Foam stuff for the "rock work" look????
- Thread starter ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE
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Beenalongtime79
New member
I would certainly hope so... but only time will tell... but I have seen some good tanks... Tanu comes to mind.
He has an amazing backdrop with corals and coralline encrusting all over his. It's really nice.
The pay off takes awhile, but like anything else in this hobby. I definitely think it will be worth it.
Peace,
John H.
He has an amazing backdrop with corals and coralline encrusting all over his. It's really nice.
The pay off takes awhile, but like anything else in this hobby. I definitely think it will be worth it.
Peace,
John H.
Beenalongtime79
New member
I sprayed it on and then let it sit for about a week and then rinsed it off with water from the garden hose and then I filled it up to wet test everything and just ran it for about 2 days and then emptied out the freshwater and then just let it sit for awhile longer to let everything dry.
So far I've had nothing happen to any of the inhabitants.
It's pretty inert after it has cured. Just rinse whatever residues may remain on it after it has cured and I think you should be good to go.
Peace,
John H.
So far I've had nothing happen to any of the inhabitants.
It's pretty inert after it has cured. Just rinse whatever residues may remain on it after it has cured and I think you should be good to go.
Peace,
John H.
delv
In Memoriam
I think the best means of securing the foam is to silicon multiple anchors made of glass to the walls and floor where the foam will make contact. I guess they would look like an 'n' made out of a few pieces of sandwiched glass. I think if you had quite a few of these it would very securely anchor the boyant foam.
d.
d.
Beenalongtime79
New member
Or you could drop a bunch of heavy rocks in it and wallah!
Instant foam/rock backdrop.
Peace,
John H.
Instant foam/rock backdrop.
Peace,
John H.
Reefmaiden
New member
I used the black pond foam that I purchased at Dr. Fosters & Smith. I layed the tank on it's back to spray the foam in, inserted some base rock into the wet foam, and then I patted the wet foam with my hand (with gloves on - you will never get this stuff off your bare hands) to get rid of the "turd" look.
Here is a pic of the tank about 10 months after set-up:
It took a long time for corraline to start to encrust on it, I think some of the problems with that were the salt I was using though and low magnesium. Since switching a couple months ago I have had my corraline really take off and it is much more covered now since this picture was taken.
The foam rock wall is teaming with life, the bristle worms love it and it is covered in feather dusters and other critters. SPS frags readily encrust onto it, and it gives me alot more options for placing frags.
Here is a pic of the tank about 10 months after set-up:
It took a long time for corraline to start to encrust on it, I think some of the problems with that were the salt I was using though and low magnesium. Since switching a couple months ago I have had my corraline really take off and it is much more covered now since this picture was taken.
The foam rock wall is teaming with life, the bristle worms love it and it is covered in feather dusters and other critters. SPS frags readily encrust onto it, and it gives me alot more options for placing frags.
Beenalongtime79
New member
Hey Reefmaiden,
You never got to taking those pictures from different angles.
I'd definitely like to see an update of your tank.
Peace,
John H.
You never got to taking those pictures from different angles.
I'd definitely like to see an update of your tank.Peace,
John H.
SHOmuchFUN
New member
Rufio what size tank is that?
Not to get off topic, but I hear sirens and my scanner says the tang police are on their way
Not to get off topic, but I hear sirens and my scanner says the tang police are on their way
speckled trout
New member
When its dry it's cured. You are causing a chemical reaction when you shake it up and then expose it to air. No further curing cause it's already cured.
By the way, regular old krylon spray paint will work to color it any color you want. I've been using it for years in both fresh and salt and have never had a problem. Just make sure it's dry before putting it into the water. I usually wait a day before putting it in.
By the way, regular old krylon spray paint will work to color it any color you want. I've been using it for years in both fresh and salt and have never had a problem. Just make sure it's dry before putting it into the water. I usually wait a day before putting it in.
SHOmuchFUN
New member
I think many public aquariums use this method... I was at the mohegan sun casino in Connecticut and it looks like they used similar material to simulate rockwork. Looks very real.
JCurry
New member
I have a couple of questions:
1. does the stuff break down over time with the UV light given of by our MH and VHO bulbs?
2. does the stuff become porous so that beneficial bacteria and other organisms use the foam as a home?
3. When the stuff is wet how flexible is it can you make shapes with it, or is it too liquidly for that?
4. Is the stuff sticky to the feel that it would hold crushed coral or sand? Might improve the look.
5. Where can you buy the black great stuff?
Thanks.
1. does the stuff break down over time with the UV light given of by our MH and VHO bulbs?
2. does the stuff become porous so that beneficial bacteria and other organisms use the foam as a home?
3. When the stuff is wet how flexible is it can you make shapes with it, or is it too liquidly for that?
4. Is the stuff sticky to the feel that it would hold crushed coral or sand? Might improve the look.
5. Where can you buy the black great stuff?
Thanks.
SHOmuchFUN
New member
Although this looks "cool"... IS it really beneficial? Many reasons that we use a rockscape design is its openness to flow. It's actually quite beneficial to have an open looking aquascaping scheme so that water flows in and out of the nooks/crannies so it carries detritus into our filtration unit. Seems like this method would be notorious for creating dead spots and would prohibit proper water flow...
delv
In Memoriam
1.UV breaks it down. It starts to turn into dust. Heat speeds this.
2.It's very porous. That's one reason alot of public aquariums won't use it...it can retain bacteria/disease. It also allows it to retain useful bacteria.
3.It's very flexible when wet. Sorta like really stiffly whipped cream. It expands but can be 'smooshed' down and formed with a tool/hand.
4.It holds crushed coral well.
5.Aquatic Eco sells it. Make sure you get enough.
Most important: It's boyant and it's adhesive properties fade quickly. It needs to be physically anchored to your aquarium.
hth's
d.
2.It's very porous. That's one reason alot of public aquariums won't use it...it can retain bacteria/disease. It also allows it to retain useful bacteria.
3.It's very flexible when wet. Sorta like really stiffly whipped cream. It expands but can be 'smooshed' down and formed with a tool/hand.
4.It holds crushed coral well.
5.Aquatic Eco sells it. Make sure you get enough.
Most important: It's boyant and it's adhesive properties fade quickly. It needs to be physically anchored to your aquarium.
hth's
d.
Beenalongtime79
New member
My tank is 60 gallons, which I think is adequate to hold one tang, but as you saw from last month's TOTM, that doesn't always happen.
That man had a regal angel, and two tangs in a 65 gallong tank. Incredible, but he pulled it off.
Time will tell if this stuff holds up to the test. They have been using this stuff in Europe for years and I think a new trend should be started in America. It will take probably 6 months to a year to get this stuff looking more like liverock.
Peace,
John H.
That man had a regal angel, and two tangs in a 65 gallong tank. Incredible, but he pulled it off.
Time will tell if this stuff holds up to the test. They have been using this stuff in Europe for years and I think a new trend should be started in America. It will take probably 6 months to a year to get this stuff looking more like liverock.
Peace,
John H.
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