What did you use to bond the rocks to the glass?

any long term issues with this?

i can say that the parts that the sand didn't take for me still got covered with coralline algae over the epoxy so don't stress too much

Tons of people have made them so none that I have ever read or heard of.

Thanks

If you don't cover the form completely with epoxy/sand, the high light areas will start to degrade from the UV and high intensity lighting. Looks really nice for a while up until the eggcrate starts to show through.

That has never happened to me with any of my tanks.

Could you give me a company which shipps to Europe black pond foam. As a few people mentioned previously, I dont want to try different product to find the best one so I would rather go for the reliable ones used by many people with success.

How long have you had the tanks running with a foam wall?

It happen to my tank after about 6 months and another members after about a year.

My light is 4" off the top of the water line.

I used UV resistant foam and almost all of it is covered.

LOL

He started this thread in 2008 I think he knows what he is talking about. Search 3D background and you will see tons of people have made these with no problems. Sounds to me like you used the wrong foam. There is UV resistant and non UV resistant. If you used the stuff that isn't UV resistant then yes all the foam needs to be covered up.

Hilarious..

His original 5.5g AIO was an inspiration for my tank. I used the same Beckett UV resistant pond foam on top of eggcrate and zip tied lace rock to the structure. A light coat of epoxy and sand to cover.
I also used UV resistant touch n foam.

Question for you; do you post about every tank related failure you've had? No. Why? It's embarrassing.
Just because there are many success stories, doesn't mean everyone who has ever made a foam wall has been successful.
I'm just trying to be helpful and when someone asks if there have been any negative side effects, I thought I would share my experience.

Feel free to critique my build thread on what I did wrong in the initial stages building the wall so others can benefit and not have their wall degrade over time.


The overflow teeth were the first to go, then the thick top portion started to slowly go.


It's been about 2 years since building the wall (1¾ years wet). I have no algae problems and all of my coral is thriving.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/a...psagjtnvai.jpg

Forgot to mention that turbo snails will eat the foam as well. This played a small role in mine as well. I could hear it munching on the wall late at night when the pumps are off. Lol

What ever

There are pages of this stuff where the foam did not break down. As your not going to be any help to anyone you might as well just move on.

I have been reading a lot about this background type and I found not even a single thread or comment where people were complainig about breaking the dried foam but if some of you had an issue with it pls share.

right off the top of my head with out doing any real digging if you go to page 47 of this thread a guys says his wall has been up a year and nothing has happened to it. You do want to cover up the foam though to help protect it. If you go to the first page of this thread there are links to a few people that made foam wall. Yousmellfishy has made a few if I remember.

I've had my foam wall in place for almost 6 months and it's not showing any degeneration. I know that's not long term success yet but I didn't even cover it with sand and epoxy and it's starting to cover with coraline algae.

Got a pic?

What dou you think about this foam? Can I use to build a background? --> http://www.touch-n-foam.com/landscape-foam.html

Yes you can use that SPeckled Grouper used it on her wall.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1437901

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...6297fd3915.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...1806c6818d.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...e5e5c34175.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...7413699ec0.jpg


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Wow it's almost like a trench. That's really cool. I like it.

https://vimeo.com/182326601

Thanks I just didn't want to look at the overflow box and this was the best option besides stacking a lot of rock in front of it.
This is the tank a few weeks ago. Still haven't decided on what to frame the tank in with.

:thumbsup: Very nice

Finally done messing with my two main rocks. I need to order the rocks I'm going to use in the foreground now. When I get that all settled I'll post some picks.

So I don't my Rockwall for my 135 almost 10 years ago and I have not had a single issue with it! No degrading no fading nothing.
Here it is when I built it and today

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...7/DSC_5089.jpg



http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...1EFE630057.jpg

I do have an issue maybe you guys can help me with. The tank at the wall is on right now is feeling and I would like to reuse it on my next tank. I think I can cut it off of the back wall. I silicone did very well so that crap would not build up behind it. My question is how do I transfer the rock wall onto my new tank without all the rock dying? Is there any other way I can attach the wall beside silicone it on?

I had one setup for six years. I took the tank down and tried to get the foam background off. It wasn't budging. End up selling the tank with the foam background. I did use the pond black foam on mine with the egg crate base. My only suggestion is if you are using rock in the wall make them larger than you think necessary. After applying the foam the rocks get really small. Rebuilt mine after the first try due to that issue. Jerry.

Nice

could you pretty much make a foam wall and also turn it into a floating reef? or just use the exact same stuff you guys are using for the foam wall and use it to make a floating reef?

Also can someone link some info on the products you are using and how much it can hold or you guys suggest it can hold if you were to do a floating reef with a shelf rock directly horizontal.

I used 2 foams
Great Stuff drys softer and is easy to work with http://www.homedepot.com/p/GREAT-STU...w&gclsrc=aw.ds
and Smart Foam which drys harder and seems super buoyant http://www.lowes.com/pd/smartpond-Po...essory/3066381

As far as a floating reef goes I can't remember where I saw it but someone did make a floating reef and kept it stationary using pvc. I know this stuff is very buoyant because many have failed to secure there walls down properly and there foam wall would break the silicone bond. If I was to try this I would go with something like the Smart Pond. I really think it could hold quite a bit of weight if you were to only attack coral to it. If you do try this make sure to post a link to your thread. I would love to see it

I'll be doing this with my next tank...just love it.

Now that I have made one for my current tank and I see how this stuff works. I will be using it on my next tank build whenever that may be. Its quite easy to work with and manipulate. The options and designs you could do are endless. Mine has been in the tank for just around 6 months without being covered with epoxy or anything else and is starting to cover in coralline algae nicely and has no sign of deterioration. Just be sure to use Pond Foam.

Why not just a ledge? I have rock on the top and bottom. I also made brackets to help support the top. It comes out to about 1/2 the width of my 75gal.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...psg0kuvasd.jpg

Otherwise give something like this a try

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...217633&page=61

Foam wall experience and feedback.
 

Tanks look very similar! I had mine up for almost 4 years. Loved it, loved the look I couldn't get with regular rock. I used pond foam, coated with epoxy and loaded with sand and bits of rock and coral.

2 issues I had with it. A punk emerald crab I couldn't catch was picking at it in a couple spots. 2nd was I don't think I did a good enough job sealing the wall so I was building up detritus behind the wall. Carefully plan and this is an easy remedy. Many admired the tank when they came over. Loved it and miss it!!!

Question for everyone on placement of coral on rock wall....

Has anyone had any issues with coral on a rock wall? Maybe something they wish they didn't put on there, something that spears easily, something that killed other coral, etc.

I was thinking of putting an acan echinata on the back rock wall but not sure if as it grows it will take everything out etc.


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Getting ready to finish up my foam rock wall project but wanted to clarify...

Will coralline algae grow on the sand (special grade) attached to foam with epoxy?

I know it will eventually grow on the foam itself if no sand is used, but as long as the sand adheres to the epoxy, will it also grow on special grade sized sand?

Easy question.
Yes.

Great thx!