mr.badams
New member
Hey everyone check out my build... Yes i used gorilla glhttp://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2211483ue and love it!
The Foam/rock Projects Here Thread
- Thread starter yousmellsfishy
- Start date
mr.badams
New member
I updated with some more pics!
givinggoodwill
New member
Digging it hard.
Gorilla Glue or Pond Foam?
Gorilla Glue or Pond Foam?
About four years ago, I did a 60 gallon reef tank using ultra-rigid plastic canvas as a back-drop, GE Type I silicone to glue the rocks to the canvas, Becketts Black Pond Foam to fill the gaps, and a hobby Epoxy sealant to provide a sticky surface for the sand and crushed coral. The entire process took about a two weeks. The results were so-so. Occasionally, while aquascaping the tank I would nudge into a rock and it would fall off, leaving an ugly spot of cured silicone. I would then have to glue the rock back into place using Water Weld. This is what the tank looks like now;
Recently, I did a second tank, 45 gallons FOWLR, using Gorilla Glue only, applied directly to the glass back wall of the tank. I brushed a coat of GG in 6" X 12" increments and then placed Marco rubble rock where I wanted each piece to be. The GG expands just like the pond foam, only a lot less and with a lot more "œgrip". The entire process took a total of 4 hours. This is the finished product using this method.
The Gorilla Glue method puts the Pond Foam method to shame as as far as sturdiness, ease of use, and time spent. I wish I had done my first tank using GG.
Gorilla Glue or Pond Foam?
About four years ago, I did a 60 gallon reef tank using ultra-rigid plastic canvas as a back-drop, GE Type I silicone to glue the rocks to the canvas, Becketts Black Pond Foam to fill the gaps, and a hobby Epoxy sealant to provide a sticky surface for the sand and crushed coral. The entire process took about a two weeks. The results were so-so. Occasionally, while aquascaping the tank I would nudge into a rock and it would fall off, leaving an ugly spot of cured silicone. I would then have to glue the rock back into place using Water Weld. This is what the tank looks like now;
Recently, I did a second tank, 45 gallons FOWLR, using Gorilla Glue only, applied directly to the glass back wall of the tank. I brushed a coat of GG in 6" X 12" increments and then placed Marco rubble rock where I wanted each piece to be. The GG expands just like the pond foam, only a lot less and with a lot more "œgrip". The entire process took a total of 4 hours. This is the finished product using this method.
The Gorilla Glue method puts the Pond Foam method to shame as as far as sturdiness, ease of use, and time spent. I wish I had done my first tank using GG.
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I would never be able to watch TV with 2 tanks sitting next to it lol
Twin Reefs
Member
Bruno, have you had any problem or heard of any problem with the glue breaking down in the tank?
Twin Reefs
Member
Subscribing to this thread.
In doing my research, I read many posts on this and other forums warning about the GG breaking down over time etc., etc. So I called the company and spoke to someone in their technical support dept. He told me unequivocally that, once cured, the glue will not break down in saltwater or any other kind of water and that it is harmless to fish and all other kinds of life. He noted that, on their “tech sheet”, which you can view online at their website, the company cites 96 hours as the “full cure” time for the GG to become harmless to fish.
My rock wall is as solid as if it was part of the glass. I have had zero problems with the GG breaking down, etc. and have absolutely no doubts that everything that the guy at the GG company told me is 100% fact. BTW. My juvi Majestic thinks so too.
My rock wall is as solid as if it was part of the glass. I have had zero problems with the GG breaking down, etc. and have absolutely no doubts that everything that the guy at the GG company told me is 100% fact. BTW. My juvi Majestic thinks so too.
sp0k
New member
good job all
here is the one im working on
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1922231
here is the one im working on
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1922231
fishgate
Active member
This was my thoughts when I decided to do the rock wall was to attach it directly to the glass rather then use the egg crate and attach that whole thing. Of course this makes it permanent as I don't think there would be any way to remove it correct?
Did you do a layout on the floor before committing to the tank wall?
How did you deal with gaps? - Did you throw sand or crushed coral in between the rocks while the GG was still wet?
No way to remove it once it's done. I didn't give this much thought because I had decided, one way or another, I was going to have a rock wall background.
