Foam/Rock Wall for my 265 gallon Tank!

[Speckled Grouper]

Nice progress newtank, can't wait to see the tank with water.

Raudel, DO IT! You will not regret it. Use the live rock you have to built structures infront of the rockwall. Everybody that comes to look at my tank raves about how nice it looks. It seems that they overlook how crappy my corals look, all they see is the wall.

 

[RaudelJr]

Nice progress newtank, can't wait to see the tank with water.

Raudel, DO IT! You will not regret it. Use the live rock you have to built structures infront of the rockwall. Everybody that comes to look at my tank raves about how nice it looks. It seems that they overlook how crappy my corals look, all they see is the wall.

I'm thinking about using my Live Rock and zip tying it to the back, but it might get too heavy. I would like to use as much live rock as possible and as little foam as possible, which means I'll need to buy some Live Rock Rubble, since most of my current Rock is over 8inches wide. I'll have to take this into deep thought.

I can already see this is going to take quite some time to complete.

Raudel

 

[newtank]

Raudel,
I took the large pieces of live rock and broke them up with a hammer and chisel. At first it killed me, but as the pannels came together it got easier to do. Use the leftover rubble to accent the wall pannels, and or place it in your sump for filtration. I used more foam as compared to Speckald, but when it set up I smudged it down, then when fully cured I used a serated knife to trim a lot of foam away, all of which helped reduce buyancy...atleat the pannels haven't budged in about a week of submersion. I wouldn't worry too much about the wieght, make sure you have some clamps and lots of silicone- I used 14 tubes to "glue" 5 pannels....
ab

 

[RaudelJr]

YOU HAVE BOTH CONVINCED ME, WELL, THE PHOTOS PLAYED THE BIGGEST ROLE!!!!

Speckled, did u drill ur rear glass then sealed all the return water flow lines?
I was thinking to keep it all standard with the return lines coming out of the overflows.

Drilling the rear glass would take guts!

Raudel

 

[newtank]

Keep in mind that each hole in your over flows will drain appr. 600gph, so if you use the return holes for overflows then you double your drain capacity, and since the return pumps typically can push way more then the standard 1200gph, the 2400gph will get you the most out of what ever pump you use.

That is of coarse is if you like flow in your tank!:lol2:

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Yes, we drilled 5 holes in the back, hairy, unless you know what you're doing.....

 

[RaudelJr]

Yes, we drilled 5 holes in the back, hairy, unless you know what you're doing.....

I will have a tough time deciding to drill the back. I have decided though, to use all my Overflow holes as drains to double my drain capacity as explained by NewTank. I'll just have to figure out where and how to plumb the return lines. I want at least 4 return lines two high and two low and I'll have to decide how I'll do it before jumping into designing my Background Foam Wall.

Will take it slowly. Hope mine ends up at least half as nice as yours Speckled!!! Thanks for ur helpful thread.

Raudel

 

[zoomster]

I just started making my own rock, but in the process of researching the different recipes I stumbled across this thread. I'm so glad I did.

Grouper- That's the most inspiring project I've seen in a long, long time. I have 4 reef tanks and am thinking I need a 5th just to try out your wall; albeit on a smaller scale. I know it's been stated time and time again in the thread, but thanks for the great pictures and sharing it's growth. I showed my wife who said "no more tanks", but she's even excited. I can't wait to try it.

 

[newtank]

Hey raudel, make sure you place a siphon break on those returns if it's not closed loop and you are placing low in the tank. Without a hole close to the water line you will drain you DT on floor. I tried to PM you but I think it was too Long winded. give me a call.
NT

 

[Speckled Grouper]

I just started making my own rock, but in the process of researching the different recipes I stumbled across this thread. I'm so glad I did.

Grouper- That's the most inspiring project I've seen in a long, long time. I have 4 reef tanks and am thinking I need a 5th just to try out your wall; albeit on a smaller scale. I know it's been stated time and time again in the thread, but thanks for the great pictures and sharing it's growth. I showed my wife who said "no more tanks", but she's even excited. I can't wait to try it.

