your batch.

Now you add your water, but be cautious and do not add it all at once, because this part is a little picky and if not done correctly could cause your rocks to not come out right.
You will need approximatly 3 cups of water overall.(again do not add it all at once). Now put about half of the water into your dry mix and very very thoroughly mix it all together. At this point it should still be a little on the dry side or maybe even have some mix thats not wet. Now you can continue to drizzle very small amounts of the remaining water a little at a time, and mixing very very well between additions.
You will want to have an end result of a consistency kinda like extra thick oatmeal.
Once it looks this way, try the ball squeeze test. Try grabbing a handfull of mix, squeeze it slightly and it should remain in the ball shape. If it does without crumbling completely apart then your ready to go.

Next is the actual design process... Well cover a couple of the basic designs here. An arch and a cave.

To Make an Arch...
First take some spare sand or almost anything thats like a tube and form it to the shape you want your arch.
Now simply drop clumps across your pile of sand or tubing from one side to the other to create your arch shape.

To Make a Cave...
First take out enough mix to create the base of the cave for the size you would like.We make ours about 4-6 inches across and 3-5 inches front to back.
Mash out the mix untill its all flattened in the shape you prefer and is about 1/4" to 1/2" thick. This will be the bottom of your cave.
Now take small amounts (about quarter sized) and align them all the way around the perimeter of the cave base you created above. But ensure you leave an opening for the open end of the cave.
Now take some of your spare sand and fill the bottom of the cave, up to the desired height you want the inside of the cave to be.
Next you take some more mix, and cover all the sand you added on top of the cave base, to continue making the side walls and the top.

That it! You've just made your first aragocrete designs.

Here are a few helpfull hints and tips you can use......

If you have sensitive skin use some latex disposable gloves.

When initially mixing your dry mix it will seem a little too dry at first. Let it stand about a minute after mixing to ensure its finished settling and soaking up water.

The more on the dry side the mix is, the stronger it will be.(be cautious its not too dry, remember the squeeze ball test above)

If using color tint additive, you can add the contents of our custom color tint to the dry mix when first mixing it, or sprinkle it on your rocks once you have them designed. All color leeching of the tint will be done during the curing process. The finished and cured rocks will be much lighter tint than the day you make them and the colors will not leech into your tank once the rocks are cured completely.

Once your designs are made, let them sit at least 24 hours before handling, and then move them cautiosly as there still not completely set up yet.

After 48 hours you can handle and move your rocks fairly easily but still do so with caution as they do not attain their full strength for several more days.

Now your rocks are ready to be cured. Ensure you follow the curing process very carefully to ensure everything is reef, coral and fish safe.

The most important part of your new H2Oasis Aragocrete Rocks is the curing process.
Be sure to visit our curing page for full desicription and details.