Hi I am looking to help me build my prototype reef.

What i mean by this is i want to try build my own reef rocks and lighting as well as get a few bits to maybe set up a business if it works.

The money raise will be to prototype making the reef rocks from concrete and shells if the mixture and set up works i will then be able to make rocks for the aquarium hobby cheap and any design meaning less harm to the environment.

If this works people can buy it helping to wipe out wild rocks that destroy wild reefs as well as it being local so you can easily order some in a shape you need and have it made fast.

The basic shapes i will be testing are

Flat (good for stacking and making shelfs)

cave/ rounded (pre made and shaped caves for hiding fish)

branch (incase you want to make some sort of spiky rockwork)

ball (standard rock shape)

This will then be tested a few ways:

does the rock's shape and dissolve to form the holes needed for "live rock" substitute

After setting how long does it take to stabilize so it's safe for tanks and selling

If it passes this it will then be put in a display pool/storage pool where it will sit and gain the beneficial algae and pods etc -this needs testing how long it will take till it gains this fully

Once all of this is done it will be up to the customers that want to buy this if they want straight dry rock that is shape and stable or if they want the more live one that's been soaking for x weeks etc

To do all this I need to make a basic setup and equipment which are

Pools/Tanks - Complete

Lights

Filter

Rock Mixture

Live rock and pods as "seed" material (the good bacterias etc will spread from the rocks to the ones i make turning them to the beneficial version)

I have already got hold of 2 8ft pools which can be used as holding and test containers

The light i will save money by hand making it but i still need money for the raw parts

Filter i will by a standard one which is pretty cheap

Rock mixture i will be testing involves cheap concrete,crushed corals and oysters shells (pet stores sell this cheap for chicken feed and bird feed) and some other bits

And the live rock and pods will be seed material to improve the rocks -dont need much just enough to kickstart the reactions

For a price breakdown of everything

To build the light system ~£200-300 for all LEDs,metal etc

Filter ~£50

Mixture ~£50

Seed material ~£100

The excess money will be for the special salt for making the water into salt water,heaters and replacement bits etc

This will take us to the end goal price any extra will be used to improve the lights or equipment,more seed material,pay bills, better/more attempts etc

The stretch goal is £1k which is better equipment, £10k is full setup with linked lights etc to simulate real weather etc

Not sure what to get after £10k but will accept suggestions (maybe a storefront in town or warehouse or delivery van?)

Any little will help even sharing the project helps and who knows if this goes well and gets popular we might even get rid of 99% the need for wild caught rocks which destroys the natural reefs.

If this project is successful and gets enough interest i will sell the rocks on to others in the hobby and use that money to even try fish breeding to reduce wild caught fish in the UK



If you want to donate more or less then a reward tier or want to invest get in contact with me and im sure we can work out something (im new to rewards and dont know what people would want)