Foam Rockscape version 2.0

[likefish]

I benifitted so much from all of the shared information on this topic. Thanks to all who shared their failures and sucesses with this scapeing technique.

I have seen a lot of DIY scape projects utilizing expansion foram, epoxy, base rock and sand. Some were nice, some were amazing, some were.....completed.

Thought I would give back a bit. I didnt take as many pictures as I intended but the general build concept is represented.

I have seen a lot of DIY scape projects utilizing expansion foram, epoxy, base rock and sand. Some were nice, some were amazing, some were lacking in design and kind of looked like a fiberfalss terraarium backdrop. (my humble opinion, no hate intended)

My GOALS:

1) I wanted to scape a 120 gal 2x4x2 tank with style.

2) wanted to provide a large display area for acros (up high) and maintain lots of sand space for detritus removal and potential expansion.

3) Wanted to avoid "a wall of rock"

4) Wanted to create swimthroughs for fish and minimize "hiding places" for fish to dissapear from view.

Empty tank with corner overflow.

Decided I would build my high relief away from my return so i could maintain high current directly on that area. Decided cave underneath it would utilize the space and give a me the look i was after.

SO i built a frame to support the rock.

 

[likefish]

Tank fit test:

My intention was to use as much rock as possible and reinforce it with the foam to make it a one piece structure.

I did not understand why people used zip ties when gravity holds things in place so well. Also I know from past use that expansion foram has great bonding power.

So i laid the frame flat on the ground (plastic underneath it) and placed my rocks flat on the reat of the frame, then foamed in place. After 24 hours of drying (seemed like an eternity to wait cause i was having so much fun building this) I stood the new wall up and started placing the remainder of my rocksand them foaming in place.

 

[likefish]

I tried to only spray the foam in the seams of the rocks. The intent was not to build a large "FOAM block" rather to use the foam to make the smaller pieces appear as one large rock formation.

A good deal of open space remains inside of the rocks.

 

[likefish]

i wanted to finish the back wall so i measured the remaining space to the overflow, cut my eggcrate, laid on the rocks and foamed in place.

 

[Lavoisier]

Looks interesting. Tagging along.

 

[likefish]

from here it was just playing with it to get the final look i was after. I added a few rocks and used the foam to hold them in place. In areas where i was concerned the rocks would not stay i used extra foam and ensured that it bed over into already mountedstone or frame. After drying i trimmed off the surpluss.

i am not a big fam of the dried lava look of uncarved foam so i began the carving. I tried a few techniques and decided that grabbing the foam with various pliers and twisting and pulling yeilded the most random finish. In this manner i "carved out my final product.

I coated the exposed foam with 2 part, 5-min epoxy form a local RC shop and sprinkled with sand. It took 3 coats to get the desired finish but I was pleased.

 

[likefish]

Placed it in the tank.

I could not believe it but even with all of the rock on the large piece it was positivly boyant!!! Just a tad but bouyant none the less. Because i made it to the exact measurements of the corner it slid up under teh rim of the tank with very little upward pressure and was negatively boyant within 24 hours as all of the air escaped the rocks and the foam accepted some water.

I did not intend to silicone it to the back wall which is why i made both pieces freestanding. I placed the "panels"about 3/4" off of the back wall to ensure that i could provide ample directed water flow behind them to avaoid debris accumulation.

 

[likefish]

the piece in the middle is simply 2 rocks foamed togeather and placed in the sand. I did not get any pics of building it.

 

[likefish]

With the buld of my scape in place i used some more base rock and a select few pieces of live rock to tie it all in togeather. Everything else added to the tank was only stacked.

 

[Aqua Joe]

lookin good so far

 

[Aqua Joe]

haha i was typing that while you were uploading the pics of it all in the tank! definitely lookin good. i'm planning on doing this w/ my 46 bowfront that i'm working on setting up now. this makes me want to get it all set up right now!

 

[likefish]

This build took place in May of 2012 and the tank went live mid June 2012.

This is how she looks mid early Oct. 2010. Not a very good picture shows how it came togeather.

 

[likefish]

hope this build can help someone... speckledgrouper has a great build thread that actually turned in to a discussion thread. Its a great resource for pros and cons and product selection.

Be creative! Let me know how yours turn out!

question, comments, complaints welcomed!

Yea i know i cant spell

 

[Aqua Joe]

looks awesome man, i hope mine turns out that good!

 

[JEC11718]

The only thing i see is your hermits walking right out of the tank with that back corner almost to the very top....just joking nice build!!!!!

 

[Aquatron]

You tank looks really nice i like your cave With that said how is yours built any different than the other's besides your design?

 

[likefish]

You tank looks really nice i like your cave With that said how is yours built any different than the other's besides your design?

Freestanding... no zipties holding the rocks in place... mostly rock with foam as mortar. Same concept, so well discussed by others. Not intended as a 1 up thread, just sharing my work and what i accomplished with the techniques of others.

And its badass looking!
But i am biased.

 

[Aquatron]

Right on i didn't think you were +1 didn't know if i missed a trick as i am working on mine now.
I agree it does look good seeing the other threads here helped me make up my mine to do one

 

[slavver01]

Looks great! Makes me rethink doing the Rockwall now. I noticed most of the rocks are smaller pieces?

 

[ZyberGoby]

Wow I would of never thought to of used foam and epoxy in this manner that's awesome I'm going to have to try this with my next build. Thanks for sharing this.