Anybody in nashville doing foam/rock wall

[Michael Brumit]

Just wondering if anybody in nashville was doing a Foam/Rock wall project?

 

[is_that_a_fish]

i didnt do a wall project, but a couple of months ago i made some DIY live rock.

im in nashville as well.

 

[DMBillies]

I did one for my old 90. Made a big overflow cover. It is currently in my 270. Some of the epoxy/sand/crushed coral mixture got busted up when I switched tanks, but otherwise I think it looks good.

If I did it again I would use more epoxy, use the epoxy they talk about in some of the threads (I used fiberglass resin), and I would probably go with the black pond foam. It is supposed to be denser, more durable, and is fish safe according to the company. You'd just have to use more sand/epoxy to get it covered and looking nicer. Of course, you could probably even put some of the sand right into the foam as you're applying it.

My one word of advice is that you better make sure you have a way of securing it in your tank. I used really dense rock and only filled foam in between them and the thing still tried to float (has to weigh close to 30 lbs out of the water).

 

[fallinapart]

I don't know of anyone doing one right now, but several months ago we did one at a club meeting, or at least started one, it is in my tank right now and Brian also did one for his tank. If you have any questions in spicific, ask away. My biggist piece of advice is use more rock that great stuff. Other wise it will tend to float.

Norman

 

[Michael Brumit]

I figure i might as well go all out on this 125 i am building. I already got a 72 bowfront going so i am not in a big hurry. I think the foam rock wall looks great. I am sure i will have lots of questions. Good to know some locals are doing it. What kind of rock did you guys use? If you silicone the whole thing to the back wall should fix the floating problem right? Have you had any problems with the foam deteriorating?

 

[fallinapart]

I zip tied my rock to the eggcrate and just used mostly some regular old rock from Hawaii and a little Tonga branch. But I did use to much great stuff and had to trim it off before it would stay on the bottom. Have had some pretty small pieces break off, but nothing major yet.

Norman

 

[Michael Brumit]

I got about 60lbs. of base rock i guess that will be a good start. I have ran into bigger problems though . I cant find a sump to fit in my stand with a skimmer in it. The only free space i have is 30"LX21"TX17"W

 

[fallinapart]

Wow! 21 inches to fit a skimmer in is tough, Don't think I can help with that one as the top of my skimmer is 32" off the floor, but then my sump sits next to the tank and not under it.

Hopefully some else can chime in that has a hard fit for skimmers, in fact I think Brandon's is so close that he does not clean his skimmer <BG>


Norman

 

[Michael Brumit]

I will probably have to do the same and run sump beside tank. I was just trying to keep it clean looking.

 

[DMBillies]

Putting a sump underneath (for heaters, growing cheato, DSB, etc.) and plumbing a skimmer on the outside is always an option. Even if you can get a skimmer to fit in 21" it'll probably be impossible to get back out, hard to service, and difficult to clean. The skimmer I told you I was installing is going to sit in a cabinet next to the tank with a top off bucket, my electrical stuff (once I build a box and re-work all of the wiring...which will probably take a couple of weeks with the number cords I have on this puppy), and the ladder to get into the tank

 

[Michael Brumit]

Sounds like i am gonna need a bigger house to fit everything in.

 

[fallinapart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13119824#post13119824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael Brumit
Sounds like i am gonna need a bigger house to fit everything in.

Ohhhh, the complications of an addiction

Norman

 

[gflat65]

What kind of foam are you guys using? Any links? I'm close to getting my fish room finished out, but keep breaking the baffle loose. I've got plexi and Lexan spanning a Rubbermaid tub (which also allows flex), but can't keep one side sealed and was thinking some PUfoam would solve my issues.

 

[fallinapart]

Gary I used the red can of Great Stuff,(from Home Depot) but Brian has suggested using the black can used in ponds, which just might work some better. If you do some sort of project let us know what you use and how it works for you

Norman

 

[gflat65]

Thanks Norman. I'm going to get a can tomorrow.

 

[scottkel]

any update on the foam/rock DIY? i was thinking about making some overflow covers but was wondering if anyone has tried it...

 

[CKreef]

Use the pond foam it holds up better. You can get it at EmBay

 

[fallinapart]

The one I made in march is doing well, but I did use the red can of foam instead of the black and now I have some very small pieces of foam floating on the surface that have to be removed every few weeks.

Norman

 

[DMBillies]

Interesting Norman... I can see that the foam that got exposed when the epoxy cracked as we moved or rock/foam between tanks is definitely slowly eroding, but I haven't noticed any of it floating in the tank. I wonder if you might have something actually chomping on yours or something...

 

[gflat65]

I have used the red can stuff and it didn't seal anything. It did make it a little easier to hold the baffle in place, though. I just still can't get the baffle to seal... When I get on bad leak taken care of, another one pops up. All I can do is keeping plugging holes. Eventually, it'll be a seal.