what can I seal my concrete pool with?

45Charlie0ct

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Just poured the concrete for my sulcata pool. It is still drying but was wondering what I can seal the concrete with that is not too expensive?

Thanks
 

EllieMay

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I tried flex seal and never could get a water tight seal. I ended up using Drylock... works great and doesn’t take a lot.
 

Blackdog1714

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drylok-original-masonry-waterproofer-blue.jpg

This color screams POOL! Please show pictures of the finished product and GOOD LUCK
 

ZEROPILOT

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DO NOT use fiberglass resin as I have.
Although it works well initially, it doesn't do well over time.
Many of my old posts mention using fiberglass resin.
Update: Don't use it.
 

Len B

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I wouldn't seal it until the concrete cures (or not at all) which takes a very long time Concrete itself will hold water without any other covering and if you want in time algae will cover the concrete.Freshly poured concrete is hard to get anything to adhere to it.
 

Markw84

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Freshly poured concrete needs a minimum of 28 days cure time before being sealed with anything. Most things just won't bond well with concrete as already mentioned. For a tortoise pool, I would see no reason to seal it at all. A concrete pool is just fine for a tortoise pool.

I just add a bit of color to the concrete before pouring, and that's it!
 

Blackdog1714

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I forgot about the powdered pigments. A little pricey but for a smaller build would work [emoji106]
 

45Charlie0ct

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Freshly poured concrete needs a minimum of 28 days cure time before being sealed with anything. Most things just won't bond well with concrete as already mentioned. For a tortoise pool, I would see no reason to seal it at all. A concrete pool is just fine for a tortoise pool.

I just add a bit of color to the concrete before pouring, and that's it!


Thank you! do I have to wait 28 days for my tortoise to be able to use it? Gosh I hope not. What about the toxins in the concrete? Do I have to do something before my tortoise can use it?
 

Maro2Bear

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Thank you! do I have to wait 28 days for my tortoise to be able to use it? Gosh I hope not. What about the toxins in the concrete? Do I have to do something before my tortoise can use it?

I would wash it out daily with fresh clean water. It will help flush out nasty type stuff and help it cure properly.

How large is it!?
 
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45Charlie0ct

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I would wash it out daily with fresh clean water. It will help flush out nasty type stuff and help it cure properly.

How large is it!?
It is not too big. Maybe 3 feet. So are you saying to wash it out daily before she can use it? And how long should I do this?
 

Professor Brenda

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Wash it out real well before filling it for use. If you have time to wash it, let it dry, wash one more time then fill it, that would be even better. Here in Texas you can do that in a span of 1 hour. I'm glad you got it poured. Can't wait to see it.
 

Markw84

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Thank you! do I have to wait 28 days for my tortoise to be able to use it? Gosh I hope not. What about the toxins in the concrete? Do I have to do something before my tortoise can use it?

Fresh concrete does not leach out any toxins. It does leach out calcium carbonate - which actually is beneficial to your tortoise - however not much to effect diet very much. The "problem" you hear about is that it also then raises the ph level of the water in a new pool and that has to be dealt with.

New concrete will be strong enough to walk on within 24 hours, but can still chip fairly easily around the edges. Hardening happens quickly and it is plenty strong for tortoise traffic in 48 hours. It does continue to harden the life of the concrete. However it has about 90% of its ultimate strength within 7 days and over 95% in 28 days. You could certainly use it within 48 hours for your tortoise. It does harden and "cure" underwater, so you don't have to leave it empty to be sure it hardens properly. I would wash it out a few times by the second day and you'd be good to go!!
 
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