The Foam/rock Projects Here Thread

[AquaticEngineer]

Hello,

When you start foaming when do you add the salt for best look and deepest penatration? Anyone

I start adding rock salt as soon as I'm done foaming an area. I would try not to do to large of an area if you can help it so that you can control the expansion of the foam easier.

When I did my small tank recently (18x26x18) I literally used about 25lbs of rock salt per side when I was textuing mine. I did foam on two sides of the tank since its going into a corner in my living room. The rock salt was 6-7" deep in some areas on top of the rock salt, this helps to compress the foam and stop it from expanding and looking like a wall full of big rolling turds, lol.

The foam will find the weakest spot in the rocksalt and push its way through, so you'll want to check on it every few minutes for the first half hour or so and just keep adding more rock salt and packing it down. This technique works well when doing your foam directly in the tank since its contained.

For those of you doing panels, I would put the whole panel in a large tupperware so that the foam wont roll out the sides as much.

 

[AquamanE]

Subscribed

 

[jgs107]

I went to lowes to get my pond foam and they only had Smart pond sealant foam.has anyone used this foam before if so can I just add sand to it as it expands. I'm building a pretty big wall in a 144 half cylinder and it would be a fortune to cover in epoxy. I've read most of the thread and it seems like sme say as long as its pond foam and submerged fully then it won't need sealing. Some say seal it. I just need to know because I'm going to start my wall tomorrow. Here's a link to the foam



http://www.lowes.com/pd_290094-4865...381&Ntt=pond+foam&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

 

[Da Maui life]

I went to lowes to get my pond foam and they only had Smart pond sealant foam.has anyone used this foam before if so can I just add sand to it as it expands. I'm building a pretty big wall in a 144 half cylinder and it would be a fortune to cover in epoxy. I've read most of the thread and it seems like sme say as long as its pond foam and submerged fully then it won't need sealing. Some say seal it. I just need to know because I'm going to start my wall tomorrow. Here's a link to the foam



http://www.lowes.com/pd_290094-4865...381&Ntt=pond+foam&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

Read thread #977 sealing it didn't seem to help.

 

[jgs107]

Yea I really want to cover with sand so I think as soon as I spray the foam I'll pack it with sand and hope it dries in. If not I'll wait for the coral line

 

[customcolor]

I start adding rock salt as soon as I'm done foaming an area. I would try not to do to large of an area if you can help it so that you can control the expansion of the foam easier.

When I did my small tank recently (18x26x18) I literally used about 25lbs of rock salt per side when I was textuing mine. I did foam on two sides of the tank since its going into a corner in my living room. The rock salt was 6-7" deep in some areas on top of the rock salt, this helps to compress the foam and stop it from expanding and looking like a wall full of big rolling turds, lol.

The foam will find the weakest spot in the rocksalt and push its way through, so you'll want to check on it every few minutes for the first half hour or so and just keep adding more rock salt and packing it down. This technique works well when doing your foam directly in the tank since its contained.

For those of you doing panels, I would put the whole panel in a large tupperware so that the foam wont roll out the sides as much.

Perfect!!!!.. You have learned well!!

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[customcolor]

I went to lowes to get my pond foam and they only had Smart pond sealant foam.has anyone used this foam before if so can I just add sand to it as it expands. I'm building a pretty big wall in a 144 half cylinder and it would be a fortune to cover in epoxy. I've read most of the thread and it seems like sme say as long as its pond foam and submerged fully then it won't need sealing. Some say seal it. I just need to know because I'm going to start my wall tomorrow. Here's a link to the foam



http://www.lowes.com/pd_290094-4865...381&Ntt=pond+foam&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

I would say there is no need to seal it if it is under water.. In my 150 I had foam underwater and above water... The above water foam seemed more brittle and the foam under the water was still very strong

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[jgs107]

Any pointers on getting sand to stick. Might cover with a light coat of silicone and see if that works.

 

[neptunestender]

I would say if you are going to cover the foam with sand after it drys, go with he tried and true epoxy route. I think silicon would be messy and not get the same adhesion. JMO

HTH
Ed

 

[jgs107]

No I was hoping to apply the sand similar to the rock salt method while it's Trying to expand so it attaches while the foam is drying

 

[customcolor]

You would have to put the sand on very soon after putting down the foam. The foam skins over pretty quick. once its skins over it loses its stickiness.

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[jgs107]

well 2 cans later and only got half of the tank completed def thought i could get more coverage per can but guess ill be going back to home depot.as soon as i sprayed the foam i covered it with sand within 30 seconds of spraying so well see how well it sticks.if not ill just buy that color up promoter that supposed to speed up the growth of coraline and get it all blended in

 

[Grandmaster_Toad]

These are amazing! I think I missed it, what kinda of foam is being used, and how do you get those amazing colors?

 

[Da Maui life]

Waterfall or pond Spray Foam

 

[dirk_brijs]

This is a great thread and convinced me to making a foam aquascape.
Only thing you guys are so lucky living in the US here in Thailand the products are barely available let alone just having a choice of which one to use?
Till now couldn't even find any pond foam yet here in Thailand
Might have to ask any of you guys to help me out soon and send me over a box of all this stuff.

 

[neptunestender]

jgs107 I would not waste your money with color up. You would be better to just dose calcium mag and alk, and then add kalk to your ATO. Do a search on coraline and check out the threads on dosing kalk.

JMHO,
Ed

 

[jgs107]

Yea I think I'm going to be doing the 2 part with a dower and I need to look into a kalk reactor never ran one of those before but I want to make sure my corals stay healthy this go around

 

[luvzz2play]

hello all..... i started by reading some of early posts and some of the later posts and see there have been a few people having troubles with the foam wall. I would love to do this but am skeptical and with so many pages i'll cut to the chase.

1) Are there tanks that have been set up and running for a few years that have not had troubles with break down?

2) What is the consensus for the best foam? Black pond foam UV safe?

3) Are there problems using egg crate to mount the foam and then having dead zones behind the egg crate?

4) If egg crate is used how is it attached to the back/side glass?

5) I've read some spray foam onto glass and others use egg crate. What are the pros and cons of each?

thx for the help, i am new to saltwater and am getting ready to set up a 75g.

 

[neptunestender]

hello all..... i started by reading some of early posts and some of the later posts and see there have been a few people having troubles with the foam wall. I would love to do this but am skeptical and with so many pages i'll cut to the chase.

1) Are there tanks that have been set up and running for a few years that have not had troubles with break down? Yes if read all the post there are tanks that have been set up for years, while others have problems. The one with problems we cant be sure it is the foamwall as we have no control group.

2) What is the consensus for the best foam? Black pond foam UV safe? Pond foam for sure. You can cover with epoxy and sand but you do not have to.

3) Are there problems using egg crate to mount the foam and then having dead zones behind the egg crate? Once again some have reported problems others dont complain of them.

4) If egg crate is used how is it attached to the back/side glass? If you build it in pieces outside the tank, a reef safe silicon can be used to adhear the structure to the glass. Wheras if you build it in the tank the foam bonds pretty well to the glass (this is how I did the back and both sides of my 75).

5) I've read some spray foam onto glass and others use egg crate. What are the pros and cons of each? I did both, I used eggcrate and foamed the rocks in place to the glass. I think for a more secure structure you would be best using eggcrate.

thx for the help, i am new to saltwater and am getting ready to set up a 75g.

Hope his helps
Ed

 

[luvzz2play]

Ed.... Thx for taking a minute to answer my questions. i appreciate it.


chad