I had two tables set up. One that I laid the tank on (kitchen table with a couple towels and sheets of 6 mil plastic covering to protect the table top) and another to lay out my rock formation (one of those knock-down type tables where the legs fold out). I just transferred the rock formation a section at a time (6” X 12”) to the tank after I applied the glue.
I poured a mixture of sand (approx. 75%) and crushed coral (25%) into the spaces between the rocks immediately after laying out the rocks. As the glue starts to dry, it will start to expand and form bubbles. I pressed down on these bubbles (I would STRONGLY suggest rubber gloves to do this job) as they were forming to pop them and keep them from overgrowing the rocks. It's quite simple once you start to do it. When the entire job was finished, I took a razorblade (sheet-rock knife) and trimmed away any dried glue that was left sticking out too much. The best part is that the dried glue itself LOOKS like rock, so you really don’t trim away all that much.
As I said, the entire project (36” X 24”) took four hours total. The one caveat is that you can’t just do it and then walk away or get into something else. You have to watch the glue as it dries so you can press down on the bubbly spots. After the first few minutes you start to feel like you’re doing artwork.
Just ask if you have any more questions.
Good luck.
I had two tables set up. One that I laid the tank on (kitchen table with a couple towels and sheets of 6 mil plastic covering to protect the table top) and another to lay out my rock formation (one of those knock-down type tables where the legs fold out). I just transferred the rock formation a section at a time (6” X 12”) to the tank after I applied the glue.
I poured a mixture of sand (approx. 75%) and crushed coral (25%) into the spaces between the rocks immediately after laying out the rocks. As the glue starts to dry, it will start to expand and form bubbles. I pressed down on these bubbles (I would STRONGLY suggest rubber gloves to do this job) as they were forming to pop them and keep them from overgrowing the rocks. It's quite simple once you start to do it. When the entire job was finished, I took a razorblade (sheet-rock knife) and trimmed away any dried glue that was left sticking out too much. The best part is that the dried glue itself LOOKS like rock, so you really don’t trim away all that much.
As I said, the entire project (36” X 24”) took four hours total. The one caveat is that you can’t just do it and then walk away or get into something else. You have to watch the glue as it dries so you can press down on the bubbly spots. After the first few minutes you start to feel like you’re doing artwork.
Just ask if you have any more questions.
Good luck.
Update
Update
Most of the rocks on the substrate are locally collected off the beach at Ft. Lauderdale. Interesting thing about the beach rocks. They always turn into a green coralline algae before turning into the purple. The Marco rocks never turn green. They turn directly to purple. I can see small spots of purple algae on the rock wall already. I figure in another couple months, it will start to be evident. I put a pair of O clowns in the tank to keep the Majestic company. If there weren't other fish in the tank, the Majestic would stay hidden all day until the food was in the water.
Update
Most of the rocks on the substrate are locally collected off the beach at Ft. Lauderdale. Interesting thing about the beach rocks. They always turn into a green coralline algae before turning into the purple. The Marco rocks never turn green. They turn directly to purple. I can see small spots of purple algae on the rock wall already. I figure in another couple months, it will start to be evident. I put a pair of O clowns in the tank to keep the Majestic company. If there weren't other fish in the tank, the Majestic would stay hidden all day until the food was in the water.
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ati70cutlass
New member
Hi I professionally make rock walls and sculptures at my LFS. I just finished a wall and sculpture for a 1000g display with over 36sq feet of rock wall and a 250lb tonga brand sculpture. I will try to post some pics soon of the completed job. as far as showing how they are made I cant really go to far into detail due to confidentiality agreements. I also have built 5 new sculptures for the new redsea tanks including the nano and a 135max. so hopefully I might try to do a thread build but again will have to make sure I can or cant release that info. as far as questions I will try to answer as much as possible. if you have questions please shoot me a messege im not on the forum too much lately due to working 60+hr weeks. thanks Jason
lemkerailroad1
New member
Anybody put the foam directly on the back of the tank with success?
Sorry I didn't read through every post here, just kind of looked through pictures
i have been spending the last couple of weeks researching this and i have a 185 acrylic tank i am going to be doing, would it be easier for me to silicone the eggcrate to the walls, then rock scape it, then pond foam and will it stay put to the walls doing it this way
also do i need to scuff the walls to get a better bite with the foam
sorry for the dumb questions but i am new to the acrylic seen
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