My old 75g frag tank is back in business...

[Mr Cob]

I've been cleaning my old 75g frag tank up for a friend. I painted it last weekend and today I foamed it and put in the finishing touches. I added lots of frag mounting holes too.

Check it out...

My son was a big help today...we were both dripping with sweat....
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs521.snc3/29671_1138112389100_1716090084_258876_484016_n.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Build pics...


After paint...
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs502.ash1/29721_1136018936765_1716090084_254734_4464031_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs522.snc3/29721_1136019016767_1716090084_254735_6694627_n.jp g

Foam time....
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs521.snc3/29671_1138111549079_1716090084_258872_1743905_n.jp g

overflow hidden....
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs521.snc3/29671_1138111669082_1716090084_258874_6095357_n.jp g

Lots of coral mounting holes...
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs541.snc3/29671_1138111589080_1716090084_258873_7907993_n.jp g

Lights installed....
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs501.ash1/29671_1138111789085_1716090084_258875_2497230_n.jp g

[txg8gxp]

Looks nice, I guess you like foam huh.... Must have been cool, with it being a father/son project.

[aquasport24]

Good job as always Rob, so this will be your holding tank for the move?

[aquasport24]

btw, i want to see the plumbing when you done..:)

[Mr Cob]

Looks nice, I guess you like foam huh.... Must have been cool, with it being a father/son project.

Thanks, yeah, I'm a big fan of the foam...makes mounting coral so much easier. Especially pressing plugs into the foam.


Good job as always Rob, so this will be your holding tank for the move?

Thanks, Giau. No, this tank is going to a friend. His name is Harish. I'm still working on my new tank, will be purchasing it in a month, it will probably be a 90g.


btw, i want to see the plumbing when you done..:)

HAHA! My plumbing days are over, I use tubes now...LOL!

[Europhyllia]

Wow. You work fast! Guess that's the beauty of foam. :)

[Mr Cob]

^yeah, the foam drys fast too. Going to let it cure for a week though before it sees water.

[ZeroHour]

explain the foaming process, what are you using to turn it black?

If ya dont mind tellin a newb

[hobogato]

i think he used the foam that is made for ponds so it is already black.

[Europhyllia]

^yeah, the foam drys fast too. Going to let it cure for a week though before it sees water.
Tempting... but not good enough to be willing to go urchin free ;)

[Mr Cob]

i think he used the foam that is made for ponds so it is already black.


explain the foaming process, what are you using to turn it black?

If ya dont mind tellin a newb

Yep, Ace is right.

-Black Waterfall foam. About $13-$15 per can and Lowes and Home Depot only stock 5-10 cans per week so it's worth calling before going by...BUT most of the time they don't know what I'm talking about anyways and they say "no" we don't carry it. It's found outside in the pond equipment section.

-Use Aquarium sealant or aqaurium safe clear sealant under the foam...just spread drops around...this helps mount the foam longterm. Without the sealant the foam will start to come loose after a year or two.

-spray foam (wear gloves and make sure the surface is laying flat).

-distress the foam as it bubbles up. Use a stick to poke the bubbles and move them around, this will give a more natural "rock" look instead of the "foam poop" look.

-add some black tubing in the foam to make some frag racks or blenny holes. In my 144 I used huge black pvc tubes to make tunnels.

-spread crushed coral/sand/aragonite over the foam while it's still wet. The sand will add texture to make for a more realist look and help coraline take off by giving it something to stick too.

-let cure




Tempting... but not good enough to be willing to go urchin free ;)

LOL, yeah...both my urchins are in the sump for digesting foam! It was definitely worth seeing though!

[Mr Cob]

Foam brands... (I used 3 cans on the 75g and 5 cans on my 144)

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/17/17d2e734-7291-452b-9316-b70b2d0c553f_400.jpg
http://www.tropicalwaterscapes.net/store2/images/21053%20WF%20Foam%20Image.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mb43ko3cL.jpg
http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Atlantic_Skimmers/Images/black-waterfall-foam-dp-atl.gif

[Mr Cob]

Also, I used 3 tubes of sealant under the foam on the 75g and 5 tubes on the 144g.

[phippsj]

In addition to your steps, I epoxied on top of the foam. I also put mine on egg crate and created three panels across the back. I can remove the panels (which I have only done once). I am a big fan of the foam.

[Mr Cob]

^nice... created a new thread for sharing foam porjects:

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?60458-Calling-all-foamers....

Now you need to go post some pics there :)