Foam Rock Wall

J

jstdv8

Guest
Flower,
Ive seen some pretty sweet builds where they coated the overflow box with rock too...
Something to consider.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/40#post_3337971
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/40#post_3337968
Flower,
Ive seen some pretty sweet builds where they coated the overflow box with rock too...
Something to consider.
BUT what if you wanted to take it out and clean it????
IDK how often anyone does theres...I have once...

Not just to clean, but we are always upgrading our equipment. My tanks outlast the latest gizmo so I wouldn’t want anything too permanent. I always plan ahead, I can’t speak of how many times something gave out and I have to replace the whole method of operation because said whatever no longer exists.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
well overflow boxes are cheap, if you wanted to upgrade just throw the old one out, make a new little feature on the face of the new one.
You can still take it out and clean it, it would just have rocks and foam attached to it to make it look real.
Ive never even considered cleaning mine come to think of it. the Utube gets cleaned but not the box, not sure whats even in there LOL.
Overflow boxes are just ugly is all, anything to spruce them up is a win in my book :)
or how about just epoxy and sand on the face of it? that wouldnt be bad either.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Jstdv8 any links to some of those builds?????
You guys have peaked my curiosity and I'm wanting to take a look.....Al had mentioned it over on my build thread, as Corey and I were hunting today from Texas to Pennsylvania for the background I'm considering using......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Jstdv8, I had just hopped over there and did a search, and found the exact same thread, and got your PM...That is a sick thread!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!

I didn't read tons of it, but would/does epoxy stick to the egg crate? I only ask, because I know epoxy won't stick to acrylic, and doesn't adhere to plastic mixing containers as well and just curious about the egg crate?????
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I dunno, I would think if you got it on there tick enough though that it wouldnt even neccesarily have to stick, it would just form around it and make it stronger once it dried. I don't know that for a fact though.
Why did you want to epoxy the eggcrate?
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
yep thats a pretty decent one. he didnt use the resin though so he had a lot of trouble getting the sand to stick. looks alot better once its grown over with coraline and corals :)
Pretty decent setup for 2 years ago when not to many people were doing these things.
Too bad he isnt an avid poster anymore, we could find out how it held up the last 2 years.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sorry guys!!!!! I think I've sniffed to much epoxy today.....I did a bit more reading and understand now the reasoning behind the foam.....The foam holds it together or solidifies it......Looks to be real promising!!!!!! Thanks Flower!!!!!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/40#post_3338189
Sorry guys!!!!! I think I've sniffed to much epoxy today.....I did a bit more reading and understand now the reasoning behind the foam.....The foam holds it together or solidifies it......Looks to be real promising!!!!!! Thanks Flower!!!!!

Well I did it. I was so hyped about the new sump getting here that I had to spend some energy or pop. I have some pictures.(coming soon) I am not satisfied with my results so far. I think I need more hiding places for critters. So I have to build the wall out a bit more. I may just get some nice pieces of live rock to set in the front to seed the whole thing anyway.
I just trimmed the foam and added the glue and sand.
Helpful tip: I used base rock all from the same two giant pieces my boss sledge hammered for me to break it up, so the rock is all one color…I think it would look better with varied colored rock. I’m confident coralline will fix it over time.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Here it is..Like I said, I want to either add some rock building out from the bottom still...I will need more rock. OR I can just get some nice pieces of live rock to stack in there as well and not attach it.
Rock and foam..untrimmed

Trimmed the foam and dusted with sand...very easy and I used only one an for the30g long.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
WOW....very interesting Flower....I can't wait to see how it looks after you get it set up, and there is growth on it
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I did it last night and finished it this morning...I figure it will purple up in about 2 years and look good...LOL
I was so hyped about the sump I had to do something to pass my energy. Like said, I think it would have turned out better if I had used different rocks and not all from the same pieces. It has lots of ledges for corals. I used dry dead aragonite sand, so everything must be seeded, it will take a long time for this tank to mature. But at least I will have a saltwater tank in my bedroom to look at while I sit on the computer.
I have a question...I see people post 30g nano build and such...what is the difference between a "nano" and a small tank? Or is it just the wording?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/40#post_3338319
Assumptions
Picotope = up to 3 gallons
Nano from 3 to 40 gallons

So my 30g is a nano?? Interesting. I have never had such a small saltwater tank...on the plus side...I think his foam will hold the bubble trap to glass and I can trim away any extra foam real easy..

I'm going to order enough live sand for both the refugium and new tank, that way I can seed the new tank.
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Wow, late to the party. I can thank my boss and his IRS troubles for that, but at least its money coming in.
Flower, that wall looks freakin' sweet!! I know you want to build it out a little more, provide some caves.... why don't you add a couple columns that go straight up, then angle in to meet the wall? You could probably built them so each piece is removable from the wall if you need to clean them for any reason.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///forum/thread/382401/foam-rock-wall/40#post_3338611
Wow, late to the party. I can thank my boss and his IRS troubles for that, but at least its money coming in.
Flower, that wall looks freakin' sweet!! I know you want to build it out a little more, provide some caves.... why don't you add a couple columns that go straight up, then angle in to meet the wall? You could probably built them so each piece is removable from the wall if you need to clean them for any reason.

I need more rock…I’m not in a hurry, so maybe I can get more rock in January when money isn’t so tight. I built the wall in a day because I needed to spend my nervous energy waiting on the sump to arrive, It was very therapeutic.
 
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