Will using a pool to cure rock work?

[ReefWhatYouSow]

So I have built rock walls out of foam and rocks to surround the inside of my tank and I am planning on curing them before putting them in my tank to make sure nothing leaks out, such as phosphates. Because of the side I need something low and wide.

Does anyone are any harm in using the intex-8-x-30-easy-set-swimming-pool to cure the rock walls.

Also, does anyone believe it will be beneficial to use the pool pump that comes with it while curing? Or just my skimmer?

The pool itself holds 639lbs at 80% and the pump moves 530gph.

Thanks!
Nate

 

[Crooked Reef]

Plastic liner may rip or get holes poked in it. Also I'm not sure they are food safe which means that they could leak something into the water. Have you thought of a poly stock tank? Peple make ponds out of these all the time.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Plastic liner may rip or get holes poked in it. Also I'm not sure they are food safe which means that they could leak something into the water. Have you thought of a poly stock tank? Peple make ponds out of these all the time.

Yeah. That's originally the way I was going to go, but then I compared prices for the size I would need; $340 vs $40.

I thought about making my own frame and using liner of some sort, but the cost is similar to buying a pool and ten I would have more work. Then there is also the question of leaching.

I also thought about setting them in the tank where they will go and curing them I there, but some people find that a big no no. I would also have to fill the tank to the top which would be about 210 gallons. Then do water changes on that.

 

[Mike Ordner]

As noted above I have used an oval plastic water trough from tractor supply in the past. They have quite a bit of surface area that may work for what you need. Then no worries about ripping the sides out.

 

[Mike Ordner]

Tuff Stuff Products Heavy Duty Oval Tank, 110 gal. $69.99 at tractor supply.

 

[dkeller_nc]

The pool you mention will work fine so long as you're careful to avoid punctures as the other posters mention. Whether or not the plastic is food safe is a complete non-issue for this purpose, presuming that by "curing", you mean leaching out the plasticizers in the foam and any organics/phosphate in the rock.

For your purposes, you don't need the pool pump nor your skimmer - plain old diffusion will work just fine. And since you won't be doing this in salt water, a protein skimmer won't work anyway.

Simply fill the pool with dechlorinated tap water, and let it stand for at least a couple of weeks, then change it out and let it stand for another couple of weeks. Finally, rinse the construction well with RODI, and put it in your tank.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to cycle the rock in the tank with artificial saltwater, but then do a 100% water change before stocking it.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experience on this. The tuff stuff heavy duty oval tank would work great if it was just the rock, and that is what I would prefer to use but because every piece is built as it's own "wall" I need something larger.

Below are pics of everything going in it which might give you an idea.

dkeller- you are correct. My plan is to use this just to get out any phosphates and "stuff" from the rock walls. I know it could take some time, but time I have. I like not having to set up a skimmer or pump, etc. it will save me some money and I will only buy the pool.

If that it the case though (not needing any skimmer, etc) then I would assume that I could buy multiple of the small kiddie pools for $10 each and use them in the garage?

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

 

[dkeller_nc]

If that it the case though (not needing any skimmer, etc) then I would assume that I could buy multiple of the small kiddie pools for $10 each and use them in the garage?

Sure, so long as the rock/wall is submerged, just about any plastic container would work. By the way - images posted from Tap-A-Talk don't work on this board (you have to use a photo-hosting service like PhotoBucket).

 

[Sk8r]

I run a koi pond using black HPDM (I think that's the term) pond liner (freshwater, of course) and despite heavy rockthat falls in from the rim and now and again having to wade in barefoot to reach the lilies, I've never had a detectible leak. Building a pond, I used a fiber underlayment which protects the liner from minor poky-bits that might cause damage. It might be a help. People often set up ponds as a square of railroad ties on a floor or patio, with liner.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Hey everyone. Thanks again for all of the help and suggestions. You can see what I ended up going with here in my build thread. I would appreciate any more advice or suggestions that can be given, along with words of encouragement! This project is wearing me out! Lol...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461391

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

So to follow up on the soaking of the rock... I pulled it out tonight and it had a little slime to it. I'm guessing that's either die off or chemicals, or both?

I know you said to rinse it off with RODI but would it not be beneficial to have some of the die off to start the cycle?

Just a thought I had when pulling it out.

 

[Azedenkae]

Yeah if you are going to have it during the initial cycle, I doubt it'd be a problem. I mean you can rinse with RODI and get rid of it, but it'll probably come back again.

Might as well cycle as is.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Yeah if you are going to have it during the initial cycle, I doubt it'd be a problem. I mean you can rinse with RODI and get rid of it, but it'll probably come back again.

Might as well cycle as is.

That's what I was thinking. And maybe I should make sure to do a couple good water changes prior to putting in any livestock.