My DIY Rock/Foam Reef
- Thread starter Kannin
- Start date
GPhiAce
New member
Hey, great thread. I have been reading through all this, and want to start a project soon. So I have a few quick questions. Wha did you use to cover the surface you worked on? - plastic? What did you use to shave the foam?-Razor? I only have one reef tank, and this would have to go into it, so.. can I build the structure, and let it circulate in a rubbemaid container with high flow and some live rock for a month before it goes into the tank? Do you think that will work?? And is this all the initial items??Egg crate, Lace rock or macro rock (base or rubble rock at my LFS), zip ties, Great Stuff (red can I believe), Epoxy resin (the fiberglass jelly type found at Lowes & auto shops), argonite sand (crushed coral or oyster shell).
One more question as far as technique- instead of zip tieing, could greatstuff be sprayed then the macro rock laid overtop, then continue with the epoxy and sand???
One more question as far as technique- instead of zip tieing, could greatstuff be sprayed then the macro rock laid overtop, then continue with the epoxy and sand???
I built it on a sheet of plywood over two saw horses.
There are no other supplies needed.
I used a cheep exacto to trim the foam.
Yes... I think you could cure it in a tub before moving it in to the tank.
I would think that it's possible that the rocks might break off if they are not zip tied first.
Please let me be clear about this last one... I have at no time recommended the epoxies found at Lowes or auto shops. There were a few people talking about cheaper alternatives in my thread but, I never advocated their use. I used a certain product that I bought from a hobby shop... and only after speaking to the manufacturer about it's safety. The product I used had very little odor and after curing for 6 hours... had no odor. I have already been told by people that they used the bondo type and it still stank a week later. This would indicate to me that it is still toxic. I probably would also recommend the Z-Poxy from Zap that Tiggsy used... only because it has so far been successful for him.
Good luck with your project. I'll be happy to help if you need me.
There are no other supplies needed.
I used a cheep exacto to trim the foam.
Yes... I think you could cure it in a tub before moving it in to the tank.
I would think that it's possible that the rocks might break off if they are not zip tied first.
Please let me be clear about this last one... I have at no time recommended the epoxies found at Lowes or auto shops. There were a few people talking about cheaper alternatives in my thread but, I never advocated their use. I used a certain product that I bought from a hobby shop... and only after speaking to the manufacturer about it's safety. The product I used had very little odor and after curing for 6 hours... had no odor. I have already been told by people that they used the bondo type and it still stank a week later. This would indicate to me that it is still toxic. I probably would also recommend the Z-Poxy from Zap that Tiggsy used... only because it has so far been successful for him.
Good luck with your project. I'll be happy to help if you need me.
jasonh
New member
Kannin, how did that plywood work out for you? I did mine on cardboard and it was a royal pain to get off.
For trimming...I would really recommend a large serrated knife. I used an old "miracle blade" I use for random crap. Made quick work of it.
GPhiAce, for just a few dollars more than the Bondo brand polyester resin, I would pick up the stuff Kannin recommended. I used it on my project, and I think it'll work out well. It was like $16 whereas the Bondo stuff was $11-12 at HD.
For trimming...I would really recommend a large serrated knife. I used an old "miracle blade" I use for random crap. Made quick work of it.
GPhiAce, for just a few dollars more than the Bondo brand polyester resin, I would pick up the stuff Kannin recommended. I used it on my project, and I think it'll work out well. It was like $16 whereas the Bondo stuff was $11-12 at HD.
GPhiAce
Have done so myself but I'm preety sure the recomended epoxk is Z-Poxy made by Zap. You can buy this on ebay or amazon.
Have done so myself but I'm preety sure the recomended epoxk is Z-Poxy made by Zap. You can buy this on ebay or amazon.
Somewhere back in the single digit pages of this thread... I posted an actual photo of the epoxy resin that I used and the red can of Great Stuff. If you don't have any model train stores nearby... you can use the Z-poxy that Tiggsy used.
