Foam Rock Wall

2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Hey Flower for sprinkling the sand perhaps you could use a spray adhesive for the glue. Do a search on Spray Adhesive and search pictures there's all kinds of different ones. I've used the contact cement stuff by 3M before for different projects and it works pretty good.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337514
Hey Flower for sprinkling the sand perhaps you could use a spray adhesive for the glue. Do a search on Spray Adhesive and search pictures there's all kinds of different ones. I've used the contact cement stuff by 3M before for different projects and it works pretty good.

I think I need a little better control than a spray would offer. I don’t want to cover the rock at all…I hope some little critter eggs survive my wall creation, I will still seed it to be sure I have live rock but I don’t want sand stuck all over it.
Thanks for the response and keep the ideas rolling, I want to start getting together what I need to make it. So far that foam costs like $13.00 a can and I need about six cans...it isn't cheap that's for sure.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Devcon, Zpoxy, and Loctite (among others) have good epoxies with long work times. Most epoxies that have a long work time won't yellow as bad as those that cure quicker.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=186060
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337517
Devcon, Zpoxy, and Loctite (among others) have good epoxies with long work times. Most epoxies that have a long work time won't yellow as bad as those that cure quicker.
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=186060

Spanko, The link takes me to a nano-reef place ad a conversation about egg crate.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I agree with Gemmy and Spanko!!!!! I'd look at a 2 part epoxy....Something on the lines of MAS epoxy and they don't blush (the epoxy)
West System Epoxy is another good one, but you'd need the special hardner 207 if your worried about it blushing...Honestly I don't know if you'd notice it or not against the black since the epoxy is all but, clear, wet looking. Another cheaper alternative to the first 2 I mentioned it US Composites, or System 3 for 2 part epoxy. The last 2 are cheaper as well.......
Agree, where latex gloves.....Trust me I've poured enough epoxy, and the stuff is sticky......If you use a 2 part epoxy mix small batches, and they have to be measured correctly for the right cure to happen. Also mix small batches.....If you mix a large batch it will probably setup before you have a chance to work it regardless if you use a slow hardener. For my tank build I always use a slow hardner, but if the batch is to big it could setup within 15 minutes and it's rock hard!!!!!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337644
I agree with Gemmy and Spanko!!!!! I'd look at a 2 part epoxy....Something on the lines of MAS epoxy and they don't blush (the epoxy)
West System Epoxy is another good one, but you'd need the special hardner 207 if your worried about it blushing...Honestly I don't know if you'd notice it or not against the black since the epoxy is all but, clear, wet looking. Another cheaper alternative to the first 2 I mentioned it US Composites, or System 3 for 2 part epoxy. The last 2 are cheaper as well.......
Agree, where latex gloves.....Trust me I've poured enough epoxy, and the stuff is sticky......If you use a 2 part epoxy mix small batches, and they have to be measured correctly for the right cure to happen. Also mix small batches.....If you mix a large batch it will probably setup before you have a chance to work it regardless if you use a slow hardener. For my tank build I always use a slow hardner, but if the batch is to big it could setup within 15 minutes and it's rock hard!!!!!

Glad to see you are back to posting...I missed you.
What about the PVC cement? It's clear and food safe so it should be tank safe after it cures. I just want it to hold the sand i dust over it. It just seems to be easier to use.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Honestly never tried PVC glue, but you could experiment a bit.....The PVC glue does't dry clear though!!!! I have some old play sand in the garage, and have to do a little experimenting myself on a project as well....
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I don't see how you are going to need 6 cans of spray unless you are not using very much rock.
Seems like an aweful lot.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337674
I don't see how you are going to need 6 cans of spray unless you are not using very much rock.
Seems like an aweful lot.

