Foam stuff for the "rock work" look????

[Bilb007]

[violation]

 

[NicoleC]

I just finished painting the front of my back wall pieces.

A note on the foam: it doesn't just expand, it also contracts several hours later. If you are going to use a thin media for your back ground (like I did), you will need to weigh it down with rocks once it is dry enough. For most of it, I had enough rocks in the mix to do it, but I had to train a few bits to lie flat.

I used the Sweetwater Epoxy paint -- let me tell you, do NOT get this on your hands, or the floor, or your counters, or anything else. It's a task to get up! Part A melted the plastic cup I was using to measure, but fortunately not my nitrile gloves -- at least not once mixed.

The fumes are potent. Take it outdoors. It's a bit thick and difficult to get in all the crevices -- a flat brush like a stencilling brish will help. I went ahead and painted the rocks, too, since I figured water would seep through the rock and break down the foam anyway if I didn't.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

water doesn't break down the foam nicole.

What does eventually cause it to become brittle is the UV light from the bulbs that you are using.

Peace,
John H.

 

[NicoleC]

Oh yes. Ah well, it's painted now

 

[ScooterGuitar]

Cool link, here's some comments. recently back into salt tanks, man live rock has went up! I ahve looked into making live rock and nwo I see this post. Very cool ideas, but here's my 2 cents...3 years ago I installed abotu 3'000 gal Koi pond. I used the Great Stuff foams for many applications, waterfall, stream, holding rocks, etc. After the first year, some of it was working loose and almost like chipping away. So that is why i am hesitant to try and make some saltwater rocks using it. Can I ask why you don't use cheap lace rock or limestone?

 

[delv]

Because limestone and lace rock are from inland and can contain very high levels of phosphate, heavy metals, etc. Live rock for someplace like Reefermadness.us is not much more expensive than limestone if you need to have it shipped. I like the foam for the versatility it gives.

d.

 

[NicoleC]

We are not using the foam as replacement for LR, but for aesthetics. There will still be a lot of LR in my tank, but the back wall made of foam is to create the illusion of depth.

 

[ScooterGuitar]

Oh ok, I thoguht it was along the lines of like making live rock as many are doing. I write because I am tempted to try this, they look cool! Has anyone had any in a tankf or a long perido of time?
Also, from what I read in thsi thread, looks like only takes 2 days to cure and its ready to go?

 

[NicoleC]

The foam is good to go in 2 days, but the marine epoxy (for those that paint over it) takes about 12-24 hours to dry between coats and 7 days to cure, then a final wash with a household ammonia solution. Mine should be finished Thursday

Foam would make lousy rock... it floats

If you want to make your own rock, "agrocrete" is the stuff to look up. Garf.org has a lot of info on it. If you are in SoCal, the SCMAS club's workshop in April is going to be on making your own rock.

 

[NicoleC]

In progress:

In the tank, dry:

Close up:

Just needs coralline:

 

[woodstockaz]

OMG that looks really good. What did you paint that with. My paint melted the stuff?
name, brand, where you got it?
Did you spray it on egg crate?

 

[Beenalongtime79]

That looks great Nicole. That epoxy really seems to work well.

Peace,
John H.

 

[NicoleC]

I used a backing of plastic canvas (which I don't suggest; too flexible to stand up to the foam's expanding and shrinking), the 3m Great Stuff foam, some base rock pieces, and Sweetwater Epoxy paint from Aquatic EcoSystems over it all (which comes in different colors -- I used the light gray).

I tooled and texturized the foam to help with the "turd" look.

 

[Bishop]

In terrariums and vivariums people paint a dark silicon onto the the glass and acrylic surface in a very very thin layer, then spray the foam down as you want it, shape it, carve it, etc... and then coat it with another thin layer of silicon to protect it... sometimes imbedding sand and peat moss and whatnot...

This has always bonded to the tank quite well and even allows you to have a aquarium/vivarium... has anyone just tried to paint silicon onto the foam instead of using expensive epoxy?

I really dig the cement mixture too though.

 

[Bishop]

Plain:
I sent you an email, but could you elaborate on the cement mixture you used? You say normal, but thin... not quite normal . Anyway I ask because I am curious if you mixed it from scratch, using cement, water, and aggregate, or if you used a pre-mixed substance such as quick-crete and then mixed it light.

I sent you an email as well, thanks!

 

[Plain]

Hi Bishop..

The concrete that i used for my tank is a complete mix for putting up tiles !!! In Denmark its called "Alfix", you only put water in and youre ready to go... Mix it as thin as you like

Martin

 

[Bishop]

Hmm.. for putting up tiles eh.... do you know if it's the concrete you put between the tiles or underneath them? Here on is called thinset (cement material that holds the tile to the floor or wall) and then there is another cement substance called grout which goes between the tiles... I think they're unique.

 

[Plain]

Its the one that holds tiles to the wall, the other one is to fine in the grains !!

 

[xtra-salty]

Looks good NicoleC, whats keeps it in place?

 

[NicoleC]

It's mostly siliconed to the back wall, but the loc line outputs and the standpipe do a pretty good job by themselves; plus the left side has some pretty substantial rocks at the bototm.