Thank you zoomster. Since I think this will be my tank for a long time to come I went all out and spared no time or expense and I am not regretting it.
I had knee surgery recently and have not been able to climb the little stool I have to reach in the tank, and now I am out of town, but I can't wait to go home and restore it to it's glory once again. Watch for new pictures soon!

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Hey raudel, make sure you place a siphon break on those returns if it's not closed loop and you are placing low in the tank. Without a hole close to the water line you will drain you DT on floor. I tried to PM you but I think it was too Long winded. give me a call.
NT

Always, always drill siphon holes!!! Mine are high and the other day, they where clogged from algae and almost drained the tank......:eek1: Easiest way to prevent desasters. Do it!

 

[CiclidGuy]

just wanted to say that is awesome when i first started reading the htread i had doubts but as it got further in the thread i could see this monster coming together nicely ....GOOD JOB ....VERY IMPRESSED!! your tank looks like something i see in one of those fancy restaurants!!! Spectacular work!!

 

[buzbee_dallas]

Coast to coast overflow

Coast to coast overflow

I'm starting a new build and just discovered this thread. The back walls look awesome.

My tank is 6' x 2.5' x 2' (L x W x H) and I have a coast-to-coast internal overflow that is 7" tall and protrudes 5" from the rear wall.

View attachment 115791

I'm deciding how to incorporate the rock wall on the rear of the tank. If I just put the rock wall in vertical under the overflow I'm afraid it will look odd abruptly stopping under the overflow.

So I'm thinking of building a tapered wall, say 9" at the base and 7" just under the overflow. Then adding a thin 1" panel over the overflow itself.

Is it reasonable to make such a thick wall at the base?

 

[Speckled Grouper]

Hmmm, that's a though one.
Sure you can make the wall 9" wide, you're just taking up a lot of space with that. I am not familiar with that overflow, does the water flow over the top?

 

[buzbee_dallas]

Hmmm, that's a though one.
Sure you can make the wall 9" wide, you're just taking up a lot of space with that. I am not familiar with that overflow, does the water flow over the top?

This overflow is really no different from others, it just runs the length of the tank for more surface skimming. Water exits through a bulkhead in the rear.

I'm a bit worried about the area beneath the overflow. It will be a challenge for good water flow and cleaning.

My Oceans Motion closed loop pump return will be in the rear wall (although it is shown in the base in this picture).



A thick rock wall would provide a great opportunity to hide this plumbing.

 

[buzbee_dallas]

Can anyone help me in posting picture on reefcentral. My photos always come out as links or thumbnails, never full size. What am I doing wrong?

 

[revjlw]

My rock is live and all cured. I want to zip tie to egg crate and then foam into place. Can I do this with damp rock or will it nee to be DRY. (Which means I would have to kill the rock...)

 

[newtank]

You will in deed kill the rock and start over. It will need to be dry for the foaming, then the foam has to cure,then the epoxy will need to cure, this will take quite a while i doubt rock will make it even if you tried. Save the rock with the best growth for stacking in the DT or find someones baserock dried out on craigs list and keep you LR Live.

 

[revjlw]

How long will it take to cure the foam? Can I use silicone to attach the wall to the acrylic tank? How long would that need to cure before I could refill?

 

[jefathome]

I thought I might a well post some of my rock wall pics. I went through almost all of the threads on RC (including this one) and used them all for inspiration. Hope to have the rocks "in tank" within a week or two. Also, this is only part of the wall 37 out of 47 total inches. On the left side will be more "wall" that will cover my overflow. I'm gonna do that one directly inside the tank though to ensure no gaps. There was quite a bit of trimming that I needed to do since the foam kinda bulged out the egg-crate on one of the sides. The "shelves" stick out quite a bit from the back. The one on the right is at least 12in front to back and the one on the left sticks into the tank about 8in. Once the overflow is complete I think the left side will look a bit more liekthe right, but taller.

You can't really see it (which is the point), but I also ran a 1in PVC down the inside of the foam on the left (next to where the overflow will be) as a return. It ends in a bit of lock-line and is kinda under that shelf. This should give me nice flow in that back corner (which will be blocked by the overflow from the current of the MP40 that will go on the far left). Of course I'll add a siphon break up near the top as well.