210 gal foam background build (pics)

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 03:16 PM

Decided to go with a foam background for our new tank build. This is what we have so far.

Cutting the eggcrate to go around the overflows was fun. Gluing them together in that position was not...

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 03:18 PM

Used the black pond foam to fill in around the rocks. Then we put down some rock salt for texture.

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 03:19 PM

All 4 pieces before adding sand.

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 03:21 PM

We used a 2 part resin to glue the sand to the foam

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 03:23 PM

We are using black silicone to attach it to the back glass. I'll post more pics when its done drying.

Brunzy · 03/30/2017, 04:03 PM

Are you going to cycle that in the tank, or cycle it before you put it into the tank?

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 04:16 PM

The tank is a completely new build with old live (now dry) rock. We will let the background cycle along with everything else once we get it going.

crabbydan · 03/30/2017, 07:32 PM

Looks good. Does water get trapped between the glass and the foam wall? and does it even matter?

Murdock5150 · 03/30/2017, 09:55 PM

Water can get behind it, but it shouldn't matter. I siliconed the bottom so sand won't push it out though.

ReefsandGeeks · 03/31/2017, 06:25 AM

Looking good! I've been planning on doing something similar when I finally get my 210. Untill then, I'll just have to watch you and others on RC build yours.

Mrs. Music · 03/31/2017, 06:40 AM

Looks like a fun and exciting project. I used foam to glue rocks together and my stoopid angel tried to eat it. She seemed to spit it out all the time. I decided to remove the rocks just incase and when I moved them it released hundreds of foam bits into the water! Took forever to remove them. It is a very good idea to cover the foam the way tou did.

Murdock5150 · 03/31/2017, 10:55 AM

ITs has been a fun project. I will say if you decide to do this, try not to get the foam on you. It's really hard to get off once it dries lol.

savvybuckeye7 · 03/31/2017, 10:57 AM

What kind of resin did you use?

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Murdock5150 · 03/31/2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savvybuckeye7

What kind of resin did you use?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I used West Systems 105 epoxy and 205 fast hardener. Its a bit pricey, but not bad considering how much was used.

Murdock5150 · 03/31/2017, 11:01 AM

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Almost done! I filled the gaps between the 4 pieces with more foam. I just need to shape the seams a bit and add sand/resin to make it look like 1 full piece.

rum3002576 · 03/31/2017, 12:42 PM

thats turning out real good. nice job

serenity · 03/31/2017, 01:02 PM

That turned out awesome!!

hammerhead24 · 03/31/2017, 02:00 PM

looks great!

Brunzy · 03/31/2017, 10:05 PM

Do you plan on putting real coral on the backgroun to enhance the effect

Murdock5150 · 03/31/2017, 10:23 PM

Yes. I'm going to put live rock in front of it too.

Murdock5150 · 03/31/2017, 10:25 PM

After blending the seams to make it look like 1 big piece.

SFish · 04/01/2017, 07:10 AM

U know if you put the sand on before the foam drys it will stick and you don't need epoxy. Just a tip for next time. Wall looks good.

Murdock5150 · 09/12/2018, 10:15 PM

Tank after a little over a year.

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sfsuphysics · 09/12/2018, 10:51 PM

Hey look at that, back from the dead to show that the project is still working. Absolutely awesome man, I wish more people did this with their "crazy" DIY projects.

Murdock5150 · 09/12/2018, 10:58 PM

Thanks! Been a busy year. Finally starting to get some really good sps growth going. Its looking less like a giant frag tank, and more like an actual reef.

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03/30/2017, 03:23 PM	#5
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	We are using black silicone to attach it to the back glass. I'll post more pics when its done drying. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/30/2017, 04:16 PM	#7
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	The tank is a completely new build with old live (now dry) rock. We will let the background cycle along with everything else once we get it going. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/30/2017, 09:55 PM	#9
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	Water can get behind it, but it shouldn't matter. I siliconed the bottom so sand won't push it out though. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/31/2017, 06:40 AM	#11
Mrs. Music Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sylvania, OH Posts: 636	Looks like a fun and exciting project. I used foam to glue rocks together and my stoopid angel tried to eat it. She seemed to spit it out all the time. I decided to remove the rocks just incase and when I moved them it released hundreds of foam bits into the water! Took forever to remove them. It is a very good idea to cover the foam the way tou did. __________________ Midwest Custom Acylic 180 gallon, 2 AI Hydra Twenty Six HD, Tunze 6055, remote custom 75 gallon sump with chaeto refugium, Pan World pump, Reef Octopus INT 200 skim

03/31/2017, 10:55 AM	#12
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	ITs has been a fun project. I will say if you decide to do this, try not to get the foam on you. It's really hard to get off once it dries lol. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/30/2017, 04:03 PM	#6
Brunzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 51	Are you going to cycle that in the tank, or cycle it before you put it into the tank?

03/30/2017, 07:32 PM	#8
crabbydan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 267	Looks good. Does water get trapped between the glass and the foam wall? and does it even matter?

03/31/2017, 06:25 AM	#10
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Looking good! I've been planning on doing something similar when I finally get my 210. Untill then, I'll just have to watch you and others on RC build yours.

03/31/2017, 10:57 AM	#13
savvybuckeye7 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Port Richey FL Posts: 171	What kind of resin did you use? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 3+ years reefing Current Tank Info: 210 gallon corner mixed reef tank

03/31/2017, 11:01 AM	#15
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	[IMG][/IMG] Almost done! I filled the gaps between the 4 pieces with more foam. I just need to shape the seams a bit and add sand/resin to make it look like 1 full piece. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/31/2017, 12:42 PM	#16
rum3002576 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 61	thats turning out real good. nice job

03/31/2017, 01:02 PM	#17
serenity Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 459	That turned out awesome!! __________________ Taking it 1 day at a time!

03/31/2017, 02:00 PM	#18
hammerhead24 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: staten island Posts: 9	looks great!

03/31/2017, 10:05 PM	#19
Brunzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 51	Do you plan on putting real coral on the backgroun to enhance the effect

03/31/2017, 10:23 PM	#20
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	Yes. I'm going to put live rock in front of it too. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

03/31/2017, 10:25 PM	#21
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	After blending the seams to make it look like 1 big piece. __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

04/01/2017, 07:10 AM	#22
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	U know if you put the sand on before the foam drys it will stick and you don't need epoxy. Just a tip for next time. Wall looks good.

09/12/2018, 10:15 PM	#23
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	Tank after a little over a year. Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup

09/12/2018, 10:51 PM	#24
sfsuphysics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 9,103	Hey look at that, back from the dead to show that the project is still working. Absolutely awesome man, I wish more people did this with their "crazy" DIY projects. __________________ Mike

09/12/2018, 10:58 PM	#25
Murdock5150 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 154	Thanks! Been a busy year. Finally starting to get some really good sps growth going. Its looking less like a giant frag tank, and more like an actual reef. Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk __________________ Murdock5150 ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Currently building 210gl setup