Cinderblocks as decoration???

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Mert999

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Jul 30, 2004
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i got a crazy i deai that came to me. in my backyard there alot of cinderblocks.....i think thats what they call them.....the big bricks with 3 square holes in them....any way....i was thinking to take 2 of them...take one whole one pit it in the middle of the tank...and take another one beak it apart neatly so i can make caves ad such .....and also work around them by putting plactic plants and stuff around....i have a really neat idea in my head but dont no if it would be safe for the fish.....(if the blocks were properly cleaned) and how would i find out if they are safe....

LETS JUST SAY i WOULD be able to use these blocks.....they are heavy....is there a risk of the aqurium breaking??....i dont no exactly how much they weight but iam guessing a good 15lbs.

your answers/opinions are greatly appreciated

thank you
:clap:
 
First of all find out what type of rock they are, i'm guessing its cement. It might change your PH. Also if they've been in your garden have any pesticides been used near it or on it? It might get into your water. If you are worried about weight then use an eggcrate underneath below the substrate to spread the weight out. (its those plastic square tray things) If you are worried about weight go weight it and find out how much it weights. then calculate its approximate volume and find out how much water weights at that volume if its pretty close then i wouldn't worry about it because if the tank can support the water why not the rock. It'll displace that amount of water.
 
the weight itself wouldn't be a problem, the problem is individual stress points on the glass that can cause cracking over time.

i used ceiling egg crating on the bottom of my tank. the stuff they use for ceiling flourescent track lighting. the plastic grid helps to dissipate the weight and doesn't allow the object to actually touch the glass. you can cut and/or break the plastic to fit your needs and the stuff is really cheap at most hardware-type stores.

the only problem with this application is that the egg crate base really needs to be the first thing in the tank. you don't want a piece of gravel or something caught and causing a stress point. place the crating, then the rocks, then pour the gravel in last. not as handy if the tank is already full. since you are dealing with something largely square, setting it on a gravel substrate MIGHT be ok, but better safe than sorry.

i think i remember someone saying once (hows that for vague) that something in commercial concrete (cinder blocks) will leach into the water and possibly wreak havoc. anyone have better info on that?

hope this helps

eric
 
cement contains limestone and lye. makes for VERY high pH.
 
cinderblock is HIGHLY alkaline and will leach compounds into your water that will significantly elevate both your pH and kH ... i'd suggest finding some other form of 'decoration'.
 
if the lime in cement is the only concern, then you should be ok if its Lake malawi or tanganyika setup. i think lye is more soluable in water because of its finer texture/more surface area. and cinderblocks strike me as kind of porous.

failsafe method: put a chunk in a covered container of water for a week and do some before/after pH and hardness tests (KH increase is what you're looking for, but the GH isn't a bad idea if you have it).

maybe even two weeks.
 
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