Diy Bg Questions

[RRasco]

I have been considering doing a styrofoam/cement bg for my 55 gallon. After completion, the ph levels are supposed to be high right? And I am supposed to wait for the levels to stabalize before adding fish?

My question is, if I have a co2 pressurized system, will this allow my ph levels to drop significantly quicker allowing me to add fish faster? I already have fish in this tank, and cant keep them in the holding tank for very long. How long would it take for the ph to stabalize without co2? and how long would it take for ph to stabalize with co2?

Would I be able pretreat the BG in anyway, like presoaking?

 

[Somthingfishy]

Well, 1st let me say I've got no idea about your question - but LOVE your tanks - their BEAUTIFUL! The 55 gallon looks great the way you've got it set up - adds dimenstion. Very very nice! Please send more pics when you finish, I'd love to see them

 

[RRasco]

thanks. although the scaping will probably be changing dramatically in the near future.

 

[BBrain]

What the heck is a "Bg"? I might be able to guess what it is, but why not use full words? You'd probably get answers faster.

 

[demonmagus]

What the heck is a "Bg"? I might be able to guess what it is, but why not use full words? You'd probably get answers faster.

is it bogwood?

 

[RRasco]

What the heck is a "Bg"? I might be able to guess what it is, but why not use full words? You'd probably get answers faster.

BG = Background

come on now, this is the interenet, who uses full words anymore? LOL! <---SEE

 

[BBrain]

Just doing my bit to try to save our language that's been developed over the past hundred thousand years, from destruction in only a few years, by the "ICTAAC gen". (Internet Chatting, Texting, And Acronym Creating generation).

Back to your question:
Concrete takes a long, long time to cure to full strength (years, I learned in my construction training), but I'm not sure how long it may leach out its limestone chemicals (like calcium carbonate) into water...perhaps also for years, because you can see the white calcium carbonate appear on the inside of concrete basement walls that have moisture problems, in houses that are decades old. I suggest that you let the concrete cure for a few weeks, and try to keep it wet during this time. Then let it dry for a few weeks, so it will take a sealant of some sort...maybe an epoxy coating. After the sealant cures, then fill the tank with water, and add your fish.

As for trying to neutralize the high pH with CO2, sorry, I've never heard of that being done. But I guess it's theoretically possible.

 

[RRasco]

thanks. i think i am going to get a new 30 or 55 gallon trash can, then after its done, just let it soak in water in there for a few weeks or so.