Encrusted Coral Skull Thread

[reefsaver]

I started imagining a crazy art piece of an aquascape like a castle that some guy who makes the CaribSea rock just put together with spare time and it got me to googling encrusted skulls so here are some cool photos and it would be cool for you to add more if you have some :)

 

[Llyod276]

Been working on this for 6months and gsp hates growing down. So slow going. Should have started at the bottom and worked it up.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

I saw this encrusting skulls post as well as a bunch of other cool google images of encrusted figurines and sculptures. Inspired me to give it a try.

Started with this small plastic skull from Amazon, and a 3/8 wide Montipora SPS chip.

Scuffed up the surface with sand paper to help Monti attach better and glued it to a piece of dry rock for a base.
Make sure to drill some holes for air to escape or it will float around like a bobber.

2 month growth progression.
3-9-22 4-8-22 5-17-22

 

[Jim Gomoll]

I saw this encrusting skulls post as well as a bunch of other cool google images of encrusted figurines and sculptures. Inspired me to give it a try.

Started with this small plastic skull from Amazon, and a 3/8 wide Porites chip.

Scuffed up the surface with sand paper to help coral attach better and glued it to a piece of dry rock for a base.
Make sure to drill some holes for air to escape or it will float around like a bobber.

2 month growth progression.
3-9-22 4-8-22 5-17-22

2 months later...

Small skull needed a Big Brother.
Picked up this Deco-Replicas skull and backfilled the eye sockets with epoxy putty. Made up eyes with red putty on cocktail sticks to add later after they grow out. Used same Neon Green Porites I’ve been growing out for this purpose, and WWC Mystic Sunset Montipora for the eyes.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Cool!

 

[reefsaver]

Dude that's so awesome Jim Gomoll! I love it!

 

[Kellie in CA]

This one is mine. It's actually nearly fully encrusted now. Took about 4 years - but it's pretty large, bigger than a baseball. I have a love/hate relationship with it. My husband grabbed it at RAP when I wasn't looking.

 

[tttttt4]

A small skull with a potato chip coral that I did a few years ago.

 

[jisherwood]

This one is mine. It's actually nearly fully encrusted now. Took about 4 years - but it's pretty large, bigger than a baseball. I have a love/hate relationship with it. My husband grabbed it at RAP when I wasn't looking.

Love your idea. Can you tell me what encrusting coral you are using please

 

[Kellie in CA]

Love your idea. Can you tell me what encrusting coral you are using please

Jack O Lantern Lepto

 

[therealjoeycarr]

This one is mine. It's actually nearly fully encrusted now. Took about 4 years - but it's pretty large, bigger than a baseball. I have a love/hate relationship with it. My husband grabbed it at RAP when I wasn't looking.

Im thinking about doing this with a this Toxic green lepto I just got and don’t really know exactly what to do with it. I love this idea though! I was think maybe one somewhere between a golf ball and a tennis ball for my 15 gal tank.


Here’s what what it looks like.
When you get the skull do you need to let it cycle in your sump for a little first?


Also, I maybe thinking about glueing something like this to the back wall of the tank and letting the lepto crust over and spread.

 

[Reefwild]

I started imagining a crazy art piece of an aquascape like a castle that some guy who makes the CaribSea rock just put together with spare time and it got me to googling encrusted skulls so here are some cool photos and it would be cool for you to add more if you have some :)

That last one is sick

 

[LegalReefer]

2 months later...

Small skull needed a Big Brother.
Picked up this Deco-Replicas skull and backfilled the eye sockets with epoxy putty. Made up eyes with red putty on cocktail sticks to add later after they grow out. Used same Neon Green Porites I’ve been growing out for this purpose, and WWC Mystic Sunset Montipora for the eyes.

How is this looking? Would love to see a full tank shot!

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Moved in August and lost both due to poor "moving" management. Will try again on new desk tops and 120g system I'm building.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Moved in August and lost both due to poor "moving" management. Will try again on new desk tops and 120g system I'm building.

Sorry about your loss!

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Thanks. It was a sad month seeing them die...
Regroup and start over.

 

[LegalReefer]

Moved in August and lost both due to poor "moving" management. Will try again on new desk tops and 120g system I'm building.

Sorry to hear, that’s really rough! Good luck with the new system, how far along are you?

 

[CrashTestBennie]

2 months later...

Small skull needed a Big Brother.
Picked up this Deco-Replicas skull and backfilled the eye sockets with epoxy putty. Made up eyes with red putty on cocktail sticks to add later after they grow out. Used same Neon Green Porites I’ve been growing out for this purpose, and WWC Mystic Sunset Montipora for the eyes.

Very creative and inspirational!

 

[InvoluntaryReefer]

I have a rainbow encrusting montipora that’s just about to the eyes right now. Took a bit to take off.

 

[CrashTestBennie]

I have a rainbow encrusting montipora that’s just about to the eyes right now. Took a bit to take off.

That's rad! Any updated pictures?