Concrete In Tank?????

Hello!

My grandfather has given me some beautiful pieces of concrete/cement to put into my freshwater tank as “rocks”. Is this safe for my aquarium or could it cause problems? I plan on keep angelfish and my tank is going to be DENSELY planted. Do you recommend some type of clear glue/coating for the cement to stop if from decomposing or leaking? I'm not sure if boiling it is a good idea as I fear it could have air bubbles in it (due to their erratic shapes) which could cause it to crack and or explode. Is using bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or hydrochloric acid a good idea to treat/clean it or could these solutions potentially leak into the tank even after a thorough washing/boiling (if I decide to boil it)? I’m primarily concerned about the concrete decomposing or leaking limestone into my tank causing the water hardness or pH to fluctuate (over time or in a short period amount of time). Please only comment/respond if you have experience with concrete, concrete waterproofing, aquariums and concrete, etc.

Thanks for you help,

Stephen

 

Just my personal opinion but I wouldn't use concrete.

 

Directly putting concrete in your aquarium can (and will) cause your PH to drop to the level where it will kill everything in the tank (also why there are multiple warning on concrete bags). You would have to seal it with about 3-4 layers of epoxy sealent, but make sure every little crack is sealed, which is very hard to do itself, if you decide to use concrete. Then you would have to test it in another container to make sure the PH doesn't drop (if it does, you would have to re seal it and make sure wherever it wasn't sealed is sealed). IMO concrete should never be used in aquariums.

 

Concrete can leach chemicals over time, some of them toxic. I would personally scrap the concrete and use some natural rock as your hardscape. Depending on where you live you can do that for free.

 

I guess it would work. Breeders use that in outdoor breeding pools.

EDIT: On second thought, I would not do it

 

Would not use in an aquarium, can leach into water as previously said. If you decide to use it DO NOT boil it, will most definitely explode if any air pockets.

 

Directly putting concrete in your aquarium can (and will) cause your PH to drop

Raise. It will not drop your PH.

Concrete is commonly used in tanks, especially marines. Though usually not using your standard quick crete cement. White, plaster of paris or similar.
Here's a good tutorial: Aragocrete making

You just need to soak it for a few months, maybe in something like vinegar to neutralize the PH. Still will raise your PH, but should be ideal for africans.

That concrete, I probably wouldn't use it. Especially given how relatively easy it is to make your own.

 

Nice car dude. And cheers to a fellow member of Ontario.