Portland Type III cement

[mfisher2112]

Everything I read about DIY anything talks about portland Type III cement.

I've looked all over the place.

Does anyone know where I can actually GET portland type III cement?

Or, if there is some acceptable equivalent that Lowes or Home Depot sells?

 

[steamman]

Are you using it to make rock?

 

[mfisher2112]

frag mounts

 

[redfishbluefish]

Any good masonry supply house would carry Portland-all grades. In Sayreville, we have Riverside Supply. But here’s the deal....it only comes in a 94 pound bags....still probably under $20.

I think the demo that was done at a meeting about 10-12 months ago (maybe merv???), he used hydraulic cement, if I’m not mistake. That you can buy in small bags.

 

[mfisher2112]

The only thing I seem to be able to find around here at all is quickcrete type I, Type I/II, Type N and Type S.

I'm not even going to pretend to know enough about it to say whether any of these will work.

 

[Nickjr000]

Hydraulic cement is more expensive though and you'll get about 20 pounds compared to a 90+ bag of portland. How much is it to just buy the plugs, seems like a lot of work

 

[mfisher2112]

Probably is alot of work. But, girlfriend has seen several things on the internet, and wants to try. who am I to say no, right? LOL

 

[redfishbluefish]

The only thing I seem to be able to find around here at all is quickcrete type I, Type I/II, Type N and Type S.

I'm not even going to pretend to know enough about it to say whether any of these will work.

All of these that you quote are readi-mixes that come with the sand/lime/stone, dependent on the mix. They are all the types you find at a Home Depot or Lowes. Portland is pure cement. You will need to mix it with other ingredients, dependent on what you are doing. Typically either sand or rock or a combination of both OR some other ingredients, such as vermiculite. The best place to find portland is at a masonry supply house. They are all over NJ. Try a google search or your yellow pages. Type III is just a fast setting-to-strength blend. I'm not sure why you would want that over type I for aquarium use. But then I'm not sure what you are doing.

 

[mfisher2112]

She wants to play with rock making and frag mount making. I just want to make sure whatever she "creates" is aquarium safe. Type III just seems to be what most have used on the sites I've seen.

I figure as long as shes taking an interest, its worth a few bucks to me to let her play around. I just want to make sure, as I said, it's safe to put into an aquarium (once cured of course)

 

[john90009]

i cant wait to see what she makes- a guy at macna had his own rocks he hand made from ceramic or something that he kiln dried- they were great i wish they were cheaper- they had perfict caves/ crevices holes for mounting frags-i cant wait to see what nice creations she makes- you are gonna have to put up pictures maybe she can market them .

 

[mfisher2112]

Yeah, me either. She really wants to try this. Like I said, I'm just happy shes plugged in. I see so many who have significant others who arent. Definately makes it easier when she is.

But, want to make sure whatever she uses is safe.

 

[Nickjr000]

It does make it easier, my wife loves the tank! I'd just use type I with some sand mixed in.

 

[mfisher2112]

It does make it easier, my wife loves the tank! I'd just use type I with some sand mixed in.

Cool. I know that whatever she uses, it will have to be cured for a good amount of time in fresh water to get the PH down.

Is there anything else I should be concerned about leaching into the tank when deciding which concrete to mix with?

 

[Nickjr000]

I think just letting it cure for a while is key. But ask around cause I never did it

 

[mr_X]

go to a concrete plant...they will probably give you a bucket full of cement for free. i could get you some, but you'd have to pick it up in 19053, or 19301.

 

[mr_X]

btw, any portland will work.

 

[mfisher2112]

Thanks Mr. X. Appreciate the offer, that's a bit of a drive for me.

I'm hoping to find something local that can be a regular supplier if she decides she wants to stick with this.

(hey, worse case scenario, I can use the excess to fix the sidewalk right? LOL!)

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

You don't need hydraulic cement unless you're buliding your rock under water. Type N & S have to do with the strength, but there isn't really a big difference. As RedFishBluefish said Type I & II have to due with setup time. Concrete mix has sand and small stones to help bind everything together.
Whe I made my frag plugs I used the mortar mix from home Home Depot (not portland). It's plenty strong enough and setups fast enough but not to fast. I cured the pugs in my tank a few at a time. But an old memeber used to cure his plugs in the toilet tank.

 

[Edwardw771]

I've done this alot over the years. Its a fun project.

 

[steamman]

I would think for frag mounts the amount of concrete would not be enough to worry about curing for a long period of time. that is unless she is filling a tank with the mounts.