crázy clowntang
New member
Kannin, how long have you had this setup?
My DIY Rock/Foam Reef
- Thread starter Kannin
- Start date
crázy clowntang
New member
Kannin, how long have you had this setup?
Kannin, did you see anything strange when you started your cycle? I have had mine going for about 3 weeks, and my skimmer is going crazy.. I havent tested anything, but the salt levels. Before I start testing or adding anything, just was curious what you noticed if anything from the foam.
Here's mine for reference.
Here's mine for reference.
rick17
New member
Has anybody tried this on a tank thats already establish for example a 3 year reef tank that i would like to reaquascape using the foam and rock would it have an ill effect on the corals would i go through a algea bloom how long would i have to wait for the foam to cure do i have to let it cure in water beford i put it in the tank
GreenReefer77
New member
your build is great.
I've been wanting to do something like this, but I want to have a bunch of "holes" for plugs. Can the foam be drilled? Is there anything you can put in the foam and then remove later that will leave plug holes?
I've been wanting to do something like this, but I want to have a bunch of "holes" for plugs. Can the foam be drilled? Is there anything you can put in the foam and then remove later that will leave plug holes?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13590771#post13590771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Montezuma
Kannin, did you see anything strange when you started your cycle? I have had mine going for about 3 weeks, and my skimmer is going crazy.. I havent tested anything, but the salt levels. Before I start testing or adding anything, just was curious what you noticed if anything from the foam.
Here's mine for reference.
I noticed nothing from the foam. My rocks leached a high amount of phosphates though, which caused, first a brown diatom and then a cyano problem. Your's looks great, by the way.
TheOtherReefer
Pre-Internet Club
To answer MeskeetDog, the water parameters are perfect, stable after months of running. I have done this before in my tanks, not as much, but as additions to existing rock structure and never had any problems. The Dow Great stuff website has info in writing saying it is safe for aquariums also.
cheers
cheers
Get a phosphate reactor on it. Back your lighting down too. Did you get your rocks from Marcorocks.com? How long did you cook them?
I ran a test after I saw the cyano. I used three buckets of salt water... after testing my newly mixed salt water for phosphatess
#1 had a rock
#2 had a piece of egg crate
#3 had a piece of cured foam with epoxy resin and sand on half of it.
After 12 hours... I tested the water in each and #2 & #3 were fine but, #1 was off the charts, for phosphates.
I believe that it was because I only cooked the rocks in a 10:1 rodi:vinegar solution for three days. Next time... I'll use a 5:1 solution for a week and then soak in salt water for another week.
I ran a test after I saw the cyano. I used three buckets of salt water... after testing my newly mixed salt water for phosphatess
#1 had a rock
#2 had a piece of egg crate
#3 had a piece of cured foam with epoxy resin and sand on half of it.
After 12 hours... I tested the water in each and #2 & #3 were fine but, #1 was off the charts, for phosphates.
I believe that it was because I only cooked the rocks in a 10:1 rodi:vinegar solution for three days. Next time... I'll use a 5:1 solution for a week and then soak in salt water for another week.
Joshsmit56001
Member
I found some casting resin at my local hobby store that says it is polyester resin on the side of the can. It is a two part system that is the polyester resin and a hardener that you add (Catalyst). Will this work? I looked at the side of the Bondo resin and it is the same ingredient (polyester resin). I also thought of adding purple RIT dye to the resin to get a better color out of it. Is this safe to and has anybody ever tried it? Thanks
GreenReefer77
New member
Will the foam ever become "live"? Is the use of base rock mixed in witht he foam more for looks or is it because the foam won't become as alive as the base rock will?
Fishingpcola
New member
porterdog
New member
another idea
another idea
I read most of this post and thought this might help. You could easilly take some of the rock you will be using take a large mason bit take one or more pieces and drill it into nothing but dust, when your left with little chunks then smash them with a class 5 tamper. Take the dust and small pebbles and then drop/throw it against the expoxy. This way the foam with the dust and /or small pebbles from the the tamper will have exactly the same color and to a lesser degreen texture as the full pieces no matter what. This worked for me when I did this with dead pukani rock, can't see any super glue gel lines or aquamend at all. Hope this helps.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock_3.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock2.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock.JPG
another idea
I read most of this post and thought this might help. You could easilly take some of the rock you will be using take a large mason bit take one or more pieces and drill it into nothing but dust, when your left with little chunks then smash them with a class 5 tamper. Take the dust and small pebbles and then drop/throw it against the expoxy. This way the foam with the dust and /or small pebbles from the the tamper will have exactly the same color and to a lesser degreen texture as the full pieces no matter what. This worked for me when I did this with dead pukani rock, can't see any super glue gel lines or aquamend at all. Hope this helps.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock_3.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock2.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/203911mini-rock.JPG
hyrumbradshaw
New member
how did you drill thru the rocks? I am trying this but the rock keeps breaking away when i try and drill holes to zip tie it...
