Gotcha. Very creative thinking there. Can't wait to see this stocked. Great job!
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My latest project
- Thread starter Psychographic
- Start date
Gotcha. Very creative thinking there. Can't wait to see this stocked. Great job!
Psychographic
Non-member
A slightly better pic, yes, I edited the crap out of it to make it look presentable. It's getting clearer, but still needs a couple of days.
Psychographic
Non-member
I'm sorry I don;t have more pics of building the wall, but I will do my best here. Also note the text might not matche the picture exactly due to the lack of pics.
to build it like I did, you will need, Eggcrate, Waxpaper, Expanding Foam (I used Great Stuff Pond and Stone by Dow, I found it at Ace hardware), Dry Rock, 30 Minute Liquid Epoxy (I used a "house brand" from a local hobby shop), and Sand.
First cut you Eggcrate to fit the panel, seeing as I have a hex, the back panel and overflow where solid full pieces, on the two sides, I wanted a jagged edge and cut it accordingly.
Next cover a flat surface with wax paper larger than your piece of eggcrate, this will allow you to protect the surface from the foam, the foam will not stick to the paper and easily peel of later.
Arrange your rocks. I had originally planned to lay the rocks as flat as possible to save room in the tank. This would've been a BIG mistake, having the rocks stick out creates a ton of depth and give you lots of shelves for mounting frags, plants or whatever.
Once you have arranged you rocks, start filling in the voids with the foam, WARNING!, a little foam goes a long way, this stuff expands like crazy and it's fairly hard to control the trigger on the can. Remember the foam is what will hold the rocks, so makes sure to try and get as close with the tip of the can into the rock and eggcrate.
I did'nt take any pics of this process as I did'nt want to get any foam on my camera and forgot to take the pics after it dried. Here is a pic of a pillar I built showing the cured foam. It's basically the same idea.
After the foam cured, I turned the panel over and filled in any voids. This will help to hold the rocks, I also wanted all of the egggcrate filled in. Once this cured, I used a hacksaw blade (without the saw) to cut the foam flush with the eggcrate. Sorry no pics of this either.
I then turned it back over and started shaping the foam, by simply tearing out small chunks by hand. Don't worry if you take too much out, you can always fill it back in later.
Psychographic
Non-member
Here is how it will lok at this point.
The scrap from shaping.
If you are happy with your wall, it's time to start epoxying the foam. I found the open pore structure of the foam will absorbed a large amount of the epoxy and that 2 coats worked much better in the end.
I used Acid / Epoxy brushes to brush on the epoxy. If you go to a hobby/craft shop, they are known as Epoxy Brushes, if you go to a hardware store, look in the plumbing section for Acid Brushes. They are tin handle brushes and cost about 25 cents. I used about 10 of them for my project.
Put a good coat on the front of the wall, making sure to coat all of the foam and about 1/6-1/4" of the edges of the rock, Let this dry, turn the panel over and coat the back.
Once that dries, recoat the front again, you will notice its easier to do now that the pores of the foam are filled from the first coat. Immediately pour your sand over the panel, I gently pushed it into the panel to assure good contact. Be sure to have plenty of sand, it is much easier if you have more than you need, what does'nt stick is still safe to use
Let it dry, turn it over and shake the sand off to be reused.
I first tried to use a sugar sand and the results were less than spectacular, it did'nt cover well, even after two coats.
Here is a pic of 3 panels. The middle is just epoxy, the left is sugar sand and the right is coarse sand. You can see why the fine sand does'nt work.
Here are the same panels all covered in coarse sand.
To mount the wall I used about 4-6 dimesized globs of silicone for eack 11"x24" panel. This is one of the reasons for coating the back with epoxy, I wanted a better bond than the silicone to foam. I was afraid of the foam tearing. This foam is extremely bouyant ans even with all of the rock, want to float.
One thing to note, as soon as I finished with applying the foam, I removed the trigger and tube from the can and soaked them in enamel reducer and cleaned the recess in the can using a twisted corner of a paper towel soaked in the reducer. I then attached a small piece to some thin wire to pull through the trigger and tube.
Doing this allowed me to reuse them both immediately, if you don't do this, you will have to let it cure and dig it out with a stiff wire.
I'm sure Laquer Thinner or Acetone would work also, probably even better.
If I missed anything, feel free to ask.
The scrap from shaping.
If you are happy with your wall, it's time to start epoxying the foam. I found the open pore structure of the foam will absorbed a large amount of the epoxy and that 2 coats worked much better in the end.
I used Acid / Epoxy brushes to brush on the epoxy. If you go to a hobby/craft shop, they are known as Epoxy Brushes, if you go to a hardware store, look in the plumbing section for Acid Brushes. They are tin handle brushes and cost about 25 cents. I used about 10 of them for my project.
Put a good coat on the front of the wall, making sure to coat all of the foam and about 1/6-1/4" of the edges of the rock, Let this dry, turn the panel over and coat the back.
Once that dries, recoat the front again, you will notice its easier to do now that the pores of the foam are filled from the first coat. Immediately pour your sand over the panel, I gently pushed it into the panel to assure good contact. Be sure to have plenty of sand, it is much easier if you have more than you need, what does'nt stick is still safe to use
Let it dry, turn it over and shake the sand off to be reused.
