AquaticEngineer Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 Lookin good. Sorry I did not make it out today. I was down all day with a Migrane... No worries, take care of yourself and hit me up on wednesday I'll have the day off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 That looks cool Stew, is the foam and all the paint,glue safe for the tank? I assume it is since you're doing it, just seems like alot of stuff going into the water! Anyway looks good cant wait to see it up and running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 That looks cool Stew' date=' is the foam and all the paint,glue safe for the tank? I assume it is since you're doing it, just seems like alot of stuff going into the water! Anyway looks good cant wait to see it up and running[/quote'] The paint is an epoxy based paint so it cures hard and innert. The foam is designed for use in ponds, it is UV resistant and safe for fish. No glue was used, this spray foam is designed to also be used as an adhesive and expands less than other spray foams. Many people haved used the foam and epoxy style backgrounds before, but most have added them into a pre existing tank by building them outside the tank and then placing them into a running system. I decided to just build mine directly into the tank since I got it for free and I needed to hide a bunch of patched over holes in the acrylic. Josh (Drunkreefer) actually gave me the idea to scape it more like it came out as opposed to the flat rock walls that most people make with spray foam. His experience and inspiration came from using spray foam to build vivarium habitats for poison dart frogs. Between the two of us we brainstormed some decent ideas and actually managed to make most of what we tried to do. I even got to try out the idea I had years ago of hiding the closed loop returns in the rock work by utilizing barnacles. A lot of it has been trial and error on building the structures and getting the textures I wanted, now I guess its time to build something nice for inside the house (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Can you give a link or a brand name and location to the paint you are using? I just made some branch rock myself for the new seahorse system and would love to paint it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Got it at Home Depot, its made by Behr called 1 party Epoxy Concrete and Garage Floor Paint. Comes in white and gray, but you can ask them to add color to it if you want. I only comes in 1 gallon buckets though, so if you only need a little bit I have some. I bought a gallon and divided it into 4 quart containers and had them mix me 4 different colors of gray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Here's some pics of the rock work now that I have it all painted and blended in together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Started plumbing the closed loop on this tank now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 LOOKING GOOD!!! Cant wait to see your finished product... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate213 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Your aquascape is amazing. One of the best I have seen. The barnacles are a nice touch. Now I'm wanting a coldwater setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jadams7 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Really well done. I did a foam background, and know how much work goes into it, let alone one of this quality. Awesome shapes, and like Nate said, one of the best ones ive seen out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Thanks guys I'm glad it turned out as good as it did. I read through just about every thread on every forum I could find about spray foam backgrounds, then took the knowledge and info that others had shared and applied the bits that were relevant to what I was doing. A few test pieces, and some experimenting on the side and boom I'm going to do the same kind of background on my smaller coldwater tank for indoors as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Water tested and 90% plumbed. Just gotta get it in place, plumb in the auto feeder, and hook it into the lobster tank now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkreefer Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 took you for ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 took you for ever! Took US forever, the 90+ heat yesterday sure didnt make it go any faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkreefer Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 you should pick a nice stick-on back round that is cold water hahaha super cheesy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 More plumbing done today, built another auto feeder. I just have to paint a couple things, move it into place, and level out, then its ready to be filled and start cycling. Last pic shows the new auto feeder I had to make since the plumbing on the other one didn't work with this setup, plus side is the old auto feeder will fit perfect under my small indside coldwater tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Looks like you have these tanks down!! would like to come by and see them sometime, let me know when this one is up and running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Looks like you have these tanks down!! would like to come by and see them sometime' date=' let me know when this one is up and running[/quote'] Hopefully it will be up and running with water in it sometime this week. I gotta clean up a few things, but otherwise everything is where it needs to be. I'll make sure and put up a "Grand Opening of the Damascus Oregon Aquarium" thread when its all ready to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Sweet! I'll be there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrybeck Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm gonna have to check these coldwater tanks out at some point as well. This truly looks like *fun*! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkreefer Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Just wait...... Just wait......(naughty) They have no idea yet Stew hahaha(flame) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted September 14, 2011 Author Share Posted September 14, 2011 Just wait...... Just wait......(naughty) They have no idea yet Stew hahaha(flame) My neighbor Jerry stopped by tonight and I think I may have him talked into making that 3/4" thick tank he has into a coldwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drunkreefer Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 thats funny! that would be your twin tank hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberlee Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Can we get an update on this tank? Would love to see the finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 You really are an aquatic engineer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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