Can these cement plugs be cured and made reef safe?

SeanT · 06/18/2007, 11:48 PM

I found some interesting shaped cement plugs at, of all places, a florists shop. They are used to weight baloons.

I asked what kind of cement they were made with and they didn't know.

I was wondering if I soaked them long enough in salt water, would all nasties be leeched out?

Or is it not even worth the effort?

Thanks,
Sean

silverwolf72 · 06/19/2007, 01:13 AM

You prob be better to make your own. Unless you know there is no rebar or any thing of the sort in them. Just look up agrocreat

mhurley · 06/19/2007, 05:59 AM

Sure....a buddy of mine uses something similar and he cures them (prepare yourself) in his toilet.

That's right....in the tank in the back of the toilet....constant flow of fresh water. Brilliant, I thought..Never need to worry about changing water.

Travis L. Stevens · 06/19/2007, 08:18 AM

I don't know about using these specifically, but it shouldn't be much different than what you can make at home. I second curing in the holding tank of a toilet. I do this all the time.

SeanT · 06/19/2007, 09:37 AM

So freshwater curing is better than saltwater then?
Cool.
I broke one apart, it is just concrete, no rebar or good inside.

Travis L. Stevens · 06/19/2007, 09:40 AM

Freshwater all the way. You need the low pH of the freshwater to draw out the extra Ca(OH)2. BTW, breaking one apart doesn't necessarily show you what type of cement or aggregate is used. Most likely it is fine though.

SeanT · 06/19/2007, 10:05 AM

Sweet.
Into the tank...toilet tank, they go.

Thanks gang,
Sean

SeanT · 07/19/2007, 05:56 PM

These plugs have been in for a month now.
How long is considered safe?

Thanks,
Sean

ihopss · 07/19/2007, 06:36 PM

You can conserve [toilet] tank water doing that, pretty cool!

06/18/2007, 11:48 PM	#1
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	Can these cement plugs be cured and made reef safe? I found some interesting shaped cement plugs at, of all places, a florists shop. They are used to weight baloons. I asked what kind of cement they were made with and they didn't know. I was wondering if I soaked them long enough in salt water, would all nasties be leeched out? Or is it not even worth the effort? Thanks, Sean __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

06/19/2007, 05:59 AM	#3
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	Sure....a buddy of mine uses something similar and he cures them (prepare yourself) in his toilet. That's right....in the tank in the back of the toilet....constant flow of fresh water. Brilliant, I thought..Never need to worry about changing water. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

06/19/2007, 08:18 AM	#4
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I don't know about using these specifically, but it shouldn't be much different than what you can make at home. I second curing in the holding tank of a toilet. I do this all the time. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

06/19/2007, 09:37 AM	#5
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	So freshwater curing is better than saltwater then? Cool. I broke one apart, it is just concrete, no rebar or good inside. __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

06/19/2007, 09:40 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Freshwater all the way. You need the low pH of the freshwater to draw out the extra Ca(OH)2. BTW, breaking one apart doesn't necessarily show you what type of cement or aggregate is used. Most likely it is fine though. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

06/19/2007, 01:13 AM	#2
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	You prob be better to make your own. Unless you know there is no rebar or any thing of the sort in them. Just look up agrocreat

06/19/2007, 10:05 AM	#7
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	Sweet. Into the tank...toilet tank, they go. Thanks gang, Sean __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

07/19/2007, 05:56 PM	#8
SeanT Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 13,860	These plugs have been in for a month now. How long is considered safe? Thanks, Sean __________________ My tank was cool. Current Tank Info: Barebottom (the tank not me...at least not at the moment).

07/19/2007, 06:36 PM	#9
ihopss Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gilmer,tx Posts: 751	You can conserve [toilet] tank water doing that, pretty cool!