MY DIY cement background

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305phins

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2010
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I have applied the first layer of cement it was really thin and i can still see parts of the white foam as you can see. Im using the quickcrete hydrolic water stop. The first layer is not like rock. When i run my finger on it, cement comes off like dirt, why is it like that and is that ok for the first coat. My second problem is, does the back and sides need to be covered in cement, will the water rot the back or side if its just exposed styro.

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Styrofoam won't "soak up water" and rot. I didn't coat the back of mine. Just siliconed the styrofoam to the tank.

I actually glued my styrofoam in the tank before coating due to not being able to put a whole background in.

I think you just need a thicker coat of cement. should be fine after it's thicker.
 
Yea im going to apply the second coat like in an hour or so. Ill do that coat kinda thick and take some more pictures. It fits in my 150 fine in those two pieces, I didnt want to get cement all over the tank thats why I did it like this.
 
This is after the second coat. I did this coat a lot thicker. Why em i getting these cracks in the first picture, what do i do to no get those cracks. And this concrete doesn't get that hard why not, has it not dried for long enough. I feel like if i put it under water it will turn mushy and fall off the foam.. I don't know how i feel about how its coming out i still have to add the layer with color hopefully it will make it look nicer :(, what do you guys think about it..Anyone have any good techniques for making the rocks look real with the color layer.

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Like sit long enough before applying the next coat right. Thats what i was thinking i might be doing wrong.
 
I mean the concrete may be drying too fast and cracks because of that. May need to be "spritzing" it with water every now and then so it doesn't dry too fast and crack/flake.

Google how to cure concrete.

you can spritz it with water for a while until it tacks up, then lay a damp towel or something over it to keep it moist while it cures. That may work well for you.

Some of the bags of quickcrete have curing recommendations on them I believe (but don't hold me to that).
 
O ok i get you. Yea i was spritzing it as well, but i guess in the miami heat outside it drys super fast so 4 spritz over 24hrs wasn't enough.. on the next coat ill bring it inside and spritz it more often.. is the background suppose to get rock hard because i feel like if i wanted to i could easily break it in half, ( still feels weak like styro).... Also has anyone had any problems with the cement crumbling in the tank or like peeling of the styro
 
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