My questions are these:
Will chemicals leech into the water from the foam?
How does the foam say down, why doesn't it float?
Do you need to glue the back wall of the aquarium to the back of the foam wall?
When you use the epoxy to coat the foam, do you have to coat the rocks and everything else as well?
Where do you buy eggcrate like this, do they have it at Home Depot or Lowes?
I don't think chemical leaching is an issue, but I DO know that the foam tends to break down over time on a lot of these foam/rock tanks. I think the guy in the RC thread did just about all he could to alleviate those issues by ziptieing the rock to the egg crate so the whole thing doesn't collapse over time. The foam in that particular case doesn't float for a couple of reasons. 1) the amount of foam is pretty minimal, it's just filling in between the rocks and 2) the foam and rock are attached to the egg crate, and the egg crate is, I believe, siliconed to the tank walls to hold everything in place. You would not want to coat te LR with epoxy or it will cease to function as water will no longer be able to penetrate the rock. It's just on the foam to help prevent it breaking down. Lowes and Home Sepot both carry egg crate in the lighting section.
Where do you buy eggcrate like this, do they have it at Home Depot or Lowes?
I have purchased the product at both lowes and home depot. However, if you refer to it as "egg crate" you may be lead astray. I found it in the flourescent lighting section being sold as a protective grate for large rectangular shop-light fixtures.
Last edited by PessimisticOptimist; 07-27-2008 at 09:52 PM.
Reason: typo
I am actually in the process of doing one myself I will post some pics as soon as I get my computer working again. As for the foam foster and smith have some pond foam thats fish safe its a little pricey and for all I know it might just be the same thing as great stuff foam but black. Alot of the types of foam out there break down in a tank from the lighting, some of the foams say they are UV resistent but if you make the wall use a two part epoxy and some argonite on the foam parts it is supposed to help prevent breakdown. with all that said I am still going into this project with the expectation that it will need replacing or removing over time and probably will not be able to be a long term part of my tank.
Can you recommend an epoxy. Well you be spot using the epoxy or applying it more as a coating to all the foam? I do like the thought of it being black versus yellow.
I was thinking of applying a coruse grade of crushed coral to the foam while it ws still sticky. I have an old 5 lb bag that has gone unused sine the early 90s. Finally an opportunity to get rid of it! Er, um, I mean utilize it. I reasoned it would help make the wall look more continous along side the mounted pieces of LR and provide a more natrual surface on which Coraline algae may grow.
Or, should I apply some type of epoxy over all the foam surface then apply the curshed coral? Hence, my earlier Epoxy question.
Cheers, Keith
Last edited by PessimisticOptimist; 07-30-2008 at 06:48 PM.
Reason: typo
I am using a two part epoxy from home depot I can't remember who makes it I think its by west smith or something like that. I am using it on all the exposed foam and then cover it with agronite so you can't see the foam. I was thinking about doing the samething with the crushed coral but did not have any on hand, the foam is really sticky and messy but I don't know if the crushed coral would hold in without epoxy
I am a little confused about the epoxy. All the epoxy I have seen comes in a small apllicator (syringe). How do you apply it to all the foam? Dab on a gob of it and then spread with a brush?
oh yeah sorry put a little on a brush and paint it on then add the sand or whatever you are using but you have to be kinda fast they say 20 min epoxy but you have to move quick or the sand will not stick
I was all set to make my wall masking out the overflow wall. I had purchased a bunch of epoxy from Lowes/Home Depot. The epoxy is labled "Marine Epoxy" so I thought perfect.
Unfortunately, just as I am about to open the first package I read the small print on the back and the very last sentence states, "not for aquarium use"
What do you think of this? How can the item be Marine Epoxy but not appropriate for aquarium use. Could they be referring to using it as a bond for assembling an aquarium versus what is my intended use? Can anyone sugeest, by name, an alternative brand known to be "safe for aquarium use?"
I have seen this on many items before and all i can think of it that it will hold under a marine inviroment but may let off a chemical that is not safe for an aquarium.
I have seen this on many items before and all i can think of it that it will hold under a marine inviroment but may let off a chemical that is not safe for an aquarium.
92 -thanks for the reply. I echo your thoughts and concerns. The problem is I do not know what to use as an alternative to coat/cover the expanding foam I am using to mask the overflow wall?
Last edited by PessimisticOptimist; 08-12-2008 at 10:44 PM.
I have seen this on many items before and all i can think of it that it will hold under a marine inviroment but may let off a chemical that is not safe for an aquarium.
You are dead on the money 92. They are used on boats and anything else that is exposed to water and also the corrosive salt water that tends to break down other non specified adhesive agents and mediums. This product is fine if used only as an external adhesive for the marine hobbiest and does not come in contact with the water. There's probably just one chemical in there that causes it to be toxic. I'm thinking that Manny might know of an adhesive for this purpose.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
They are used on boats and anything else that is exposed to water and also the corrosive salt water that tends to break down other non specified adhesive agents and mediums. This product is fine if used only as an external adhesive for the marine hobbiest and does not come in contact with the water. There's probably just one chemical in there that causes it to be toxic. I'm thinking that Manny might know of an adhesive for this purpose.
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