Foam for the backdrop of the tank, WOW!!!

mateo lopez · 03/12/2007, 11:02 PM

I found this thread on the large tank threads and this idea seems to good to be true. I would be worried that the foam could cause problems with the fish and corals, but the look it provides is amazing. What do you think??? Scroll down to get some pics of the finished look.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=5
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...Np=1&N=0&Nty=1

You could also place rock into the foam while it is drying to give it a 100% natural look, and it also seems that it could really help with the dreaded rock slide.

dextermoped · 03/12/2007, 11:57 PM

I think it looks awesome. It worked great in my tank, but then again its a terrarium for my crested geckos. But it doesn't seem to melt or get messed up when it gets soaked twice a day.
Benny

murfman · 03/13/2007, 07:57 AM

I want to use epoxy and impregnate sand into it for the bottom on my 2.5 gallon pico tank. The reason behind this is I don't want sand to be picked up while cleaning the acrylic and scratching it. Any other ideas on what to use for the bottom to glue the sand into?

messy1messmer · 03/13/2007, 08:55 AM

bill and i forget his sign on name did the stuff and loves it. i hope he reads this.

scaast · 03/13/2007, 08:57 AM

I was thinking of foaming the back to "glue" live rock.

emoutz · 03/13/2007, 11:11 AM

Anyone concerned that the foam will degrade under high intensity light and constant exposure to saltwater/water flow - thereby releasing various toxins into the water?

Deuce67 · 03/13/2007, 12:05 PM

After it cures, the foam becomes inert. I plan to do this on my new 150 too but I will put a couple of coats of marine epoxy,

murfman · 03/13/2007, 12:06 PM

where are you getting your expoxy, Russ?

Deuce67 · 03/13/2007, 12:09 PM

aquaticeco

mateo lopez · 03/13/2007, 05:00 PM

What my main concern with the foam would be toxins being released into the tank. I would think that this would be very popular thing to use because of the look and the ability to work your existing rock into it, so never hearing of this up to now kinda scares me.

mateo lopez · 03/13/2007, 05:01 PM

I have a 175 RR that I am tearing down to re do and I'm thinking that I want to try this.

messy1messmer · 03/13/2007, 05:05 PM

after looking on RC at alot of west coast tanks, it seems common out there or i should say i have seen alot of it.

Deuce67 · 03/13/2007, 05:05 PM

There should be no toxins once its cured. Theres a whole thread on it on the DIY forum.

mateo lopez · 03/13/2007, 05:10 PM

Here is the best pic that I could find on that thread.

http://www.systemsu.com/reeftank/backdrop.jpg

Questin · 03/13/2007, 10:18 PM

Foam is a nice idea, I would love to see the longer term look of some. One of the guys posting in that tread (invincible569) is doing a very cool tank with a backdrop I really loved, he used vinyl and put it on like tint.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1033086

I hope that foam stuff works out good for the fish tank, and I am sure it will. Vivariums have been using foam for a while now. They mostly use a product called Great Stuff.

garretsoccer2 · 03/14/2007, 11:31 PM

Has anyone locally tried foaming their tank? If so i would be interested in coming to visit

03/12/2007, 11:02 PM	#1
mateo lopez Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northglenn, CO Posts: 185	Foam for the backdrop of the tank, WOW!!! I found this thread on the large tank threads and this idea seems to good to be true. I would be worried that the foam could cause problems with the fish and corals, but the look it provides is amazing. What do you think??? Scroll down to get some pics of the finished look. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=5 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...Np=1&N=0&Nty=1 You could also place rock into the foam while it is drying to give it a 100% natural look, and it also seems that it could really help with the dreaded rock slide. __________________ YEAH BOY!!! Current Tank Info: 175 Show tank/72 Bow frag tank

03/13/2007, 08:55 AM	#4
messy1messmer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: fort collins co Posts: 1,252	bill and i forget his sign on name did the stuff and loves it. i hope he reads this. __________________ Save the world and the reefs Steve Messmer Current Tank Info: 120g sps,lps,zoas, tek T5 8x54, Mrc3, 5 tunze nano streams.

03/13/2007, 05:00 PM	#10
mateo lopez Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northglenn, CO Posts: 185	What my main concern with the foam would be toxins being released into the tank. I would think that this would be very popular thing to use because of the look and the ability to work your existing rock into it, so never hearing of this up to now kinda scares me. __________________ YEAH BOY!!! Current Tank Info: 175 Show tank/72 Bow frag tank

03/13/2007, 05:01 PM	#11
mateo lopez Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northglenn, CO Posts: 185	I have a 175 RR that I am tearing down to re do and I'm thinking that I want to try this. __________________ YEAH BOY!!! Current Tank Info: 175 Show tank/72 Bow frag tank

03/13/2007, 05:05 PM	#12
messy1messmer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: fort collins co Posts: 1,252	after looking on RC at alot of west coast tanks, it seems common out there or i should say i have seen alot of it. __________________ Save the world and the reefs Steve Messmer Current Tank Info: 120g sps,lps,zoas, tek T5 8x54, Mrc3, 5 tunze nano streams.

03/12/2007, 11:57 PM	#2
dextermoped Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FoCo, CO Posts: 154	I think it looks awesome. It worked great in my tank, but then again its a terrarium for my crested geckos. But it doesn't seem to melt or get messed up when it gets soaked twice a day. Benny

03/13/2007, 07:57 AM	#3
murfman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,670	I want to use epoxy and impregnate sand into it for the bottom on my 2.5 gallon pico tank. The reason behind this is I don't want sand to be picked up while cleaning the acrylic and scratching it. Any other ideas on what to use for the bottom to glue the sand into?

03/13/2007, 08:57 AM	#5
scaast Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Aurora Posts: 845	I was thinking of foaming the back to "glue" live rock.

03/13/2007, 11:11 AM	#6
emoutz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Posts: 399	Anyone concerned that the foam will degrade under high intensity light and constant exposure to saltwater/water flow - thereby releasing various toxins into the water?

03/13/2007, 12:05 PM	#7
Deuce67 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: CO Posts: 3,750	After it cures, the foam becomes inert. I plan to do this on my new 150 too but I will put a couple of coats of marine epoxy,

03/13/2007, 12:06 PM	#8
murfman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,670	where are you getting your expoxy, Russ?

03/13/2007, 12:09 PM	#9
Deuce67 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: CO Posts: 3,750	aquaticeco

03/13/2007, 05:10 PM	#14
mateo lopez Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northglenn, CO Posts: 185	Here is the best pic that I could find on that thread. http://www.systemsu.com/reeftank/backdrop.jpg __________________ YEAH BOY!!! Current Tank Info: 175 Show tank/72 Bow frag tank

03/13/2007, 10:18 PM	#15
Questin Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 784	Foam is a nice idea, I would love to see the longer term look of some. One of the guys posting in that tread (invincible569) is doing a very cool tank with a backdrop I really loved, he used vinyl and put it on like tint. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1033086 I hope that foam stuff works out good for the fish tank, and I am sure it will. Vivariums have been using foam for a while now. They mostly use a product called Great Stuff.

03/14/2007, 11:31 PM	#16
garretsoccer2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Fort Collins Posts: 137	Has anyone locally tried foaming their tank? If so i would be interested in coming to visit