using QUIKRETE Concrete Acrylic Fortifier in rockwalls

[issac]

so I'm still working on building the ideal rockwall for my viv, currently I am using one made with polyester resin, but I dont really like the effect. After looking for new solutions I came across the dutch method using flevopol (sp?) and attempted to find a suitable alternative. Leading me to QUIKRETE Concrete Acrylic Fortifier, the only problem is that when the stone (sand/coco fiber/ fortifier mix) is placed in water it becomes loose again, and the coco fiber fortifier mix turns to mush. Is this not a good alternative? or are my mixture proportions just off?

thanks for any help

[crimsonking]

Not sure what you're doing exactly, but isn't fortifier supposed to be mixed with the concrete to help it stick and harden?? Not to be used as it is??
A lot of the mixes use caustic materials and should cure for a time also.
Be careful and Good luck!
:Mark

[Dubhead23]

I'm using Quickcrete Water Stop Cement to build my Vivitarium. Look in the enclosure Picture forums for my post on my Argentine Boa Cage and I'll post my progress so far.

It dries really quick (like 10minutes) so I mix a little at a time. I'm building a waterfall and pond and a cave for my 7ft Argentine.

[Bartman]

Not sure of those things your using, but I was talking with this guy who makes rockwall's on all his tanks and he told me an easy way to make it look great, and not weigh a ton.

What he said to do, if I remember correctly, is put black silicone on the back of the tank. A thin layer at about 1/8 of an inch thick. This will help the next step.

Then you take the foam they use as insulator. Im not sure what its called but its the foam that expands a lot. So anyway you put some on the back, let it dry. And then carv out bumps with an exacto-knife.

Then again with the black silicone, you lay the tank down and place chunks of black silicone. He said to do it in sections. You wear like a glove (the clear dentist ones) and mold it how you like. Then when its still wet, place some cocofibre on it if you want. Then when it dries you lift it up, and the excess comes off. Walla, you have a new, very natural, looking tank.

I havnt tried it, but was thinking of doing it for my crested gecko or chameleon sometime soon.

Good luck.