Curing home made LR

[ragawaga]

Hi,

Recently I was given some reef plugs (made using the garf method) that were still curing. I read Tom Miller's article and he states that bubbling CO2 into the curing water helps speed up the curing process and also strengthens the rock.
I've got easy access to carbonated water. Does anybody know if this is just as good?

 

[fungia]

my in-law brother works at a bottling plant and he says that carbonated water should work but that it doesnt hold the carbon dioxide very long once you open it and expose it to the air. however i dont think it is very different then pumping co2 into the water with a compressed co2 so i would guess it would work if you can keep adding new carbonated water. maybe its cheaper just to use a co2 bottle, you can always use it for a calcium reactor later

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
I never done the homemade LR, but I am familiar with the chemistry, I believe.... :?

Well, I feel that carbonated water and CO2 is a real waste of resource. I will use HCl (muriatic acid in pool store and home depot), unless some of you have a specific rationale not to use it... Anyone?

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

Quick cures using vinegar or acid will just cost you extra money and do not really "cure" the cement.

hi.
Well, someone please explain... I like the idea of using air pump and air stone. Definitely better than using a CO2 tank for this curing process.

 

[Anonymous]

I never tried any scheme with lowering the ph of the water, but putting it in water that it regularly replaced works fine. I put it in the creek behind my house and it cured great, but there was no testing involved- it was left for several months. Just find a creek and dump it in. Nobody will steal it!

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Mr. Brim from EPA wants to speak to you.... :wink:

 

[Expos Forever]

Nobody will steal it!

That's pretty funny Dan.