my method of building fake / faux rocks

[beckdg]

neutralizes higher ph's caused by certain minerals such as and usually limited to lye.

[Vajkpapa]

I don't know, never heard it before I made some background already for fishes, some guys made it for reptiles or frogs, but I never heard dipping with vinegar here in Hungary before.

[dart345]

If ph is a issue, I can check it to make sure, I have a PH meter, so that will not be a issue.... But I do understand that some accessories or supplies must undergo treatment before going into the tank setup

[beckdg]

usually just concrete. alternatively if you're unsure of the rocks you're going to use you can put a little vinegar on the rock and if it fizzles it's probably going to raise your tds and in turn your ph.

[Vajkpapa]

Oh so, it's for the PH neutralization. I had some fishes from South America, which like low PH and almost distilled water. I used some concrete rocks also in this tank. Never used vinegar, but filled the tank with osmosis water several times, for a few weeks. I never had problems after this method.

[beckdg]

if you don't have an r/o filter vinegar is cheaper, easier, faster and the fizzles can give conclusive evidence of alkaline compounds that'll break down in your water and affect it's ph.. for us that have r/o filters the corrosive capabilities are great and the water's practically free so makes for a great option indeed.

[BigWillieStyles]

I wonder how the viv finished up....

[lillyviv]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering about the vinegar/water soak. What are the specifics-- how many parts vinegar to water? I couldn't find an answer in this thread (sorry if I missed it) or elsewhere on the site, but I'm new here and am still trying to learn how to find specific info.
I was also wondering about the best method to make and paint your own features-- ones that would be completely submersed underwater. I thought perhaps Styrofoam/Quickcrete/paint or Great Stuff/Quickcrete/paint. Does the Great Stuff have to be covered in Quickcrete to be safe for underwater?
I read that Krylon Fusion would be safe underwater, should it also be cured in vinegar first?
Thanks for any/all advice, and sorry if I should have posted these questions somewhere else.

[fc3schick87]

Originally Posted by lillyviv

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering about the vinegar/water soak. What are the specifics-- how many parts vinegar to water? I couldn't find an answer in this thread (sorry if I missed it) or elsewhere on the site, but I'm new here and am still trying to learn how to find specific info.
I was also wondering about the best method to make and paint your own features-- ones that would be completely submersed underwater. I thought perhaps Styrofoam/Quickcrete/paint or Great Stuff/Quickcrete/paint. Does the Great Stuff have to be covered in Quickcrete to be safe for underwater?
I read that Krylon Fusion would be safe underwater, should it also be cured in vinegar first?
Thanks for any/all advice, and sorry if I should have posted these questions somewhere else.

try researching aqua scapes like aquarium and coral do it yourself projects. it will help you learn whats water safe.

as far as concrete goes. you must soak it a while to leach out any lye. research curing concrete for aquarium use or koi pond use.

it will take many weeks but it will be worth it.

i know my post might not be to helpfull but if you read the beginning of this thread and many others about concrete backrounds you'll find the ratios arnt to important but daily replacement of water is.

[trayp]

This is an awesome take on a rock wall waterfall. Ive seen this build so many times on YouTube and always wondered how it was done and now I know. And awesome reef too.