My DIY Rock/Foam Reef
- Thread starter Kannin
- Start date
KenStanley
Premium Member
I just ordered 6 cans of the black pond foam. Let the reef building begin!
Fishingpcola
New member
The best look is to use macro rock and only use the foam to fill in the gaps.
KenStanley
Premium Member
Thanks Fishingp. That is my intention I just want to make sure I have enough foam once I start. I don't want to run and find out I need more foam. Better too much than too little. I'm sure once my friends see how it comes out I'll be able to get rid of the the extra cans, if I have any.
yousmellsfishy
New member
I agree. Nothing looks as much like real rock as real rock. Here's a pic from my foam/rock build that I think demonstrates the superior look of mostly rock with foam only to fill in the gaps. You can't get this look out of foam alone.
Plus thr rock negates the bouyancy issue as well.
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customcolor
New member
yea i know real rock looks like real rock but its fun to try to make it look like real rock. i bet ya this pic of a "just foam" rock i did. looks realy close. (its in my 46 bow)<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12499198#post12499198 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yousmellsfishy
I agree. Nothing looks as much like real rock as real rock. Here's a pic from my foam/rock build that I think demonstrates the superior look of mostly rock with foam only to fill in the gaps. You can't get this look out of foam alone.
Plus thr rock negates the bouyancy issue as well.
here is a nother one of it
KenStanley...
When you do your foam, remember, you dont have to spray the whole thing at once. you can spray more after a few hours each time...build the look and shape. you can always shape it more later...thats the great part.
LOL...proves that "real or not" point to me...that looks amazing!!! very nice and pouris.
When you do your foam, remember, you dont have to spray the whole thing at once. you can spray more after a few hours each time...build the look and shape. you can always shape it more later...thats the great part.
LOL...proves that "real or not" point to me...that looks amazing!!! very nice and pouris.
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customcolor
New member
those pics are befor water. sad to say the tank only has water for the past week. so i dont think i will see coraline for a wile. the foam in my 125 has almost as much coraline on it as my 4 year old rock. here is the kicker, the foam is only 7 months old 
KenStanley
Premium Member
Custom,
I didn't read that you used crushed salt but I was thinking about it. I know they some times do that to create textured finishes on walss and when I saw your pictures that's what I thought it looked like. Nice.
GIJoe,
Thanks for the tip. I'll do that.
I didn't read that you used crushed salt but I was thinking about it. I know they some times do that to create textured finishes on walss and when I saw your pictures that's what I thought it looked like. Nice.
GIJoe,
Thanks for the tip. I'll do that.
KenStanley
Premium Member
Here's an epoxy that might be VERY good for this
Here's an epoxy that might be VERY good for this
Hey guys,
I've been searching all over for an epoxy that would be aquarium safe and here is what I found. I have asked the manufacturer for some feed back and I will post it just as soon as I get an answer. You can take a look on ebay if you are interested.
Ken
Link to Ebay for the epoxy
Here's an epoxy that might be VERY good for this
Hey guys,
I've been searching all over for an epoxy that would be aquarium safe and here is what I found. I have asked the manufacturer for some feed back and I will post it just as soon as I get an answer. You can take a look on ebay if you are interested.
Ken
Link to Ebay for the epoxy
customcolor
New member
yep i used crystal salt for like a mold (granted it is reanforced by eggcrate inside of it too) to give it its texture and extra shape so it dont look like long turds
kinda like what you can do with diy live rock
customcolor
New member
fiberglass resin does let water through but supper slow. it will discolor and swell alittle
I've seen a many a question like that...what type of epoxy or resin to use 
It's something that you really have to investigate with the manufacture...IMHO. Its better to be safe then sorry. I just used what Kannin and a few others have used, tried tested and true, but I would really like to see some other alternatives. I found for me, that I needed a lot of epoxy, so in turn I needed to make big batchs to get the sealent done.
I'd be a happy man if a pray type could be found that is reef safe ...would make the job go a lot easier and quicker.
It's something that you really have to investigate with the manufacture...IMHO. Its better to be safe then sorry. I just used what Kannin and a few others have used, tried tested and true, but I would really like to see some other alternatives. I found for me, that I needed a lot of epoxy, so in turn I needed to make big batchs to get the sealent done.
I'd be a happy man if a pray type could be found that is reef safe
...would make the job go a lot easier and quicker.
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WetPetsHawaii
In Memoriam
you can use surfboard finishing or sanding resin too. There are a bunch of pigment colors you can add to the resin to create a live rock look.....I also used spray paint for the base color....the spray paint and resin will fully cure in a couple of weeks.....this is an example of a reef I built using base rock I collected from the beach,surfboard sanding resin with added color pygmentation, and krylon spray paint.....what do you think?
