Covering artificial decor with mortar?

[SRT80]

I posted this in the aquascape forum with no replies.

So I was messing with some artificial driftwood. I thought it would look cool and allow the fish to swim around and through. I've always just made a mound with the live rock. Could I take some emarco 400 mortar or some kind of sculpting clay and spread over this and use a sponge to give texture? Maybe some cement and aragonite sand mix like the diy rocks? Im talking cover the whole area with the gray mortar or somethibg so theres no brown to be seen. I could still have room to add some smaller pieces of live rock around the bottom area.

Would painting be an option? I thought this would be cool to go ahead and drill out some small holes that would fit frag plugs.

I don't know. I know it doesn't look that natural but I like it. Might just redo my FW tank with it.

Thanks.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Definitely cool looking pieces. I'm not sure mortar is necessary. #reefsquad

 

[mahindra.dev]

I used AquaForest cement. So i recommend that. Paint not so much.

See how you can give it the texture, drilling holes for frag plus should work great. What i dont know is how the drift wood may release any tanning or what it can into the water. Some carbon and floss should clear that up.

Great looking piece. Good luck

 

[mahindra.dev]

I take that last point back, artificial drift wood. Hmmm

 

[SRT80]

I take that last point back, artificial drift wood. Hmmm

Yeah, it's just plastic or whatever. Just thought it would be a good mold to use. I've seen on some site where they use pvc piping for shape then mold some kind of putty or something for the rock structure. I'll probably just stick with actual rock and just order some dry and emarco 400 and make a structure.

Thanks.

 

[SRT80]

Also, not sure if I was clear or not. I'm wanting something to complete cover the fake driftwood to where I can keep the shape but give it a more rock look.

Thanks.

 

[Dsnakes]

Cool idea. Would look similar to Tonga branch rock once covered in coralline.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Some e Marco 400 and crushed coral or dry sand.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I used black sanded grout as mortar to build my 3d background.

Just make sure you let it cure, not in your tank, for several months before you add any livestock.

It's my second time using this method. My first try was a 40 breeder that is ~3 years old.

All that is to say, I'm sure you can cover your decoration with a cement product of some kind, mortar, grout, etc and it will work. Just make sure you let it soak to leach out everything that it's going to leach.

 

[SRT80]

I used black sanded grout as mortar to build my 3d background.

Just make sure you let it cure, not in your tank, for several months before you add any livestock.

It's my second time using this method. My first try was a 40 breeder that is ~3 years old.

All that is to say, I'm sure you can cover your decoration with a cement product of some kind, mortar, grout, etc and it will work. Just make sure you let it soak to leach out everything that it's going to leach.

Looks awesome. Can't wait to give it a try.

Thanks.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I'd love to see what that looks like when its done.

 

[SRT80]

I think I'm going to try the E Marco 400 and sand. Should I do regular colored sand or black?

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

That's up to you. I'm sure either one would work. The only thing about using black, is any white coral or sand etc really sticks out against a black rock/cement/background. I still really like mine, I've never seen anyone else use black lava rocks and black grout to build a reef and and corals really pop with actinic/uv lights against the black background. A photo doesn't just any justice to my tank under uv lighting.

 

[Stigigemla]

I will not use any chromate reduced portland cement in a tank. The chromate reducing is made by mixing iron in the powder and iron is a much searched mineral in salt water, so if some algae or bacteria is able to use the iron they will free poisonous chromate.
There are some white cements that is not chromate reduced that I use instead. And I dont use silica based sand either. I use fine grain coral sand in order to reduce the brown algae period in the start of the tanks.

 

[headdr]

I used oyster shells from farm store. People feed it to egg laying chickens. Rinsed it good and mixed with white portland cement. Covered some PVC pipes, cinder blocks and made some rocks. Have been very happy with the results.

 

[Stigigemla]

I did the same. It took me 18 months to take out the phosphate from the crushed shells.

 

[PhreeByrd]

I did the same. It took me 18 months to take out the phosphate from the crushed shells.

Similar story here, but I don't think I ever got all of the phosphate out. Never again. DIY rock sounded like a good idea at the time I did it, but it was definitely not.

 

[SRT80]

I'm going to experiment with the e Marco 400 and aragonite sand.

Thanks.

 

[SRT80]

I tried a section and didn't really like how it looked. Luckily it was the bottom I started with so I was able to chisel it off and scrub the driftwood. I'll use it in my FW tank.

I ordered some dry base rock and I'll use the e Marco 400 to try and make something cool.

Thanks again.

 

[headdr]

Got zoa's growing on my PVC covered with my home made rock.