I was going by a thread I was looking at..it was a 29g tank and the guy said he used 6 cans..but he had allot of waste. I have two cans of Touch and Foam landscape exterior filler adhesive...good for ponds and waterfalls. Says it’s also great for stone and block adhesive (Black) $6.00 per can. I intend to use plenty of rock..I will get it as I need it. The hardware store is on the corner from my house.
I think the PVC glue will work..it won’t matter if it is clear, as long as its sticky and safe for the fish after it cures..I’m going to use it to stick sand in the black areas.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok....I did a quick test on the concept of PVC glue and sand!!!!!!!
It does work!!!!!!!
There you go Flower. I just took a scrap piece of wood I had laying around, and my PVC glue was sitting right beside my laptop, and ran out to the garage, and threw some PVC glue on the wood, and had some leftover playsand from my granddaughters sandbox, and sprinkled it pretty heavy on the glue, and it dried pretty quick. Brushed off any excess, and then let it dry. Took it back outside and rubbed it pretty good, and didn't loose anything.....Should be perfectly safe.....
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337747
Ok....I did a quick test on the concept of PVC glue and sand!!!!!!!
It does work!!!!!!!
There you go Flower. I just took a scrap piece of wood I had laying around, and my PVC glue was sitting right beside my laptop, and ran out to the garage, and threw some PVC glue on the wood, and had some leftover playsand from my granddaughters sandbox, and sprinkled it pretty heavy on the glue, and it dried pretty quick. Brushed off any excess, and then let it dry. Took it back outside and rubbed it pretty good, and didn't loose anything.....Should be perfectly safe.....
You rock! I can always count on you to help no matter what. That glue is pretty easy to use too, and I won't have to make sure to mix it or anything. Thank You again! I have to get out of here and go to work...Have a great night all.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I could be way of, but I thought the other purpose of the epoxy was to make sure that no UV's could get throguh to the foam to deteriorate it over time?
If you use a PVC glue its pretty clear, I wonder if it would still keep out the UV's?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337809
I could be way of, but I thought the other purpose of the epoxy was to make sure that no UV's could get throguh to the foam to deteriorate it over time?
If you use a PVC glue its pretty clear, I wonder if it would still keep out the UV's?

You are correct..however I'm using outdoor foam and I’m covering the areas where the foam is exposed with sand. So not only is it sealed by the glue but it’s covered with sand as well.
The outdoor landscaping foam is UV resistant to start with. Also I won’t be using anything but fish lights in this tank and keeping non-photosynthetic coral. The back of the tank will be painted black on the outside, giving further protection from any sunlight.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Epoxy isn't UV resistant.....Even the epoxy that is used on plywood builds is not UV resistant....Check all the manufacturers specs...They state it clear. That is why guys paint with the SweetWater paint over top the epoxy.....
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I wasnt saying the epoxy was UV resistant, only that it wasnt clear. Not really concerned with the epoxy breaking down (maybe I should be, hadnt thought of it) more about keeping the sunlight off the foam. Maybe its not a big deal with the outdoor foam, i dunno.
Just throwing stuff out there so you guys can have a succesfull nice looking wall :)
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sorry Jstdv8.... I thought you were referring to the epoxy. I would assume think the foam would be good since it is used for outdoor pond stuff. The epoxy I had mentioned earlier is clear/amber, but you could get clear epoxy if you wanted.... I'm anxious to see it done. I wish I was artistic enough to attempt it!!!!
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Looks like the Z-poxy is really popular over on the "other forum"
Almost everybody is using it for thier builds. And it looks like it comes in about 10 differnt colors. would be nice to get something that matched the color of the sand a bit.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/20#post_3337924
Sorry Jstdv8.... I thought you were referring to the epoxy. I would assume think the foam would be good since it is used for outdoor pond stuff. The epoxy I had mentioned earlier is clear/amber, but you could get clear epoxy if you wanted.... I'm anxious to see it done. I wish I was artistic enough to attempt it!!!!

Oh Oh Oh ....Do I hear something I might be able to do for you? I say MIGHT since I haven't actually attempted it yet..LOL
My boss broke some rocks up for me last night. I have the foam, I have the glue and I have 20 lbs dry aragonite sand and the egg crate. The only thing is I have to figure out where the overflow box will be (or anything else I hang on the back, so I don't have rock in areas where it will cause problems later.
It will be a little time before I can actually set this tank up for critters. Not only will it need to cycle but I still need equipment like power heads and a skimmer.
For the time being I think I will make the wall, set up the fluval canister, since it will be free...I will have the new sump for the 90g
add saltwater and just let it run. Cycle it with a chunk of raw shrimp and seed the sand and new rock with a nice piece of rock from my 90g and release some reef pods in there and let it all just breed uninhabited for a while.
 
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