Idea for Faux sand bed. Envirotex Lite high gloss finish.

Great thread. I am going to try it on a 10 gall. I am concerned about algea growing though.

Do you guys think that it will also help protect the bottom and adding starboard would be redundant?

Will all of this extra weight make the tank unsafe to move when "empty"

Thanks
 
dochoot said:
Great thread. I am going to try it on a 10 gall. I am concerned about algea growing though.

Do you guys think that it will also help protect the bottom and adding starboard would be redundant?

Will all of this extra weight make the tank unsafe to move when "empty"

Thanks
Click to expand...

No need for the starboard under the sand!
 
Just a thought... I know that it would eventualy brush off some of the sand but wouldn't a dawn scruber that you can get from your local grocery store take care of the coraline? I read on Melv's thread that he was sure impressed by it.


Just a thought.....
 
mylittleocean said:
careful using cleaning sponges. Some have anti bacteria chemicals in it.
Click to expand...

I think he meant the power scrubber, the little battery powered gizmo with spinning head.

200.jpg
 
I thought I remeber reading on another thread a while back about using pvc glue. Did I imagine that or does anyone else remember reading that?

David

BTW, removing DSB in the near future.
 
Ok I got all the stuff i need to do this but how much sand do you mix with the epoxy? What proportions? Do you want it pourable or do you have to scoop it out and apply it? I've got a little over a gallon of the epoxy to do a 60" X 38" bottom (less a couple of aragacrete islands) Looks like I'm going to have to spread it real thin.

Thanks,
Jay
 
The Dawn Scruber is a battery opperated brush that is totaly submersable. From what I have been told by other people they use it to remove coraline algie with it even on acrylic aquariums.
 
docjay,
I am doing mine right now. This is just a test in a 10 gall. I made it so it is very pourable and dumped it in. I am adding lots of sand now to the top. The resin keeps absorbing the sand I am adding and I just add more to the wet spots. Very easy. Respect the cautions of breathing the stuff and wear gloves.
 
No the poly epoxy is designed so that after it is fully curred it dosen't release anything. The food industry uses this kind of product all the time.
 
Well all I can say let this be a warning to anyone thinking of doing this.


I did this on my 240g a few days ago let the epoxy and sand mix dry the required time 4 days. I vacuumed all the left over sand out of the tank.

I filled the tank with around 80 gallons of tap water to get the dust out.

I started to hear loud cracks coming from the tank for over an hour. I thought it was just the epoxy from the cold tap water.

Well about an hour later I look over the tank and see water leaking off the stand.


Well the whole bottom glass cracked from the epoxy sand mix:mad2:

I think if you are going to do this use something on the bottom of the glass so the epoxy does not crack and take the glass with it.


So I now have a 240g tank that is garbage:rolleyes:

I was able to get the water out quick with a big 6.5Hp 18g Shop Vac so I had no water damage to my floor in my living room.

I hope my home insurance will cover the tank. I did have insurance on it.

Let this be a warning to anyone thinking of doing this. I posted this so hopefully no one else has this happened.
 
Holy Crap!
Too late for me. I just finished mine. It has to cure for three days. Mine is also a 240 gal tank.
I plan on filling it thursday. How thick was your glass?

Jay
 
I would guess that the epoxy contracted from the cold water. Since it was bonded to the glass, it cracked.
When I fill mine I'll try using room temperature water. Maybe that will help (I hope).

Jay
 
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