Foam Free Backdrop Project

[Europhyllia]

This will be my last project before the tank comes in!

Firewater and I split an order of Emaco and Acryl 60 to make mortar/rock structures.

I already got the Acryl in
http://www.dominopads.com/77acryl.jpg

split up some dry rock (trying to keep big but thin chunks)
http://www.dominopads.com/77rocks.jpg

And built the egg crate structures for the overflow box covers:
http://www.dominopads.com/77eggcrate.jpg

And yes I made them this jagged on purpose. I figure it will be just as obvious if I just add little rocks covering a square surface.
The jagged cover will have some black overflow boxes showing through but it will be more interesting than square box covered squarely in rock.
At least that's what I am thinking now.

Still waiting on the Emaco to come in. If it comes by the weekend you will get to see out updates soon. Otherwise wait for next weekend. :)

Our project is based on the marcosrock instructions for mortar aquascaping:
http://www.marcorocks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=49

[jesserettele]

very cool

[Europhyllia]

well here we go. The Emaco finally came in.

started by laying out the rocks dry to get an idea of potential arrangements:
http://www.dominopads.com/erocks1.jpg

was looking for rocks that would naturally curve around the corner or extend past it so it doesn't just look like a square covered in little rocks
http://www.dominopads.com/erocks2.jpg

got all supplies ready (covered cardboard boxes with trash bags to set my egg crate on )
http://www.dominopads.com/erocks3.jpg

luckily some rocks split just perfectly!
http://www.dominopads.com/erocks5.jpghttp://www.dominopads.com/erocks4.jpg

halfway finished:
http://www.dominopads.com/erocks6.jpg

here's what I learned:

the stuff sets very quickly!
the dry rocks soak up the Acryl mixture like crazy. I should have bought 2 quarts instead of 1 since shipping was as much as the bottle...

will see how many rocks still stick when I put it upright tomorrow but so far it really looks promising!

[saabtech]

wow karin thats a really cool idead. looks great!

[FireWater]

Looking good so far Karin. I can't wait to check it out and then try my own.

[jesserettele]

Is there anything you don't DIY? Looks great, tagging along here.

[Mr Cob]

It's going to look great Karin. Thanks for sharing your process.

[Europhyllia]

It still has to dry some but the bond already seems to be pretty strong. Definitely glad we got the acryl.
I am pleased with how it looks so far:
http://www.dominopads.com/erock7.jpg
I think once all of the dry rock ages and grow over they will blend well with the dry rock structures in the tank. :)

[txg8gxp]

Nice, this is going to be a awesome tank.

[Europhyllia]

Thanks for the help John. They still have to dry before we can fill it with water but they're in and look really good :)
http://www.dominopads.com/overflow.jpg

[txg8gxp]

That looks really good.

[FireWater]

Looks awesome Karin. I enjoyed what teeny tiny little bit I did to help out today - it was fun.

Are the rocks there to brace it for now or is that what you came up with for holding it into place? Can't wait to see it all finished up.

[Europhyllia]

I figured I let the rock structures kind of grow into each other. Also serves the purpose of supporting it. But hopefully also makes it look a little less obvious :)

[FireWater]

I like it. Came out looking very good.