PLAYDOH? FOAM? ROCKS?

[erikharrison]

Today I am going to Home depot to buy some foam to start making my frockwork for my new tank. I need ideas on something that I can shape to cover in foam, that will not kill any fish, and has no ill long term effects. I had thought about using the styrofoam balls that kids use to make mobiles of the solar system, cut in half, and shaped. I just don't want a bunch of half moon looking rocks. Does the foam get to a point where I will be able to shape it? My other idea is to make arches using elbow joints and plastic tubing. I am using the styro to shape out caves, but I am not sure if the styro will harm anything. What other stuff can I use?

[erikharrison]

plaster maybe? anyone? anyone? Bueller, has anyone seen Ferris..... Bueller..

[LoneStar]

Well if you are going to use foam, you can buy some crushed oyster shells from Lockhill Feed off of Huebner. A 50lb bag would run you around $7. You can pour it into a container and create a mold for certain shapes. Then cover the topside of the foam with some more crushed oyster shells.

I was going to try and make foam rocks but ended not. Only because they may float away and for the fact that the foam can get a little pricey ;)

Or you can just make your own rock. Thats what I'm doing. It just takes longer since you have to soak the rock in water for around 2 months to lower the ph. I made ~160lbs of rock for under $40.
http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=23815&sta rt=15

[erikharrison]

I was thinking about covering some plaster of paris in foam then crushed coral and salt. I will get some oyster shells as well, do they just help with the aesthetics?

[captexas]

I'd like to find out about actually painting the foam. I remember seeing some backgrounds years ago at Aquarium Sales & Service and they looked like foam (could have been another material?) that was painted. I'm mostly interested in doing this for a freshwater planted tank, but I would think the same concerns over paint contamination would apply.

[erikharrison]

I saw some backgrounds that were painted, the paint looked alot like plastic. The foam just looked like egg crate foam. To be honest I have been thinking about just covering some playdoh in foam lol.

[erikharrison]

yeah but what can I use to make the mold that the foam wont stick to?

[erikharrison]

has anyone considered using diy playdoh to form? I said it as a joke, but its made of flour salt water and oil, can't be toxic to anything can it? Then cover that in foam, sprinkle salt on the foam to create holes etc???? You could get pretty crazy with it!

[erikharrison]

I'd like to find out about actually painting the foam. I remember seeing some backgrounds years ago at Aquarium Sales & Service and they looked like foam (could have been another material?) that was painted. I'm mostly interested in doing this for a freshwater planted tank, but I would think the same concerns over paint contamination would apply.

maybe use some type of food coloring in a spray bottle?????

[erikharrison]

yall think that playdoh, even being covered in foam, would break down and get soggy? Would that even matter? Come onnnnnnn people give me some feedback! :)

[erikharrison]

bump

[MattK]

Why don't you just use Great Stuff foam over egg crate with pieces of PVC for support. Then throw oyster shell on the wet foam(BAM!) and let it dry. Mike (TxReefer) demonstrated all this at a meeting a few months ago.

[erikharrison]

I am going to use this as well, but I am wanting sweeping arches, rounded caves etc. I am essentiallyu wanting more flexibility in the overall shape. To hold it all, the base rocks will be foam covered rocks that I have found in creek beds that I am going to build up, making little ridges etc.

[MattK]

Doesn't seem that complicated. Why do you want to use Playdoh?

[erikharrison]

so I don't get 90 or 45 degree angles. I am just brainstorming openly. Any ideas?

[MattK]

When spraying on the foam, it's not going to leave sharp angles.

[erikharrison]

does the foam get to a point where I can shape it? If I can shape it by hand, I'll try it. I thought about using a baloon and covering it with foam, leaving the end unfoamed so I can pop it, pull it out, and use it as a cave........ I thought about using plastic tubing for arches. I need something that's not flat like the crate, does this help?

[MattK]

The crate is for the base then you build up from there. nvm I give up. Have fun.

[erikharrison]

lol don't give up! I didnt realize that you meant the crate for the base!!!!

[MattK]

Just go spend $10 at HD and experiment. You'll figure out what works best.

[erikharrison]

good article. I thought of that too! Just wondering if DIY playdoh is cheaper/easier to manipulate, and If there would be any ill side effects?

[erikharrison]

I am. I hope it's as great as it says it is. :)

[erikharrison]

Alright, I just started to make my rocks (this is an experiment) and when I got here intitially, Christina's idea came into play. I use bill miller's tea buckets to top off, I saw it, some pillow batting, and some used plastic grocery bags. I put the batting inside the teabucket to give me what looks like a sweet cave. I put in the plastic bag, pressing it tight against the batting as to hold the shape and filled it with foam. I took another bag to press the middle inwards to create what will be the caves interior. It's setting right row, will post pics as soon as I got some set!

[blueboy]

why not make the form out of wet sand in a tub. just fill the tub with wet playsand, then press a nice rock into the sand, then fill the void created when you remove the rock with foam. just like making a plaster mold of a sasquatch footprint!(i know we've all done that!) don't fill it all of the way, because that stuff does expand quite alot, and you can always add more. also, if you try to form it by hand, wear gloves, and be ready for a BIG mess. that stuff is not water soluble, and will take a couple of days to wear off. unless you want to bathe in paint thinner.

