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

[gatohoser]

Any1 got any pics of just sand on the foam? No paint or cement? What do you all think of that?

 

[M0E]

MOE, that is an awesome idea. Thanks for the link. The silicon and sand would work great for those going barebottom.

Someone on this thread stated the fact that the europeans are the whom started backdrops in living aquariums and vivariums. While some use the foam method, there are several other methods i feel will be of greater success in marine aquariums (which us north americans dont even know about). Being a vivarium keeper, I have several links on dutch and euro type methods of background construction. However here in north america, we dont have the same materials as they do. Over there, they use a product called 'flevopol'.

I think transferring the secrets from vivarium-type backdrop construction over to marine aquariums will be of great use.

http://www.georgecramer.com/dutchvivariums.html

http://www.poison-frogs.nl/e03.html

Have a look at these, it may be an inspiration to creating new techniques for those in the saltwater hobby.

M0E

 

[surfersce]

Any1 got any pics of just sand on the foam? No paint or cement? What do you all think of that?

I tried that on a test piece of glass, because the foam expands it is impossable to cover it completly with sand. even if you put down a thick layer, as the foam expands it will form " gaps" where the foam is exposed without sand. BTW does anybody know if rustolium for plastics is as safe a kylon fusion? the guy at lowes said it is the same stuff, but im not sure.

 

[gatohoser]

How do you guys get the krylon on your backgrounds when theyre in the tank? It seems like its gonna be quite a big chore to keep the tank spotless!

I got my system coming together if any1 wants to take a peak
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4908014#post4908014

Here's a little teaser:
<img src="http://feltandmeckelcorals.com/29gfoamandsandon.JPG">

That's just with sand speckled on. I am going to paint with krylon fusion. How long does this need to sit before I can paint (a shorter time as I don't have a lot of time to get this up)? And how long does the paint have to cure?

 

[gatohoser]

Any1 used a bare foam yet? It looks so good I hate to try and paint it and mess it up. Especially since im using dead base rock and its a BB and it will look BUTT UGLY for 6 months or so.

 

[Bishop]

wait so people use Krylon inside the tank?

 

[shavedhead]

WOW...........amazing stuff is more like it !!!!

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Any1 used a bare foam yet? It looks so good I hate to try and paint it and mess it up. Especially since im using dead base rock and its a BB and it will look BUTT UGLY for 6 months or so.

I have, it should get covered w/ in the year. I've had mine up for about 7 months and things are coming along nicely.

Peace,
John H.

 

[gatohoser]

Am I incorrect about the Krylon? I thought I had read in here that people were using Krylon fusion on their foam.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

I heard that the krylon will actually melt the foam, b/c that's what I wanted to do originally.

Krylon is fine to use inside the tank, but you have to let it cure for like 7 days, however, I heard that krylon will melt the foam. Try it though, let us know how it goes.

Peace,
John H.

 

[gatohoser]

Wow. I know I had read that in the first few pages somewhere. I don't think I'm gonna do it since you seem to like your results without the paint and I'm afraid it would mess it up to spray in the tank.

 

[capt. insano]

I wouldn't use Krylon. I used it on several pieces of pvc that were going were eventually submerged in the tank. 3 weeks later, it started flaking off.

I had cleaned the pvc thoroughly and then applied several coats of krylon (waiting the proper time in between to allow the coats to dry)

It didn't really "fuse" with the pvc IME

 

[josh_peter]

the peice I made is very boyant. I am havin ga lot of trouble trying to weigh it down.

 

[tgreene]

For INSIDE the tank, use epoxy paint.

 

[gatohoser]

Okay, thanks everyone. I am going to leave it unpainted I guess.

 

[gatohoser]

Humph. So piling sand on it makes it look like it has smoothed it out but its just filling in the shape of the foam. When I washed off the sand today I noticed that it had all the turdy shape spot except in spots where I must have thrown a cupful or something.

<img src="http://feltandmeckelcorals.com/29gturdyfoam.JPG">

Its not horrible though. It'll grow in and look less turdy eventually. It still is really cool for hiding my intake system. It stayed virtually clean behind that PVC quarter. I don't know if any1 mentioned it but this stuff starts to shrink on day 3. It has pulled off about 3 inches on the right side. It is retreating off the wall and has tilted my starboard up about an inch by sucking it up with it towards the center. Weird stuff....It is retreating to leave more room in the depth direction though which is good cuz i had overdone it.

<img src="http://feltandmeckelcorals.com/29gfoamtop.JPG">



I bought some "river rubble" (grey) or whatever they call it Krylon Fusion today and I painted a piece and I saw no instant reaction on 3 day old foam but we'll see how it does in a day or 2.

 

[shavedhead]

Question for all of you Pro-Great Stuff folks......Is it possible to use it to make branch-like liverock? I was thinking if I could spray it in a long tub of Arag or sand....and then dump more Arag or sand on it while its setting...It might form like a branch-shape or maybe an antler....! Sound do-able to you folks with experience??

 

[gatohoser]

It wouldn't be pretty...but yes. Thats how I did it basically.

 

[qwuintus]

yeah a rock thing would be cool so you can move it around, bit it will float

 

[gatohoser]

Ok so the Krylon Fusion didn't melt the foam at all. It might have been that the people who said that before hadn't waited long enough to try it on the foam. The grey looks pretty good and I am really thinking about doing the wall in my tank now. I just don't know how to seal it off the glass cuz this stuff paints glass too.