Artificial rock?

[cpreefguy]

Does anybody remember the thread a while back (I believe started by Richard?) where they were using that foam type stuff in their tank? If someone has a link, Id appreciate it!!!

[Texreefer]

check out my gallery

[cpreefguy]

did you use that foam? What was that stuff???

[carlinsa]

that stuff is great stuff foam if i remember right

[Texreefer]

yes great stuff foam from home depot.. i have had the tank up about 5 weeks and startiing to see it color up nicely.. seeing the beginnings of coralline all over the place

[cpreefguy]

cool, I have a plan for a little nano. thanks for the help guys!
BTW, how much foam would I need for a 10 gallon?

[cpreefguy]

Im actually surprised that this stuff is reef safe!

[Texreefer]

depends on what your goal is. if you want to cover just the back, or both sides as well. if you want to do the sides i would buy three small cans because you have to wait for one side to dry before you go the the next. the foam will not stay in place on a vertical surface.. one cool trick is to have some crushed coral, sand and small rocks up 10 or 12 oz's. ...foam the back and sprinkle the crushed coral and sand over the wet foam. then you can set in larger pieces of rock. once the foam hardens it will be set in place.. tip.. always use a little less than you need because it expands by about 30% as it drys.

[Flobex]

it expands like crazy, so test it out first... i think 1-2 cans would be fine.

[cpreefguy]

thanks!
I wanted to cover the back, sides, and bottom, and mold in a few pieces of LR. Thanks for the tips, any other useful info?

[Texreefer]

once it cures, the toxic ingredients become ...er ... inert.... i'm certainly no chemist but its just like styrofoam. if you cut a dry piece open you will see thousands of tiny pores great for microbial activity

[RNall]

Do you have any photos?

[Texreefer]

Ron, only ones i have are in my gallery, i will take some more as the coralline starts to grow on it

[loans_n_fishes]

So all of that "rock" in your tank is foam! Can you shape little caves and such with it?

Should seriously cut down on the weight of a tank. Not to mention the price of all that premium live rock!

Anybody have a link to the original thread about making this?

[Texreefer]

it is made over a pvc skeleton. underneath is mostly hollow. it still has about 70 #'s live rock . with a little imagination and patience you can make some cool looking stuff.

[cpreefguy]

Have any pics of the process? My goal is to make shelfs on the back and side walls for sps, and little pedestals on the floor for SPS

[Richard]

Does anybody remember the thread a while back (I believe started by Richard?)


Nope not me. Maybe your thinking of this one....
http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=16390&pos tdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[RNall]

How porous is the 'stuff' you used in comparison to the the 'not stuff' from the thread Richard posted? Will water flow trough it?

[Ping]

I found this pretty neat.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=523325

[SuperXdude]

Can you post the instructions on this? And exactly what product one must use?

Thanks


SuperXdude

[Texreefer]

anyone is welcome to come by and check out my tank and get some tips on how to do their own or maybe improve on what i have done

[Texreefer]

the foam will slowly absorb water and shrink up slightly as it stays submerged in the water,, air bubbles that you did not notice before will pop and make interesting little holes in the foam that adds character,

[Texreefer]

new pics added to gallery , some from today.. staring to see some nice purple ,pink,and green on the foam