cement DIY tank curing

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cpm6t

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 8, 2011
577
7
18
Sri Lanka
I have a newly built cement tank and in the process of curing it. By curing I mean waiting for ph to stabilize. Started adding water about 1 week back.

1. At first when I put water the PH value went beyond 10.
2. Kept in water filled and added vinegar to bring ph down. As soon as I put vinegar first time ph went down to 4.5 but after 6 hours it was back at 10.
3. Yesterday evening I put vinegar again with new water (ph was 10 before I put vinegar), pH went down to 4.5 and today morning after 18 hours the ph was around 6.5. I think the ph change is slowing down.

My question is in terms of being ready for fish is this the only parameter I need to watch for cement curing. Does uncured cement has any bad effect on fish other than increasing the ph value?
 
cpm6t said:
I have a newly built cement tank and in the process of curing it. By curing I mean waiting for ph to stabilize. Started adding water about 1 week back.

1. At first when I put water the PH value went beyond 10.
2. Kept in water filled and added vinegar to bring ph down. As soon as I put vinegar first time ph went down to 4.5 but after 6 hours it was back at 10.
3. Yesterday evening I put vinegar again with new water (ph was 10 before I put vinegar), pH went down to 4.5 and today morning after 18 hours the ph was around 6.5. I think the ph change is slowing down.

My question is in terms of being ready for fish is this the only parameter I need to watch for cement curing. Does uncured cement has any bad effect on fish other than increasing the ph value?
Click to expand...

Did you not waterproof the cement somehow? I applied pond armor on mine and it was neutral to the ph. It's never tested any different than out of the tap.


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I did waterproof the concrete. After that the bottom of the tank was applied with another thin cement layer, I think that is causing the ph swing. One option I have is applying another layer of water proofing on top of the bottom cement layer.
Or else I can wait for the cement to cure.
 
cpm6t said:
I did waterproof the concrete. After that the bottom of the tank was applied with another thin cement layer, I think that is causing the ph swing. One option I have is applying another layer of water proofing on top of the bottom cement layer.
Or else I can wait for the cement to cure.
Click to expand...

The cement should cure fully in 1-3 weeks. I've never seen it proven but it's said that bare concrete leaches lime into the water and is harmful to fish long term. I'd re coat it. How big did you do yours? I love mine I'm sure you will as well.


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trace said:
The cement should cure fully in 1-3 weeks. I've never seen it proven but it's said that bare concrete leaches lime into the water and is harmful to fish long term. I'd re coat it. How big did you do yours? I love mine I'm sure you will as well.


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Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess I'll re-coat the bottom with pond sealer and forget about this whole curing thing. Much more convenient I guess. My tank is a triangular 300g tank.
View attachment 972643
 
^ Nice tank... and slightly un-usual shape for a 300G... what you planning on putting in there?
 
Fat Homer said:
^ Nice tank... and slightly un-usual shape for a 300G... what you planning on putting in there?
Click to expand...

Thanks. It will be home for a RTG arowana, 2 peacock bass, 1 flagtail and 4 silver dollars. They are all in my 220g right now. I'll post pictures when the fish are in. :-)
 
Should look really sweet once finished... Btw, since i cant really tell, is this an indoor tank or outdoor tank?


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