[emac]

i build tropical viariums with great stuff just take about 3 cans of if and spray it in layers so that it will dry properly and carve it out. if you want it to stay there forever just put a nice layer of silicon where you think you are going to spray your great stuff so that it will stick to the wall(other wise it will eventually detach). if you want some live rock sticking out of the foam then take pvc pipe and silicon it to the bottom of the tank then put your rock on top of it and spray foam around it. then if you want to put some sand or something to the foam just get some more silicon and put it over the foam(once the foam has curred)and aply your rock and sand.

[erikharrison]

It sticks to plastic like nobody's business. IDK if my first experiment will work. I may just make a big pile of it and shape it some with some batting. This stuff is a mess.

[LoneStar]

Just go spend $10 at HD and experiment. You'll figure out what works best.


Thats usually the way to go ;)

[MKCindy]

Actually, I have been thinking about this too. Hobby Lobby sells sheets (.25-.30) of plastic canvas. They are flexable and can be designed into any shape. Usually they are sewn together with yarn, but plastic lacing works too. (about .79) they sell plastic canvas needles too, much easier to use. By cutting the canvas at angles and nipping off the rough edges, then lacing the cut edges together you can easily make any shape. They also sell circles that can be used to reinforce or shape. The bases could be covered in foam and sprinkled with sand and shell. Might want to try a practise run. As I recall, the wet foam sticks to plastic bags, but once it drys it is easy to remove.

TxReefer is the expert on this stuff.
The dry foam floats, so he had to epoxy it to the bottom of the inside of the tank, but base rock may take care of that problem.
You got my tink tank going. :w00t

[captexas]

Like it mentions in the one link to the thread on RC, go buy some plastic window screen material and use it to make curves or whatever shapes you want. You can use a hot glue gun or small wire ties to attach the ends/pieces togther. Then use that as the form to spray your foam around. It will take some practice to get the technique down I'm sure.

[erikharrison]

Alright this is what I did so far, after a couple of trial and error things, I figured something out. I grabbed a a layer of batting and set it down flat like a posterboard. Then I mounded up some more in the middle, and foamed over the big hump. The foam isn't heavy enough to sink the middle in so it kept it's shape. I couldn't do the whole thing, but I did a side. It hardened and it looks VERY promising. I took my finger (WEAR GLOVES) and pushed through some spots making some holes. I took another piece that looked crappy and kinda worked them together and it looks pretty sweet. TBH you really dont have to shape it. As it dries, it kind expands so it makes it look smoother than when you first apply it. Pics soon.

[erikharrison]

oh yeah, after it dries all you have to do is pick the batting off, which isn't that bad. The batting lets air pass easily so in about ten minutes youre rockin!

[erikharrison]

I poked two holes in it while it was drying. After it dried I ripped those holes downward to form the "legs" if you will. I will need to spray a little more to hold them into place, but it wont take much!

This was the last one that I tried, with the batting, and it is totally dry. awesome. This "frock" is approx 18 inches long with the taller hole reaching about six inches at it's peak. I am loving this.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1866/dsc0150mediumqh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

At some point I will reinforce these, but I wanted my shapes first, then I will sort the rest out. I will probably do something really simple with pvc. I wish that I hadn't missed that meeting!!!!

[Ram_Puppy]

Done the foam thing... it's cool.. but i think I am going to do something more like this next time.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php

[LoneStar]

Done the foam thing... it's cool.. but i think I am going to do something more like this next time.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php

Patrick is working on something similar to that now....

That tank of his looks pretty cool

[jroescher]

Don't forget that anything foam will need to be secured down to keep it from floating.

[jroescher]

Ok, I posted that not realizing that there was more than one page. :wacko

[erikharrison]

good I was confused for a sec :) lol

[erikharrison]

Done the foam thing... it's cool.. but i think I am going to do something more like this next time.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php

Patrick is working on something similar to that now....

That tank of his looks pretty cool

Ram, send some pics man.

Lone, Patrick as in ou812?

[LoneStar]

Lone, Patrick as in ou812?


ou812pezz

[loans_n_fishes]

Ok all, send me your successes on these projects (and links) so I can use them in the library.

Pics too.

Great Stuff! (pun intended ;) )

[villjr]

I poked two holes in it while it was drying. After it dried I ripped those holes downward to form the "legs" if you will. I will need to spray a little more to hold them into place, but it wont take much!

This was the last one that I tried, with the batting, and it is totally dry. awesome. This "frock" is approx 18 inches long with the taller hole reaching about six inches at it's peak. I am loving this.



At some point I will reinforce these, but I wanted my shapes first, then I will sort the rest out. I will probably do something really simple with pvc. I wish that I hadn't missed that meeting!!!!


Erik the design looks great! Have you gotten your new tank yet?

[erikharrison]

No, not quite yet. We are planning on moving the 20th, so I figure we will get it probably moving day. I want to start curing this stuff though, but it looks like I am going to need the weekend to put it all together, so I may just wait it out and buy a ton of LR from someone. We already have fish etc to put in it, so the first thing I have to do is get it to Louis to drill and sump it.

[villjr]

so I may just wait it out and buy a ton of LR from someone.

A ton of LR! WOW!

[DaBird47]

cool thread Erik, don't give up on the "Frocks" yet....

[LoneStar]

so I may just wait it out and buy a ton of LR from someone.

A ton of LR! WOW!

hmm lets low-ball it here, no price breaks for a higher quantity purchased

2.99/lb * 2000lbs = $5980.00 (pre tax)

:lol

[Ram_Puppy]

I dont' have any pics of that tank right now, I broke it down, and the foam was on the back panel to hide the plumbing... it worked great, I just never got completely sold.

there is another verison of great stuff you can get a dr fosters smith that is black.. but I could not get anything to stick to it.