customcolor
New member
i used black DAP fda aproved silicone along the top and behind it and i also smoothed it out...like this...<BR>
The Foam/rock Projects Here Thread
- Thread starter yousmellsfishy
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Fishcrazy06
New member
Dave you were right. I did the foam yesterday around 9 in the morning. I got home tonight and it is solid all along the whole back wall. Thinking because of the bulkheads and the rocks I am using as ballasts if you will. I am going to use a nice thick bead of silicone all along the bottom edge of the tank and the foam. Then I was able to nicely peel back the foam on the calfo. I was able to do this with keeping the foam in tact the way it was yet I will be able to get the silicone in and behind it to silicone it to the calfo box. I also had some tonga branch imbedded in the foam on the calfo. I am going to silicone that into place as well I think.
Eric
Eric
customcolor
New member
it was black to match the foam better 
, cheaper than lfs silicone(like $2.50 or something like that), menards was closer too.
, cheaper than lfs silicone(like $2.50 or something like that), menards was closer too.
Fishcrazy06
New member
Here is the start of mine in a 72 bowfront:
Eric
Eric
Looking good fishcrazy06 can't wait to see more pics!
Here are my 2 foam rock backgrounds in my tank. I spent all afternoon getting them in there and secured. I used silicone all over the place to, I plan to water test the tank in two days. I wanted to make sure these have a snug fit and won't float. I am going to epoxy and coral the center divider I foamed after I put the two in earlier. I didn't like the separation in between them.
The PVC you see is pressing the background against the back glass until the silicone dries. Anyone want to by any 15" pieces of PVC, lol. I will have plenty to spare in a couple days. JK
Click on the red house if you want to see my detailed build thread.
Here are my 2 foam rock backgrounds in my tank. I spent all afternoon getting them in there and secured. I used silicone all over the place to, I plan to water test the tank in two days. I wanted to make sure these have a snug fit and won't float. I am going to epoxy and coral the center divider I foamed after I put the two in earlier. I didn't like the separation in between them.
The PVC you see is pressing the background against the back glass until the silicone dries. Anyone want to by any 15" pieces of PVC, lol. I will have plenty to spare in a couple days. JK
Click on the red house if you want to see my detailed build thread.
customcolor
New member
toothbrush
I am still a bit concerned about the water that will seep in behind the egg crate and the glass. I keep trying to brain storm ideas of how to get water to circulate back there. Its sealed up pretty tight, but not completely. I should have thought of that before siliconing it into the tank. I am afraid stagnant water is going to build up back there and detritus. Any thoughts anyone???
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all these tanks look great and everyone has inspired me to try this out. this weekend i went out and bought all supplies to do my own foam rock wall. its for my 75gallon tank that I am going to be using for an african cichlid tank. i wish i found this thread before i set up my 65g salt tank. Thanks everyone and hopefully pics will be up soon!
The more and more I think about this the more its eating away at me for having used the great stuff foam. I epooxied the crap out of this thing. However what about the backside by the egg crate. I did a good bit of research on the forums but today I noticed a few where people had issues when the used great stuff. Also what about the stagnant water and detritus buildup on the backside of the background. Even if I had used toouch and foam I still think I would have to deal with the backside of the egggg crate. I'm fearful I will get this all setup and coould have some long term unexpected issues arise. I'm seriously debating ripping this think out. Any thoughts...
Rouselb
New member
Tony, Maybe you could implement a wavebox. That would keep all the water moving and should prevent the stagnant water. I have a large tank with lots of flow, and my sump stayed pretty clean, I added a wavebox and my sump started to accumulate a layer of debris. Its amazing how much it really helps keep the water moving in every little nook and cranny. Your build looks great, i would go ahead with it. Im sure you will like the water motion with a wavebox.
Yeah I LOVE the way it turned out. Just kicking myself at this point for not using touch and foam. I am a bit of a worry wart. They say plan for EVERYTHING when you design a tank and I didnt even think about the flow behind the background. I siliconed the edge all the way around it, but I didnt like smear it across the entire back or anything. I was more focused on keeping it from floating than keeping water integrity. I also wanted it to be somewhat not a night mare to remove it I ever needed to. I am just getting last minute gitters. Its pretty snug I dont think alot of flow can get back there even with a wave box. However I am certian water will seep in. I plan to have a 3000 gph close loop in the tank I plumbed for, with a switch cycling the inlets on/off to the lines going in to the tank so I am sure the flow will be good. But the wavebox does sound like a great suggestion. I also thought about drilling a couple holes down the background from the top about half way. Then pump water into it through maybe airline tube run through the drilled holes. I just do not want to tear this down in 6 months if issues arise.
Rouselb
New member
I did a lot or research before i bought a wavebox. I dont think you need to drill additional holes. Just to give you an idea, my tank is 190 gal, i use a Tunze 6212, and this is equivalent to 15,000 gph. The water will move everywhere, so i dont think you would have to worry about getting behind the rockwork. Every bit of water will move. That rockwork you have looks sweet, i wouldnt worry to much about it. Most of the time we make things more difficult then they really need to be.
Rouselb
New member
30x is fine to start with. I dont like to use turnover rates because they are not really an accurate classification. You can keep SPS in a 110 gal tank with 2-3 small PHs (800-1200 gph). Its all about creating indirect flow everywhere. Rock placement is very important. Your setup will be really good flow-wise, you dont have large pillars blocking flow and requiring more PHs. Sometimes people add more PHs to get more flow and the corals grow thick instead of thin and tall. Corals will always grow to the conditions, large flows make them thick and stubby. You have to find a balance. I have 190 gal (72.24.26) and i have (4) Tunze streams 6201s and a wavebox. But i use a controller and have them turn off and on to make it all random. I had a Gen-1 vortech and i really liked the flow, it was just not a reliable pump. Gen-2 seems to get good reviews. Im a strong believer that you need multiple PHs. Anywhere from 2-6 PHs in a tank. This is to create a more random flow, or to still have flow if one jams or falls off the wall, or you are soaking one for maintenance.
With the rock work that you have you could do one PH (vortech or Tunze stream) and one Wavebox. I like the pillars that you added. They should allow for good water movement. Cant wait to see the corals popping out of this bad boy.
With the rock work that you have you could do one PH (vortech or Tunze stream) and one Wavebox. I like the pillars that you added. They should allow for good water movement. Cant wait to see the corals popping out of this bad boy.
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