Experiment: HomeMade Live Rock

[darkdep]

Since it's going to be a while until I can get a Saltwater tank together, and since I can't come up with enough ways to injure myself trying to make coconut caves with power tools, I'm thinking of trying to do the whole DIY Live Rock thing.

I've read a lot about it, and the basic idea is to make a mix of portland cement with Aragonite (which is just calcium carbonate; but I'm having a hard time finding any other than bagged CaribSea brand), and form them in a sand/gravel bed, let them harden, and cure them in water for a month or two before you seed them.

An alternative recipe (here: http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/t_miller_052498.html) suggests using crushed oyster shell instead of Aragonite as it is potentially very cheap and produces good results.  I'd like to try this out, document it, and see how it turns out.  

Does anyone know:

A) Can you buy Aragonite gravel/sand in bulk greater than a "CaribSea Brand Bag"?  

B) Does anyone know where you can buy Crushed Oyster Shell?  It's apparantly a common Chicken Feed supplement, but I wouldn't have any idea where to buy chicken feed supplements.  If you do know where, any idea as to pricing?

C) Has anyone ACTUALLY TRIED to do this before?  I know the concept is not new, but I haven't met anyone who's done it.  Any pitfalls anyone is aware of?

Thanks folks.

[johnbabin]

Check out Ritchie's Feed & Seed, they have locations in Stittsville and on Innes Road. I would think that they would have the crushed oyster shell if it's used as chicken feed.

[BigDaddy]

I can get Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).. but it is in powder form.

[az]

dark, is it to kill time or to save money?

[darkdep]

I'll check out Richie's, thanks for the tip!

I've only seen Aragonite sand available...no gravel (which is what I'd like to find, optimally).  Powdered wouldn't work for this.  It would produce rocks that are too smooth.

[DARKPHREAK]

Lots of salt water people on AC have made their own. A few I know have 300+ pounds in their system. Might wanna check/ask over there.