Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see all the zoos and some people building indoor enclosures with cement ponds. How do they make them and what is put on top to waterproof the cement?
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Tom
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.2.1 Sulcata Tortoise (tank, sahara and skittles)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.4 Red Ear Sliders (moe, uncle sam, bernie and ernie)
0.0.1 Western Soft shell (Squirt)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow and Sparkles )
0.0.1 Sumatran Water Monitor (Tiny)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Love Bird ( KIKI )
1.2.0 Dog (layla, Roxy and Rosco)
2.2.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell and sadie)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.1 Aligator Snapping turtle
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
0.0.1 Argentina Black and White Tegu
2.1.0 Columbian Red Tail Boas
1.2.0 Kenya Sand Boas
0.1.0 Green Iguana
1.0.0 Ball Python
1.0.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0.0 Chocolate Skunk

This is something you might talk to a concrete supplier about. They can give information on the different mixes and applications for sealing. I know regular cement/concrete needs reinforcement with wire mesh and rebar. Even with that it needs expansion joints so it won't crack. There must be something in the mix for pools and ponds so it can be one continuous pour and not need the joints.

As an alternative you could use regular reinforced concrete and line your pond with a rubber pond liner like those used for koi ponds in peoples backyards.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Yea but it's for a caiman and he would tear through the liner also thought about for my water monitor when it became adult...
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Tom
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.2.1 Sulcata Tortoise (tank, sahara and skittles)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.4 Red Ear Sliders (moe, uncle sam, bernie and ernie)
0.0.1 Western Soft shell (Squirt)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow and Sparkles )
0.0.1 Sumatran Water Monitor (Tiny)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Love Bird ( KIKI )
1.2.0 Dog (layla, Roxy and Rosco)
2.2.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell and sadie)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.1 Aligator Snapping turtle
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
0.0.1 Argentina Black and White Tegu
2.1.0 Columbian Red Tail Boas
1.2.0 Kenya Sand Boas
0.1.0 Green Iguana
1.0.0 Ball Python
1.0.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0.0 Chocolate Skunk

Understandable. I think your best bet then would be concrete suppliers or another possibility would be a swimming pool company. I'm sure the concrete company would tell you, maybe not so with the swimming pool one. But it would be worth a try.

Another thought that came to mind was the epoxy coatings they're using in old bathtubs to refinish them. You should be able to find that at a home improvement center and that stuff is tough.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Hi,
People use marine expoxy to seal it, or they will use grout over a base such as foam with a marine epoxy sealant.
I have also heard of people using hydraulic cement and Drylok Latex Masonry water proofer with liquid concrete die.
I learned this by reading other vivarium construction forums, so good luck.

Those are some good ideas for this. Lighter weight and still watertight. Good tips.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Where would you get marine epoxy selant and how hard is it to work with? Also I always wondered where do people get the large amounts of foam and like giant foam blocks?
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Tom
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.2.1 Sulcata Tortoise (tank, sahara and skittles)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.4 Red Ear Sliders (moe, uncle sam, bernie and ernie)
0.0.1 Western Soft shell (Squirt)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow and Sparkles )
0.0.1 Sumatran Water Monitor (Tiny)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Love Bird ( KIKI )
1.2.0 Dog (layla, Roxy and Rosco)
2.2.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell and sadie)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.1 Aligator Snapping turtle
0.0.1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
0.0.1 Argentina Black and White Tegu
2.1.0 Columbian Red Tail Boas
1.2.0 Kenya Sand Boas
0.1.0 Green Iguana
1.0.0 Ball Python
1.0.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0.0 Chocolate Skunk

I have never personally worked with marine epoxy, but have been doing some research myself lately on building better turtle aquariums. I believe you can get it at most home construction supply places- home depot, sears, Do it Best. Google marine epoxy and check out the shopping results to find something local.

As for the foam, I cant say for sure, but in my previous material gatherings I have just asked, although it was embarrassing haha.
I imagine they use big foam blocks at furniture warehouses, maybe even at Home Depot- but don't take mine as the final answer as I have not done this myself, just trying to help.

I have worked with West Systems epoxy. It is pretty easy to work with. You can buy pumps that fit on the cans that measure out the ratios for you. That makes things much easier. I have yet to try to make something that I use to hold water in but, based on working with it I don't think it would be hard to do. You do need to let it finish curing for a week or two to ensure it is done giving off fumes.

I am not sure about big blocks of polystyrene but, you can get large sheets of it at places lie home depot for home insulation. You can cut it and glue layers together to get greater thickness.
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Steve

I've helped my dad build a couple of ponds. It seemed every house we lived in we built one (for koi). It has been a while, but the last one was pretty big, at least 6' deep X 4-5' wide X 20' long. Very nice, with a bridge to cross it and waterfall, etc. I cannot remember what we used to seal it, but I believe it was an epoxy of sorts. I can certainly find out easily enough, he still lives in the house. The pond is still in use, and it never had any problems. Looking into the koi enthusiasts will yield the best results for ponds imo...