My DIY Rock/Foam Reef

Kannin · 01/21/2008, 09:17 PM

220 gallon with external overflows... 72" L x 30" W x 24' H.

aries70 · 01/21/2008, 10:15 PM

very cool I like it, good job

DOTZ · 01/21/2008, 10:18 PM

WOW! Looks awsome. Care to elaborate more on the build?

Turbovinny · 01/21/2008, 10:26 PM

very nice!!!!!!!!!! any more close up of the center piece

corpus7 · 01/21/2008, 11:19 PM

how did you make the rock?

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 01:25 AM

I started by constructing a framework from eggcrate...

Then I zip tied 150 lbs of Marco Rock to it...

Then I filled in the gaps with Great Stuff insulating spray foam. (this actually tightend up the structure alot)...

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 01:28 AM

Then I used an epoxy finishing resin on the foam and covered it in sand and crushed coral...

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 01:36 AM

I learned this all from a thread by a guy in England named Tiggsy. I just know a good thing when I see it...

Hopefully, you can see the center piece a little better. It's got a 3 way pass thru for tangs + a gobie cave behind it. The structure has several other pass thru type caves and gobie type spots as well...

ShipOFools · 01/22/2008, 05:47 AM

i am thinking of doing this but am worried that the foam will leach into the tank. have you heard or read anything on this? also what epoxy resin? or are they all the same?

alpine · 01/22/2008, 10:25 AM

ShipOFools
The foam is inert when cured,so no problems with it leaching anything into the tank.

Kannin
Great work on the wall,I see Tiggsy has left his mark on the hobby with this combo he came up with.I am planning on doing the same to my nano in the near future.I have to say your setup looks way better then tiggsy's does,and you dont even have water in it yet.

Gonna have to keep an eye in this thread to see what the final outcome looks like once you have corals and fish in the tank.

rick12 · 01/22/2008, 10:31 AM

looks great! will the wall you constructed seed and become live over-time?

Vinnie71975 · 01/22/2008, 10:35 AM

Does Anyone know what kind of epoxy finishing resin to use when doing the Spray foam rock work? Will the stuff you buy for Fiber glass work(without using the fiberglass pads of course)? Cause the Fiber glass Epoxy resin with hardener is about all i can find where im from.

alpine · 01/22/2008, 10:42 AM

Rick12
Yes the rock will become live over time.

Vinnie I replied to your PM.

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alpine
ShipOFools
The foam is inert when cured,so no problems with it leaching anything into the tank.

Kannin
Great work on the wall,I see Tiggsy has left his mark on the hobby with this combo he came up with.I am planning on doing the same to my nano in the near future.I have to say your setup looks way better then tiggsy's does,and you dont even have water in it yet.

Gonna have to keep an eye in this thread to see what the final outcome looks like once you have corals and fish in the tank.

Thank you for the nice words. The tank of the month used the same stuff.

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vinnie71975
Does Anyone know what kind of epoxy finishing resin to use when doing the Spray foam rock work? Will the stuff you buy for Fiber glass work(without using the fiberglass pads of course)? Cause the Fiber glass Epoxy resin with hardener is about all i can find where im from.

The epoxy that I used was a two part finishing resin that I bought at a model train store. Tiggsy used a product called "Z-Poxy" fro Zap, (the original super glue company). I could only find it on line and I needed quicker so I used the other stuff.

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rick12
looks great! will the wall you constructed seed and become live over-time?

I have some very rich (in life) live rock and cheato in my other fuge that I will seed it with. I'll also use some coraline scrapings to speed up the process.

alpine · 01/22/2008, 11:50 AM

Hey Kannin
Just a little hint to help you with the spread of coraline algae.I always use a small fully coraline encrusted rock with a powerhead or one of my returns pointed at it to spread the coraline around.

Believe it or not it actually works.I was very skeptical about 6 years ago when a friend told me to try it.After a month,you could literally see that the coraline was spreading across the tank covering all the rocks and glass.

Tunjee · 01/22/2008, 12:03 PM

Very nice! How did you make the external overflow?

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks Alpine... for thew coraline tip.

Tunjee... I purchased the tank with the external overflows on it.

truthdesigns · 01/22/2008, 02:04 PM

WOW Nice job!!!

griffithimage · 01/22/2008, 02:41 PM

question- if the foam is inert after it has cured, why the epoxy? to hide the colour?

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 02:50 PM

I'v been told that the UV can have an effect on it... but, the main reason I used it was so that I could stick the sand to it.

griffithimage · 01/22/2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kannin
I'v been told that the UV can have an effect on it... but, the main reason I used it was so that I could stick the sand to it.

I've also seen people paint a very watery cement mix over the foam to even up the color

pescadero · 01/22/2008, 04:34 PM

Thank you for posting this!!! I have an empty tank on my hands and 100# of 4-6 inch Marco rock that has been cooking for a couple of weeks to get all of the junk out of it. I've been planning a build very similar to yours, and I really appreciate the opportunity to see how you did it.

I had been planning on making the rockwork look like a big "M", with the rock forming walls on both ends of the tank, going along the back, and coming to a peak in the center, with pass-though holes in the rockwork, just like you did.

Thanks for posting the very cool photos. Its nice to see how someone actually executed an idea that is very similar to the one I've had in my head!

Kannin · 01/22/2008, 04:49 PM

Let me know if you have any questions during the process.

