old gardeners trick - cement ok

[niajetze]

are cement ornaments ok for axie tank? or will they leach all kinds of bad things into the water? I was wondering as my mum uses this trick where you dig a mould into the ground pour cement into it ad it creates natural looking garden pots (like the sort they use for rockery plants) I am hoping to adapt this to make a hide for the axies (and possibly a water bowl for my tiger saal set up). If cement isnt suitable can anyone think of a replacement material that will be?

 

[mantighoul]

if the cement has a compostion of llime/imestone, this can leach into into the water making your water more hard/alkaline. Not all cement is created from the same material, but most basic material in cement is limestone. I would discourage the use of cement, anything limestone, coral, becausse these will up your PH especially, which is ok for some creatures, but an axolotl in a ph above 8 for long periods of time is probably not an optimal setting Though, certain clays you can fire or ceramics should be fine, but always remember, differnt materials react differntly in water. Some people use pvc pipes and cover them with live or fake plants, or use aquarium sealant to attach certain decorative rocks that will not react adversely in water.

 

[leeloo]

Its a nice idea, you can get similar sorta things from pet shops though, i wouldn't go to the bother! and you know that the ones from the pet shop are safe.

off topic, Anne Marie - your av is the cutest! did you draw it?

 

[Ed]

There are concretes made for this application see
http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/concrete.html

Ed

 

[niajetze]

THANK FOR THE LINK ED!! I am aware you can get similar from pet shops but personalised ones mean I can adapt them for my pets requirments - - - - and the size of my tanks it will (hopfully) optimise space