For those curious on how the curing is coming along here is a time line. All water changes are 100%.
Jan 9 Background siliconed to tank
Jan 11 Rocks siliconed to tank bottom
Jan 14 First tank filling straight water
Jan 18 Second tank filling salt water
Jan 21 Third tank filling straight water
Jan 23 Fourth filling salt water
Jan 27 Fifth filling straight water
Jan 30 Sixth filling mild vinegar water solution (Mistake :x)
I did not have severe problems like others however even though it significantly reduced Ph levels it did start to breakdown concrete. Fortunatly i caught it soon enough thank god for forums like these :thumb:
Feb 1 Seventh filling straight water
Feb 5 Emptied and completed final round of concrete work (just touch-ups)
Feb 7 Eighth filling straight water
Feb 9 Ninth filling straight water
Feb 13 Tenth filling straight water
Feb 16 Eleventh filling straight water
Feb 19 Twelveth filling straight water
Feb 20 Thirteenth filling straight water
Well I think I am almost there or at least at the point were my family and friends have confirmed that yes i have gone over the edge with my fish hobby as stated in John Drysdale's library article.
"
Then do a 100% water change… and repeat. And then repeat, and repeat, and repeat… until the pH in your tank is basically the same as what comes out of the tap after a few days (i.e. until the concrete no longer buffers up the pH). This can take a while, and you may never think your pH will go down… but just keep doing 100% water changes until your family and friends confirm that, yes you have gone over the edge with your little fish hobby " :lol:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background3.php