Re: [AGA Member] Re: AGA Member - Digest V1 #15

[<dxm1@cwnet.com>]

>> Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 06:07:46 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: "S. Hieber" shieber@yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [AGA Member] Lime It -- What's in it.
>> 
>> I always wondered if, in that application, you would
>> get
>> continual leaching of the alkaline materials into
>> the
>> water.  I don't guess that it's a problem but I
>> suppose if
>> it was an issue, you could seal the concrete.
>> 
>> For backgrounds you might wnat to use what's called
>> "plastic cement", which isn't made of vinyl but is
>> portland
>> cement with an added resin that lends terrific
>> plasticity
>> to the wet mixture and increased resistance to water
>> penetration..
>> 

True. I do 50% water changes every couple of days for at 
least two weeks after putting the new background in the 
tank. The pH is usually off of the scale for at least a 
week. I calms down with constant flushing, although it will 
always buffer the water (as it continues to cure - maybe 
forever?) I _do_ use "acrylic fortifier" for the first (to 
bond to the Styrofoam) and last (color) coats.

This may not be the best for small planted tanks, as you 
will have a constant battle trying to keep the pH at 7 or 
below. I use it mainly for Rift Lake cichlid tanks (planted 
with Anubias and Vals, to keep this post on topic ;)

But, come to think of it, how many large public aquariums 
have I seen made of glass or acrylic? Hmmm...

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