Foam stuff for the "rock work" look????
- Thread starter ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE
- Start date
Beenalongtime79
New member
damn you RichTG! I keep looking at your tank pic and now wish I had taken the time to paint the backdrop instead of waiting for corraline algae to encrust the foam. It's going to be a long while before it starts blending in, but I growing things off of it, so in a year it should start looking pretty natural, but yours already looks natural! 
Peace,
John H.
Peace,
John H.
Hearseboy9
New member
Aquatic Eco-Systems sells a potable water epoxy that you might be able to paint the foam with. Please check first because I have used the epoxy , but not on foam. The epoxy might break down the foam. www.aquaticeco.com
Hearseboy9
New member
What "Comatose" states is true as far as any experience I have had with the product "Great Stuff". Water does break it down after a while. There is a product made that is actaually rubber.
When the chemicals hit oxygen it turns into a rubber like product not foam. However I have searched high and low for this without luck. And who knows if this product leaches anything into the water.
When the chemicals hit oxygen it turns into a rubber like product not foam. However I have searched high and low for this without luck. And who knows if this product leaches anything into the water.
RichTG
New member
I don't trust rubber because it is so unstable with U.V. bombardment and all of the oils in it. Always worth looking into new products, though!
John H, I have tons of GSP and Snakeskin frags that grow like stink. I have thought of starting some colonies on the wall. If you want a kickstart, pm me!
John H, I have tons of GSP and Snakeskin frags that grow like stink. I have thought of starting some colonies on the wall. If you want a kickstart, pm me!
What about these? They are made for waterfalls. Looks like the same stuff (expanding polyurethane) only black....
http://store.yahoo.com/123ponds/blstraw12.html
black foam
There are several others also.
Maybe try writing these mfr's & see what they have to say about the degradation over time questions.
Matt B
http://store.yahoo.com/123ponds/blstraw12.html
black foam
There are several others also.
Maybe try writing these mfr's & see what they have to say about the degradation over time questions.
Matt B
Beenalongtime79
New member
oside,
save your time. It is the same stuff, but colored black and it will also degrade over time just like great stuff under heavy UV bombardment.
Peace,
John H.
save your time. It is the same stuff, but colored black and it will also degrade over time just like great stuff under heavy UV bombardment.
Peace,
John H.
RedEyeReef
Active member
Does covering it with Marine enamel paint protect it from UV?
gatohoser
New member
This is insane. Im too scared to try it myself without hearing some documented cases of long term tanks with this stuff with SPS corals and everything. If Randy Holmes-Farley would come analyze the ingredients and declare it safe or not id be much more comfortable. But Richtg your tank is beautiful and i hope to see many more pictures of that beautiful tank.
Beenalongtime79
New member
redeyereef,
As far as i know, if you cover it with something opaque, it should shield the foam from the UV.
Peace,
John H.
As far as i know, if you cover it with something opaque, it should shield the foam from the UV.
Peace,
John H.
RichTG
New member
I, too was sceptical about the entire idea. I was still curious about it, so I did a lot of searches and found LOTS of people using this tecnique with great results. The trend started in europe, and there are lots of people with long term proof that back up the process. The bottom line is that any product that becomes inert after a chemical reaction is simply inert! The only problems that are identified are the physical degredation that it undergoes over a period of time. Basically, the stuff erodes microscopicaly and passes harmlessly through the system and is trapped by sponges, etc. for export.
I, for one, think that if I have to redo the foam wall every few years, it is worth every second of my time. I also had my new tank fitted with twin overflows; lest a big chunk is somehow ripped off the wall and creates a blockage. The cured and painted foam is quite hard, though.
I would also love to hear what Randy has to say about the subject. Rich.
I, for one, think that if I have to redo the foam wall every few years, it is worth every second of my time. I also had my new tank fitted with twin overflows; lest a big chunk is somehow ripped off the wall and creates a blockage. The cured and painted foam is quite hard, though.
I would also love to hear what Randy has to say about the subject. Rich.
woodstockaz
Premium Member
bumpbumpbumptoo.
I'm dying to know more about this.
I'm dying to know more about this.
delv
In Memoriam
What other info is anyone looking for? Has anyone here built a structural background out of epoxy yet? I am thinking about it but really like the versatility afforded by the foam allowing me to 'poke' frags into the actual background...Epoxy wouldn't allow you to do that. It would be stronger, stable over the longterm, take paint very well...texturing as well.
d.
d.
woodstockaz
Premium Member
I don't want to foam directly to my tank. I'd like to do the whole foam/rock thing on the eggcrate and just set it in the tank. Do you guys think this will cause problems with space behind the crate?
Beenalongtime79
New member
Mine is still doing fine. I've got clams and SPS thriving in there.
Not much else to talk about. It's awesome and works.
Hehe.
Peace,
John H.
Not much else to talk about. It's awesome and works.
Hehe.
Peace,
John H.
woodstockaz
Premium Member
John.
I want to put 30 lbs of rock into the foam and have all that on eggcrate, and just place that against the back wall. Do you think that will work?
I want to put 30 lbs of rock into the foam and have all that on eggcrate, and just place that against the back wall. Do you think that will work?
Similar threads
