The Foam/rock Projects Here Thread
- Thread starter yousmellsfishy
- Start date
are you going to do the back as well? if so depending on the amount of rock and size of the bottle your looking at 8-10 bottles.
I have seen some nice wall builds in this thread and learned a lot from the various build threads, so I thought I would post a picture of my finished wall for my 240 gal. The openings along the upper area conceal 3 propeller pumps and there is one that pumps parallel to the wall to move water out the crevasse in the middle.
Here is an end view.
You can see te full build thread here.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1732329
Happy building,
Mark
Here is an end view.
You can see te full build thread here.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1732329
Happy building,
Mark
MarineGirl411
New member
Wow Mark. That is the best one I've seen so far. Very nice.
rhkingsfan
New member
So the rock and foam (pond foam) are in place and I'm getting ready to use the professional heavy duty 5 minute epoxy that you buy at Home Depot (comes in two 4 oz bottles that you mix). It clearly says resistant to water and solvents, but in the back it says not suitable for prolonged immersion in water. This seems to be a huge red flag and I'm thinking of going to Z-poxy. Does all epoxy have that warning?
yousmellsfishy
New member
Wow Mark!! That is beautiful!!!
Thanks for the complements. I am now working on the stand for my basement sump setup.
To those who ask about the right epoxy to use: IMHO I would stay away from any of the 5 minute epoxies. Two reasons , one they do not set as hard as the higher quality epoxies and have less water resistance and Two they only leave you with 5 minutes of working time. When you are brushing on epoxy and then covering it with sand you really want a longer working time, like 20 minutes. otherwise you will not be able to work a large enough area. Once you sprinkle (pour) on the sand it gets everywhere and you want to do good sized areas.
I use West System epoxy. it is designed for wooden boat hulls and thus is rated for immersion. It works well. Comes with metering pumps for easy mixing. Only down side is it is $80 per gal. You can order it in quart size as well. I use Jamestown Distributers. Good customer service.
Regards,
Mark
To those who ask about the right epoxy to use: IMHO I would stay away from any of the 5 minute epoxies. Two reasons , one they do not set as hard as the higher quality epoxies and have less water resistance and Two they only leave you with 5 minutes of working time. When you are brushing on epoxy and then covering it with sand you really want a longer working time, like 20 minutes. otherwise you will not be able to work a large enough area. Once you sprinkle (pour) on the sand it gets everywhere and you want to do good sized areas.
I use West System epoxy. it is designed for wooden boat hulls and thus is rated for immersion. It works well. Comes with metering pumps for easy mixing. Only down side is it is $80 per gal. You can order it in quart size as well. I use Jamestown Distributers. Good customer service.
Regards,
Mark
After reading this thread, I constructed a foam wall with live rock. Before I coated it, I put it in the tank to try it out. It is way too boyant, that it will not go down. I piled close to 50 lbs of rock on it (plus the 25lbs on it) and it would not go down. It is 24" x 19"h. This is just not practical. It would take a tun of sylicone to keep this down, and it will pull up in time.
I want to know how do you guys keep these walls from coming loose and floating up. This pond foam is very boyant.
I want to know how do you guys keep these walls from coming loose and floating up. This pond foam is very boyant.
kcress
New member
Tiz a fine line.
I saw one member trying to build the entire wall from Styrofoam. The buoyancy was going to be about 400lbs. He was just going to silicone it to the back wall. I tried to tell him that Styrofoam is not strong enough to take the forces on its face that would translate to resisting 400lbs of vertical force.
For whatever reason he abandoned the project - thank goodness!
In your case you should build a small sample in the style you desire and try it. If it floats at all, you should alter the build until it's negative buoyant.
I saw one member trying to build the entire wall from Styrofoam. The buoyancy was going to be about 400lbs. He was just going to silicone it to the back wall. I tried to tell him that Styrofoam is not strong enough to take the forces on its face that would translate to resisting 400lbs of vertical force.
For whatever reason he abandoned the project - thank goodness!
In your case you should build a small sample in the style you desire and try it. If it floats at all, you should alter the build until it's negative buoyant.
In looking at the builds on this thread, some have foam several inches thick. I do not see how they can stay down. I stripped off all of the foam down to the egg crate. With a lot of rock, it is possible, but looks nothing like you would want. I think it is best to fine another material other than foam.
Possibly, some some type cement or something else. I am not sure what!
customcolor
New member
all i used was silicone for my back walls..well they really arnt full walls,but they are thick! i used becketts pond foam and it has never failed yet.
the last build i did is here..http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1688127
the last build i did is here..http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1688127
I read your thread. I see what you did. That is very thick foam and I cannot see how it stays down with only silicone. This pond foam would float an elephant!:lmao::lmao::spin1::spin2:
Did you coat the foam in your tank with a finish or use it black?
customcolor
New member
i used it like it is..no coatings
what helps with it not lifting up for being so long is the eggcrate. the eggcrage is like bones in your body...helps keep the foam from folding up on it self.sear strength is pretty strong with silicone
what helps with it not lifting up for being so long is the eggcrate. the eggcrage is like bones in your body...helps keep the foam from folding up on it self.sear strength is pretty strong with silicone
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