The Foam/rock Projects Here Thread

[nrs89]

Thanks a million :thumbsup:

 

[nrs89]

Just another question. Did anyone bother putting epoxy on the back of their rock wall projects ?

 

[got2envy]

my fuge area under the Tunze filter..I ordered a 10w hologen submersible light and a rio 50 for flow in there

 

[got2envy]

The right corner is left open for a live rock pile and the fuge sits behind it

what do ya guys think?

 

[DidYouSayReefer]

Can you texture the foam once it dried slightly? Could I press other rock into the foam to give it texture? I would not be leaving the rock in the foam but just using it to texture the foam. This might take away the "bubbly" appearence. I have never worked with the foam so I am not sure.

 

[Bernie_Mac]

your bow looks Great!!!!!!!!!!!!! wish i would have used more rock on mine!!!!!

 

[jherrin215]

I have a question for some of the foam wall greats!! I have a 180 that after seeing speckeled groupers build thread I decided for sure this is the way I want to go. I already have lots of dry rock to use for the wall. My problem is that the tank is 24 inches deep. The wall will be what, maybe 4 inches thick at the very thickest point? That leaves 20 inches with nothing. What do you all do to fill in the gap. I don't really want to fill it up with rock as this pretty much defeats the purpose of doing the wall, but at the same time I don't want it looking empty either. Thanks in advance!!

 

[jfgoldfire]

Add a few well placed rock "pillars" out front to break it up a little. Some of the tops of the pillars could even arch back and tie into the wall, thereby creating some shaded low light areas under the arches forsome lower light corals. Just an idea.

 

[james3370]

my intention w/ mine was to create a structure in the middle that took the center 1/3rd of the tank, went about 2/3 the distance to the front glass & was 1/3-1/2 the overall height. in this structure i was gonna place random pieces of pvc & stack rocks around them....thereby creating all these lil caves.

i had also intended on making my rock wall come maybe 1/2 the way up the side walls of the tank. this leaves the sides of the above mentioned structure open & creates 2 "lagoons" & seperate areas for territorial fish

 

[happyclam]

Wow! Amazing tanks guys! This really makes it possible to have an interesting aquascape even if you don't have very much width (doesn't take up as much space). I might now be able to hide my overflows and have a cool aquscape in my 135g (72"x18"x24", LxWxH), where the shallow width has always prevented me from doing anything interesting.

Just 3 questions, and sorry if this has already been answered.
-Does the foam ever become alive and harbor beneficial filtering bacteria if seeded with LR or starter cultures?
-Also, would my 11.2g (18"x18"x8") be OK if I used only the dry rock/foam for aquascaping and seeded it? Or would I need a sump or something to hold extra real LR to act as the filter?
-Final question: do you have to secure the eggcrate/foam/rock background to the tank with silicone, or can it be free standing if it has enough horizontal support?

Thank you very much for your time and creativity in coming up with this awesome idea!

 

[james3370]

Just 3 questions, and sorry if this has already been answered.

-Does the foam ever become alive and harbor beneficial filtering bacteria if seeded with LR or starter cultures?
yes it does. the biggest concern on the foam has been it breaks down from UV from the lights. the fix has been to coat the foam w/ epoxy resin & while you're doing it, cover the epoxy w/ sand. this protects the foam from uv & the sand gives it the appearance of one solid piece.

here's the epoxy i got for mine & has been used by others.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/paa/paapt40.htm

-Also, would my 11.2g (18"x18"x8") be OK if I used only the dry rock/foam for aquascaping and seeded it? Or would I need a sump or something to hold extra real LR to act as the filter?
this has been done on a 5.5 gallon tank & looked AMAZING. just seed it w/ a piece of live rock, live sand &/or Purple Up additive

-Final question: do you have to secure the eggcrate/foam/rock background to the tank with silicone, or can it be free standing if it has enough horizontal support?
if you use an over-abundance of faom, it WILL float. cut the unnecessary foam off after it dries & secure it somehow.

some have attached strong magnets to the rack & then another on the outside of the tank, or you can silicone it in. me personally, i plan on attaching a short piece of eggcrate to the to my rear structure along the bottom to sit some rock on & that should keep it in place

 

[got2envy]

Ok so I used the Devcon 5 min epoxy and it still has a smell to it..this worries me also feels tacky on some places it says it cures in 24 hrs
Is it ok to go over the epoxy and sand on it now with Bondo fiberglass resin and sand again? or should I take the great stuff off and do it over..thanks
better to be safe than sorry

 

[Kreeger1]

So i opted not to do the foam wall again. Just to many headaches in the past with them. Click my red house if you want to see my latest updates
Erik

 

[Whacked]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14316767#post14316767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kreeger1
So i opted not to do the foam wall again. Just to many headaches in the past with them. Click my red house if you want to see my latest updates
Erik

Could you list some headaches please? no matter how trivial it may seem.

I am planning on a rock wall for my current project and would like to know what i'm getting myself into.

 

[Triadguppies]

Here is what mine looks like inside the tank. I am very happy how it turned out.

 

[maddmaxx]

triadguppies are you going to add sand to the foam...if its not protected. it has a very good chance of breaking down over time...

 

[customcolor]

mine is going to be 2 years old in june and my foam is right at the top of the tank with it still being very firm like it was new..it sits under a 175 halide and the foam is uncoated....i used beckett pond foam.

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14491031#post14491031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maddmaxx
triadguppies are you going to add sand to the foam...if its not protected. it has a very good chance of breaking down over time...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14491191#post14491191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor
mine is going to be 2 years old in june and my foam is right at the top of the tank with it still being very firm like it was new..it sits under a 175 halide and the foam is uncoated....i used beckett pond foam.

the pond foam has a carbon additive that protects the foam from UV rays. the regular great stuff yellow foam doesn't have this & breaks down from the UV the tank's lighting puts off & therefore needs the epoxy & sand to protect it

kannin had this trouble w/ his i believe

 

[customcolor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14491468#post14491468 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by james3370


kannin had this trouble w/ his i believe

i think i have read that....that sucks ! his tank turned out realy nice too...i do beleave he is putting up with it though

 

[maddmaxx]

i know that most say its safe. but i did a 5.5 pico. and just had to cover it with sand. better safe than sorry. plus you dont see foam in the wild. but with corals and coralline algae all over it. it will look good.