Can I use concrete or mortar mix in reef tank?

brbrown

brbrown

New Member
Hello,
I am getting ready to aquascape my reef tank and I was wondering if it is safe to use the pre-mixed bags of mortar mix like they use for laying blocks and brick or the concrete mixes (like Quickrete) for bonding my base rocks together? I had read where you can use the pure Portland Cement but it doesn't really have the bonding strength or "stay together" strength without the sand as the concrete and mortar mixes.
Thanks very much!
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
never tried it but i bet it'll work for a while ... only thing i heard not working in a slatwater tank is quickcrete.. i think it dont hold up too good in a salt tank.. it flakes apart... and if you do try this thing.. you should prabaly cure the 'structure' thing before u put it to your main tank cuzz there are bad chemicals in cement..
 
T

thomas712

Guest
I'd say no, because those who have made their own rock using that portland cement talked bout it takeing several weeks to clear out all of the harmful products that were preseant in the cement, several water changes are needed, but then I've never done it.
Mixing it in the tank might also scratch the heck out of the tank.
Why would you want to bond your base blocks together?
 
acrylic300

acrylic300

Member
I think it is advised to cure it in a tub for several weeks. There is a good site on how to make it, I am not sure I can mention it but ill try. Search for ***NOPE*** and it will tell you how to mix the argonite, crushed coral, plastic shavings and all that stuff to make Man Made Reef.
I havent tried it, but I would like to custom fit a few areas or make a human skull with zoanthids covering it. That would be cool
 
forcrz6

forcrz6

Member
I would say No way Just the Lime in the concreate is bad enough to take the skin off of your body or give you what is called concreate burn then you have the lye in the concreate that is just a poision. Then the Calcum in the concreate that hardens it will never leave and always seep out. I have done concreate finishing for 5+ years befor My new career. And it is nothing nice.
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
There is no LYE in concrete or mortar, its LIME......still an alkaline base but not same strength or property of lime........
 
marvida

marvida

Member
You can use portland cement in your tank. There are plenty of formulas out there. I use portland cement, aragonite sand and crushed coral to make frag plugs and cultured live rock. Like Thomas said pre-mix is out because you don't know what gravel or sand that has been used. It's also true that the cement needs to be cured for several weeks prior to being placed in your tank. I cure for a minimum of 6 weeks in fresh water followed by another 4 weeks in salt water. Basically you keep curing it until it stops creating pH swings.
 
brbrown

brbrown

New Member
Thanks to all of you very much for your replies!
I think after reading your replies I will leave the concrete mixes and mortar mixes to the sidewalks and brick houses and not take a chance in contaminating my tank.
I think I will either use epoxy and silicone or try the portland cement recipe with the aragonite sand.
For the person who asked why I want my base rocks bonded together it is because I do not want a 24"+ tall X 6' long structure of heavy rocks (about 500 pounds in my case) to come tumbling down and destroy my whole tank and it's inhabitants. No matter how well you stack these rocks there is still the potential for catastrophy and I just do not want to take this chance if there is something I can do to help prevent it. I have waited too many years to finally have this dream of mine so I am trying to take all of the precautions I can to prevent something from going terribly wrong.
Thanks again to all of you and I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Take care,
Bryant
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
Originally Posted by brbrown
Thanks to all of you very much for your replies!
I think after reading your replies I will leave the concrete mixes and mortar mixes to the sidewalks and brick houses and not take a chance in contaminating my tank.
I think I will either use epoxy and silicone or try the portland cement recipe with the aragonite sand.
For the person who asked why I want my base rocks bonded together it is because I do not want a 24"+ tall X 6' long structure of heavy rocks (about 500 pounds in my case) to come tumbling down and destroy my whole tank and it's inhabitants. No matter how well you stack these rocks there is still the potential for catastrophy and I just do not want to take this chance if there is something I can do to help prevent it. I have waited too many years to finally have this dream of mine so I am trying to take all of the precautions I can to prevent something from going terribly wrong.
Thanks again to all of you and I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Take care,
Bryant

the thought is a good one but the function is not.
you will not be happy if you cant tear down your tank. you wont do it often but it will need to be done at one time or another. if you want your rocks to be super sturdy use the dowel rod system.
take your rocks and put them how you wish. then mark the rock in places that join together. drill a shallow hole into both rocks on your marks and then stick a fiberglass rod in the hole. then put the other rock on top, this way the rocks will be VERY sturdy, nothing will show. nothing dangerouse will enter your tank and best of all you can move them around if you ever have to. you can use fiber glass, plastic, plexi. any of those types of tubes can be found with ease and are cheap.
 
calylove

calylove

Member
There's a product out I believe by Marineland, that is a putty like material. I haven't used but a buddy has, and it worked great. He said it ran like 10 or 11 bucks for a whole tube and its plenty to do your whole tank.
 
guppy slayer

guppy slayer

Member
I've seen zip-ties used. Sometimes its a little unsightly but maybe in combonation with the drilling and dowel rod system
 
ocean zander

ocean zander

New Member
i would go with the ge silicone 1 to glue things together, however wait a day or two for it to fully cure.
i was to wondering about making some base-rocks from cement mix, but now i think ill just go to a pet shop and buy some of the dead coral,or a hardware store for some sheets of slate.. ect.
thank to all of you for being sop helpful. "keep on tankin"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top