Rock Wall - Experience? Success or Failures?

[elfloyd]

I am planning to build a rock wall for the back on my 90g. Plans basically are to use pond foam to secure dry rubble to egg crate and coat the foam between the rocks with sand. I will have a base on the wall that goes under the sand and LR in the tank and use super magnets to hold the wall in place against the glass.

Just wondering if anyone has attempted this and the outcome. If the wall failed... how and why?

 

[bobz]

I haven't done it the way you described (but it sounds very cool). I used the pond foam on my nano as the background and it worked well. My only advice is to use as little as possible when applying it. The foam really covers and expands as it dries.
Good luck! Love to see some pics as you set it up.
Z

 

[elfloyd]

Yeah... I've used the expanding foam around the house. It can make quite a mess!

 

[texhorns98]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807</a>

I assume it's Kosher to link to another site, but this is where I got a TON of info for the idea you're talking about. It seems easy enough in theory, but is a little more difficult (and expensive) in practice. There are several examples here, but I was following the one by Speckled Grouper the most. I'm just not sure there's enough evidence of the long term effects of saltwater on the epoxy used or the foam itself. Plus, I couldn't get over how much detritus might get caught behind the wall itself. It bugged me to the point where I abandoned the idea.

 

[lilrobb]

Anyone ever sprayed that foam directly on the backwall?

 

[theplatypus]

texhorns98;328780 wrote: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807</a>

I assume it's Kosher to link to another site, but this is where I got a TON of info for the idea you're talking about. It seems easy enough in theory, but is a little more difficult (and expensive) in practice. There are several examples here, but I was following the one by Speckled Grouper the most. I'm just not sure there's enough evidence of the long term effects of saltwater on the epoxy used or the foam itself. Plus, I couldn't get over how much detritus might get caught behind the wall itself. It bugged me to the point where I abandoned the idea.[/QUOTE]

THis guy has had a foam rock wall tank running for a couple years. There are others, but I was checking out his build thread. There's a thread floating around on rc with an email from the DOW people stating that their foam product is inert and safe to use in aquariums.

[IMG]http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1144204">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1144204</a>


The potential to trap detritus has me a little concerned as well.

 

[elfloyd]

Thought about it... Too much of a committment and too hard to get a "do over".

 

[theplatypus]

elFloyd;328785 wrote: Thought about it... Too much of a committment and too hard to get a "do over".

I'm going to try a nano size version in the very near future.

 

[dakota9]

My God! Where have I been not to have known how cool this can be? I'm so going to research this for my next tank......

 

[elfloyd]

Interesting link.... I missed SouthLAnd!

I wasn't thinking anything so grand... Just thick enough to cover the back glass (2-3 inches), What I want to accomplish is:

<ul>
<li>Cover the back wall to prevent algae growth on the glass.</li>
<li>Be able to move the LR toward the back of the tank (without having to leave room for scraping).</li>
<li>Perhaps build some ledges for frags.</li>
</ul>
I'll post pictures... I am probably 30 days out before I can start. (Too many other projects lined up!)

texhorns98;328780 wrote: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807">http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1438807</a>

I assume it's Kosher to link to another site, but this is where I got a TON of info for the idea you're talking about. It seems easy enough in theory, but is a little more difficult (and expensive) in practice. There are several examples here, but I was following the one by Speckled Grouper the most. I'm just not sure there's enough evidence of the long term effects of saltwater on the epoxy used or the foam itself. Plus, I couldn't get over how much detritus might get caught behind the wall itself. It bugged me to the point where I abandoned the idea.[/QUOTE]

 

[bobz]

LilRobb;328781 wrote: Anyone ever sprayed that foam directly on the backwall?

I used it on the nano I jsut built, sprayed on the back wall and around the overflow and the return bulkheads. Turned out ok. Here is a link:
http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27678">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27678</a>

BZ