01/21/2008, 09:17 PM	#1
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	My DIY Rock/Foam Reef 220 gallon with external overflows... 72" L x 30" W x 24' H. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/21/2008, 10:15 PM	#2
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	very cool I like it, good job __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

01/21/2008, 10:26 PM	#4
Turbovinny Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 617 Posts: 47	very nice!!!!!!!!!! any more close up of the center piece __________________ Vinny Current Tank Info: 110 SW - rest of my tanks are for Flowerhorns

01/22/2008, 01:25 AM	#6
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	I started by constructing a framework from eggcrate... Then I zip tied 150 lbs of Marco Rock to it... Then I filled in the gaps with Great Stuff insulating spray foam. (this actually tightend up the structure alot)... __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/22/2008, 01:28 AM	#7
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	Then I used an epoxy finishing resin on the foam and covered it in sand and crushed coral... __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/21/2008, 10:18 PM	#3
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	WOW! Looks awsome. Care to elaborate more on the build?

01/21/2008, 11:19 PM	#5
corpus7 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 7	how did you make the rock?

01/22/2008, 01:36 AM	#8
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	I learned this all from a thread by a guy in England named Tiggsy. I just know a good thing when I see it... Hopefully, you can see the center piece a little better. It's got a 3 way pass thru for tangs + a gobie cave behind it. The structure has several other pass thru type caves and gobie type spots as well... __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/22/2008, 05:47 AM	#9
ShipOFools Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NY Posts: 50	i am thinking of doing this but am worried that the foam will leach into the tank. have you heard or read anything on this? also what epoxy resin? or are they all the same? __________________ You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do. Jerry Garcia Current Tank Info: 55, Turbo Flotor, PFO lights 30 sump

01/22/2008, 10:25 AM	#10
alpine Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jacksonville,FL Posts: 1,156	ShipOFools The foam is inert when cured,so no problems with it leaching anything into the tank. Kannin Great work on the wall,I see Tiggsy has left his mark on the hobby with this combo he came up with.I am planning on doing the same to my nano in the near future.I have to say your setup looks way better then tiggsy's does,and you dont even have water in it yet. Gonna have to keep an eye in this thread to see what the final outcome looks like once you have corals and fish in the tank. __________________ Jorge We are the Reef Central....It is useless to resist. We will assimilate you into our collective. Resistance is futile.

01/22/2008, 10:31 AM	#11
rick12 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 770	looks great! will the wall you constructed seed and become live over-time?

01/22/2008, 10:35 AM	#12
Vinnie71975 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bryan Ohio Posts: 777	Does Anyone know what kind of epoxy finishing resin to use when doing the Spray foam rock work? Will the stuff you buy for Fiber glass work(without using the fiberglass pads of course)? Cause the Fiber glass Epoxy resin with hardener is about all i can find where im from. __________________ God will have Mercy Your SW tank WONT- Me Freedom Must occasionally be renewed with the blood of patriots-General Patton Current Tank Info: 55g reef to be(buying stuff now), 20g high Goldfish, 20g High FW Semi Aggressive, 35g hex Community tank, 10g SW Fowlr

01/22/2008, 10:42 AM	#13
alpine Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jacksonville,FL Posts: 1,156	Rick12 Yes the rock will become live over time. Vinnie I replied to your PM. __________________ Jorge We are the Reef Central....It is useless to resist. We will assimilate you into our collective. Resistance is futile.

01/22/2008, 11:50 AM	#17
alpine Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jacksonville,FL Posts: 1,156	Hey Kannin Just a little hint to help you with the spread of coraline algae.I always use a small fully coraline encrusted rock with a powerhead or one of my returns pointed at it to spread the coraline around. Believe it or not it actually works.I was very skeptical about 6 years ago when a friend told me to try it.After a month,you could literally see that the coraline was spreading across the tank covering all the rocks and glass. __________________ Jorge We are the Reef Central....It is useless to resist. We will assimilate you into our collective. Resistance is futile.

01/22/2008, 12:03 PM	#18
Tunjee Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Winchester VA Posts: 404	Very nice! How did you make the external overflow? __________________ "You gotta be smarter than the equipment you operate." Current Tank Info: 20gallon reef external glass overflow, diy light 175w 20k XM MH, 65w Actinic PC, 65w 10k PC, LED moonlight, OceansMotion, Velocity T-2 650gph, Euro-reef ES-52,RO/DI auto top off, pinpoint PH meter, diy acrylic sump, titanium pro II heater....

01/22/2008, 01:53 PM	#19
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	Thanks Alpine... for thew coraline tip. Tunjee... I purchased the tank with the external overflows on it. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/22/2008, 02:04 PM	#20
truthdesigns Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert,AZ Posts: 1,861 Blog Entries: 1	WOW Nice job!!! __________________ -Justin "Beauty is within an ocean behind glass" Current Tank Info: 18 gallon custom nano.

01/22/2008, 02:41 PM	#21
griffithimage Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Markham, Ontario, Canada Posts: 266	question- if the foam is inert after it has cured, why the epoxy? to hide the colour?

01/22/2008, 02:50 PM	#22
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	I'v been told that the UV can have an effect on it... but, the main reason I used it was so that I could stick the sand to it. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

01/22/2008, 04:34 PM	#24
pescadero Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,749	Thank you for posting this!!! I have an empty tank on my hands and 100# of 4-6 inch Marco rock that has been cooking for a couple of weeks to get all of the junk out of it. I've been planning a build very similar to yours, and I really appreciate the opportunity to see how you did it. I had been planning on making the rockwork look like a big "M", with the rock forming walls on both ends of the tank, going along the back, and coming to a peak in the center, with pass-though holes in the rockwork, just like you did. Thanks for posting the very cool photos. Its nice to see how someone actually executed an idea that is very similar to the one I've had in my head!

01/22/2008, 04:49 PM	#25
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	Let me know if you have any questions during the process. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.