I first tried to use a sugar sand and the results were less than spectacular, it did'nt cover well, even after two coats.
Here is a pic of 3 panels. The middle is just epoxy, the left is sugar sand and the right is coarse sand. You can see why the fine sand does'nt work.
Here are the same panels all covered in coarse sand.
To mount the wall I used about 4-6 dimesized globs of silicone for eack 11"x24" panel. This is one of the reasons for coating the back with epoxy, I wanted a better bond than the silicone to foam. I was afraid of the foam tearing. This foam is extremely bouyant ans even with all of the rock, want to float.
One thing to note, as soon as I finished with applying the foam, I removed the trigger and tube from the can and soaked them in enamel reducer and cleaned the recess in the can using a twisted corner of a paper towel soaked in the reducer. I then attached a small piece to some thin wire to pull through the trigger and tube.
Doing this allowed me to reuse them both immediately, if you don't do this, you will have to let it cure and dig it out with a stiff wire.
I'm sure Laquer Thinner or Acetone would work also, probably even better.
If I missed anything, feel free to ask.
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Psychographic
Non-member
I forgot this pic, here is what the back looks like.
Please excuse my spelling, grammer and punctuation. I'm quite literate, I just can't type to save my soul! It seems my brain does'nt like to communicate with my fingers when a keyboard is involved.
Please excuse my spelling, grammer and punctuation. I'm quite literate, I just can't type to save my soul! It seems my brain does'nt like to communicate with my fingers when a keyboard is involved.
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Psychographic
Non-member
From the front it is very hard to see the depth the wall has with the branches coming out of it. Here are a couple of side shots that give you an idea. I cant wait to see the SH's hitching to all of thes branches.
Psychographic
Non-member
The cycle is moving along nicely Ammonia is down to.5 from a high of 4 and my nitrates are hanging at .25. I'm hoping to be able to put the first SH in next week. If the params stay stable, I will probably add another every two weeks.
I added some Macros to get a foothold before the horses go in.
The latest shot this time with no editing other than lowering the brightness on the camera to prevent glare.
I added some Macros to get a foothold before the horses go in.
The latest shot this time with no editing other than lowering the brightness on the camera to prevent glare.
Tank is looking great, awesome progress.
trajik ink
will i am
wow!!! you got some skills....i can't wait to see it stocked.....great job!!!
Psychographic
Non-member
By late afternoon yesterday the Ammonia dropped to 0 and by this morning the Nitrites also reached 0. I was a bit surprised the Nitrites dropped so fast, I'm guessing the fact that I seeded the tank with some cured LR and rubble caused it to drop so soon after the Ammonia.
As an added buffer, I took an established Aquaclear Mini full of carbon off the current SH tank and added it along with one of the female SH's, a Scarlet Hermit, a couple of tiny Asterina's and a very small Cerith Snail.
The SH is cautiously starting to explore the tank, but not a lot. She perked up when she saw the feeding tube and snicked about 5 Mysis. It was a little confusing for her when the current blew them away and up but gave chase until they got too far away. I then sucked them back up and brought them back to her.
It's nice to see her hitching on the branch rock coming out of the walls.
The flow from the SCWD has her a bit confused, but I'm sure they all will get used to it and from what I've seen and read, actually enjoy it.
As an added buffer, I took an established Aquaclear Mini full of carbon off the current SH tank and added it along with one of the female SH's, a Scarlet Hermit, a couple of tiny Asterina's and a very small Cerith Snail.
The SH is cautiously starting to explore the tank, but not a lot. She perked up when she saw the feeding tube and snicked about 5 Mysis. It was a little confusing for her when the current blew them away and up but gave chase until they got too far away. I then sucked them back up and brought them back to her.
It's nice to see her hitching on the branch rock coming out of the walls.
The flow from the SCWD has her a bit confused, but I'm sure they all will get used to it and from what I've seen and read, actually enjoy it.
Psychographic
Non-member
Feeling a little brave, I added one of the males to keep her company. I have and will be testing the water twice a day to be safe.
Unfortunately, I got the wrong male from the old tank, this one seems to have internal parasites (worms), I was hoping to keep him in the old tank and start treating once the others were out. It should be fairly easy to catch him in the new tank. He has been healthy in every aspect, but just won't fatten up.
Anyway, the female has caught on to fact that she now has to chase her food, the male is still being lazy and waits for it to come to him. The female has also learned it's fun to "Surf" the currents, she found one that shoots her straight to the top of the tank. WWWEEEEEE!!!!!!
Here's some shots of them.
Unfortunately, I got the wrong male from the old tank, this one seems to have internal parasites (worms), I was hoping to keep him in the old tank and start treating once the others were out. It should be fairly easy to catch him in the new tank. He has been healthy in every aspect, but just won't fatten up.
Anyway, the female has caught on to fact that she now has to chase her food, the male is still being lazy and waits for it to come to him. The female has also learned it's fun to "Surf" the currents, she found one that shoots her straight to the top of the tank. WWWEEEEEE!!!!!!
Here's some shots of them.
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