My DIY Rock/Foam Reef

[alpine]

Dang Kannin your tank is looking better and better!!

 

[Vinnie71975]

Well i pulled mine apart and scrapped it was just WAY to tight in there so im gonna try a new approach, im gonna set up the rocks into caves and then great stuff the cracks to hold it all together.

 

[Jerdog]

Kannin looks great with sand and water, your foundation of reef looks natural and will only get better with time. You did a great job, its threads like yours that inspire people. I cant wait to get started myself.

 

[Vinnie71975]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11798572#post11798572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vinnie71975
Well i pulled mine apart and scrapped it was just WAY to tight in there so im gonna try a new approach, im gonna set up the rocks into caves and then great stuff the cracks to hold it all together.

Or use Aquarium Sealant not sure yet.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11799582#post11799582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jerdog
Kannin looks great with sand and water, your foundation of reef looks natural and will only get better with time. You did a great job, its threads like yours that inspire people. I cant wait to get started myself.

Agreed!!

 

[alpine]

Hey Vinnie I know how you feel.The width of our tanks makes aquascapeing a pain.Did you see the pic of the 55 I found on another forum?Could you implement something like that?

I havent seen a pic yet,but I believe that you just might be trying to use to much rock in your setup.More is not always better in our case,with the dims we have to work with.

 

[Vinnie71975]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11801043#post11801043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alpine
Hey Vinnie I know how you feel.The width of our tanks makes aquascapeing a pain.Did you see the pic of the 55 I found on another forum?Could you implement something like that?

I havent seen a pic yet,but I believe that you just might be trying to use to much rock in your setup.More is not always better in our case,with the dims we have to work with.

i have about 44 lbs of lace rock im working with im testing out Silicone Sealent to see if it will hold the rocks together, cause (A) i know it wont leach anything (b) Its Clear and can be easily hid So we will see i HOPE it holds im leaving the lil cave i made till tomorrow.

 

[Kannin]

Try cement. I think if you use 1 part cement, 1 part sand / crushed coral and 1 part water... you might come up with a gooey glue like cement.

 

[Vinnie71975]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11802038#post11802038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kannin
Try cement. I think if you use 1 part cement, 1 part sand / crushed coral and 1 part water... you might come up with a gooey glue like cement.

Nah the Sealant works GREAT!

 

[ShipOFools]

How do you attach the eggcrate to the back of the tank?

 

[NightBreed1369]

Tiggsy used sealent on his and it seams to have worked out great

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

just so you guys know...the fiberglass resin you buy at home depot or walmart or lowes...(bondo Brand or equivalent).etc...is polyester based resin not Epoxy...

there doesnt seem to be a problem using either , as by the looks of it you guys have successfully used both, but rest assured there are huge differences in polyester based resins and Epoxy based resins, either can be used for fiberglass..and that is where the similarities end...

Epoxy resin is very specific with how it is mixed...and it must be mixed in order to cure..Polyesters vary, and dont need hardener to cure...

Epoxy tends to be clear when cured, but can be tinted, polyester is very yellow and will yellow more when exposed to UV...

polyester also tends to be more brittle then epoxy...epoxy is designed and utilized for its strength...

just a little FYI...

BBT

this tank looks amazing...the rock is done very well...it sure is nice to have the size to play with...

 

[NightBreed1369]

Ill check into that more monday but the stuff I was looking at comes with hardener other wise thanks for the info Im going to start looking for the finishing resin at some local hobby stores in the mean time as I get my new tank in two weeks and want to get started asap.
Mike

<Edit>
Look for your local Hobby Town they carry several types of Epoxy resin including the Zpoxy that was originally mentioned. 8oz of Finishing resin for $8.95 12oz Zpoxy $17.49. Ill be calling the one close to me tomarrow to find out witch ones they carry in store as Im not much for ordering online to many problems in the past lol

Mike
:rollface:

 

[maxheadroom]

nice. very nice.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

Well. I've begun my project, inspired by this thread and Tiggsy's, only in micro scale. Here's a link to the thread

 

[Mwafler]

What about scraping species and things that bore into rock? Would something not ingest or bore into the foam/resin?

 

[ShipOFools]

what type of sealent? Aquarium silicone?

 

[Kannin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11807204#post11807204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ShipOFools
How do you attach the eggcrate to the back of the tank?

I was able to jam it in under the eurobracing. Then I put a piece of eggcrate up against the front pane to keep it secure. Then I used zip ties to attach it to the overflow grates. Then, as a final measure... I tacked the eggcrate at the bottom of the pillars down with aquarium silicone.

 

[arnoldreef]

kannin impresive work planning to build a wall like that
for my 180 gall

 

[yousmellsfishy]

any new pics Kannin?