I used simple wire cutters to cut the eggcrate. It was easy to do.
Kannin I'm a big fan or your work!
I have a can of red great stuff arround but was searching for the green can high and low but can't find it other then online.
The red can of great stuff will work just as well?
If so thats great I don't have to order green can great stuff!
cheers!
I have a can of red great stuff arround but was searching for the green can high and low but can't find it other then online.
The red can of great stuff will work just as well?
If so thats great I don't have to order green can great stuff!
cheers!
one mroe question Kannin,
How many pounds of marco rock/base rock did you use for the entire set up? I would like to start somthing smaller but I'd like to know apx how much rock I should order so I'm not running out a few peaces from being finished!
cheers!
How many pounds of marco rock/base rock did you use for the entire set up? I would like to start somthing smaller but I'd like to know apx how much rock I should order so I'm not running out a few peaces from being finished!
cheers!
No it wasn't your thread I saw the green can being used on but glad to know the red can is what I'm looking for.
I thought it might be arround 200lbs but then again its hard to guess just using pics of the final product.
Okay thats great now I just have to decide on tonga or fiji to buy from macrorock.com, anybody have any sugestions? Tonga? Fiji? Large rock? small rock? rubble?
I thought it might be arround 200lbs but then again its hard to guess just using pics of the final product.
Okay thats great now I just have to decide on tonga or fiji to buy from macrorock.com, anybody have any sugestions? Tonga? Fiji? Large rock? small rock? rubble?
sandalscout
New member
I made one in the similar vein as Kannin (Thanks for the inspiration, both to you and everyone else who did this before me), and I used the Fiji marcorocks, I tihnk it's the best choice.
Thanks for the help sandalscout!
Yeah I was undecided between the two but since its all goan look pretty similar in the end I thought Fiji would be best for the buck!
Again thanks for the insiration & info to help the rest of us along Kannin!
Cheers!
Yeah I was undecided between the two but since its all goan look pretty similar in the end I thought Fiji would be best for the buck!
Again thanks for the insiration & info to help the rest of us along Kannin!
Cheers!
aceheart1976
New member
sweet looking, want to follow this and see how it goes
Glad to see others having a bash at the foam/rock 
Just to put anyone's mind at rest who is worried about the long term effects or the initial period - i had NO problems with algae or blooms that lasted more than a few days. My tank is now almost ZERO maintenance after 6-7 months.....aside from cleaning the glass every other day i spend no time on it (literally!)
The rock/foam just looks like one big lump, you cant see the joins at all...all in a complete success!
7 months in:
The aquascaping has given a layout that would have been impossible in a normal 4ft tank.
Just to put anyone's mind at rest who is worried about the long term effects or the initial period - i had NO problems with algae or blooms that lasted more than a few days. My tank is now almost ZERO maintenance after 6-7 months.....aside from cleaning the glass every other day i spend no time on it (literally!)
The rock/foam just looks like one big lump, you cant see the joins at all...all in a complete success!
7 months in:
The aquascaping has given a layout that would have been impossible in a normal 4ft tank.
Flyflicker
Premium Member
That is a beautiful tank. Great job!
winland
New member
Question regarding applying the epoxy coating to the "Stuff"..
What is your method of choice to apply the epoxy? Do you brush it on? What type of brush? Thin or thick coat? One or two coats?
How big of an area do you work on at a time? More info need on this part of the procedure.
Many thanks to all that respond.
Getting ready to do this in a new 360g acrylic FOWLR tank.
Also can I use silicone to attach the egg crate to the back wall of the acrylic tank? Some other method suggestions?
winland
What is your method of choice to apply the epoxy? Do you brush it on? What type of brush? Thin or thick coat? One or two coats?
How big of an area do you work on at a time? More info need on this part of the procedure.
Many thanks to all that respond.
Getting ready to do this in a new 360g acrylic FOWLR tank.
Also can I use silicone to attach the egg crate to the back wall of the acrylic tank? Some other method suggestions?
winland
