Cement?!

[playbus]

I recently visited the Bluereef Aquarium in Portsmouth, and noticed a lot of their aquatic, and amphib' tanks have what looks like cement walls.

I have built a great stuff and silicone background in my darts tank, and polytyrene and tile grout / sand fake walls in my gecko tank, and feel my toad tank without a backing just looks a bit bare.

I am tempted to build a cliff wall in my FB Toads tank, but am unsure how to make it. I asked in Bluereef, but the staff working that day couldnt help.

Does anyone know what is used? I'm guessing they also painted it as it was various colours / shades.

Would it be polystyrene behind it, like my geckos tank, as otherwise I would have thought it would be really heavy...

Asking here as guessing its made in a simialr way to Malawi tank backgrounds etc.

Cheers

Chris

 

[SkiFletch]

There have been lots of people who have done this over the years, sadly I didnt save any names/links. Just remember, if you use cement in contact with water that it will need to be "cured" by submerging it underwater for a 3-5 weeks. During this curing time, the cement releases lime and other highly basic elements and the pH of the container is often 11-12. Hence the need for curing before putting it in any tank with animals. Lastly, if the background/cement rocks are small enough, placing them in a toilet cistern (where they would be flushed constantly) will cure them the fastest

 

[NoRp]

GREAT IDEA
not only saves work but also saves water bill
wonder if i should try it with my next bogwood ( gonna have to sneak it in oneday)

 

[Rooster]

toilet cistern

Yea.... this is STAR idea, handy for washing all sorts of stuff ! coconut shells, rocks etc - this should be pinned !

 

[Danno]

Just be very careful because cement + plaster can = DISASTER.

Plaster is very fragile to hard object contacts. Line the inside with a rubber first if you want to be safe.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

when cistern was mentioned, i thought of a cesspool for some odd reason i was thinking that you were a really odd person putting your fish stuff in there

 

[Rooster]

when cistern was mentioned, i thought of a cesspool for some odd reason i was thinking that you were a really odd person putting your fish stuff in there

A cesspool IS where people put their fish if the filter isnt cycled ! But yer I did sound odd to me too... but think about it, there ONLY clean water in there... unless you add those blue blocks ! lol and its constantly being replaced - I still say its a great idea.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yup, great idea for curing cement, or rinsing bogwood for that matter. I can only take credit for being the messenger though, I learned it on garf.org myself