PH is off the chart with background

[portabuddy]

you didnt soak it in salt water to cure it did you...?

You can kill your fish very quickly id you dont cure your backgrounds...

what you need to do is evac. the tank add alot of salt, a bit higher then a salt water tank and leave it for two weeks, then empty it and rince everything three times and test for salt, keep rincing untill its normal, then the ph will be fine... you didnt read this in the tutorials???, there was a grate one where a guy did a easter island theam and explained it a hell or a lot better then i did...

 

[DeLgAdO]

Well I have my background in the tank with water and i added salt for a few days changed water a few times but my ph is off the charts my test kit cant even read it. What can i do to lower the ph? Its well past 7.6

how does a background raise the pH?!?!?!?

Edit: nevermind concrete, gotcha.

concrete takes a long time to stop leaching. you could seal it with something.

 

[PMK]

how does a background raise the pH?!?!?!?

Edit: nevermind concrete, gotcha.

concrete takes a long time to stop leaching. you could seal it with something.

What could i seal it with that would be safe for the fish?

 

[saltydog_1]

epoxy?

 

[portabuddy]

If you let it soak in heavlt salted water it cures the concreet... ok whatever nevermind, go seal it not like i read 200 walkthroughs or anything...

 

[Arturo]

Do you have any pics?

 

[Mystix212]

Epoxy resin, (prolly not) or silicone.

 

[ercnan]

Like portabubby and others have already said, if you just made it and plunked in the tank without soaking/curing it, that's what happening now.
Sounds like you are in a waiting game 'til it's finished and stable.

 

[schaadrak]

You could seal it now, but if that sealant ever chips or cracks then all that alkalinity that's built up and been trapped that whole time is going to leach out.