Foam Wall Instructable - A Full How-to, Step-by-Step Guide

[Gbrum]

Tank is close to the end of the cycle. getting close to adding fish

 

[sam.basye]

Tank is close to the end of the cycle. getting close to adding fish

That looks great, Gbrum!

 

[ElHemi]

Looks good. Cant wait to see it full of corals

 

[BillFragnormous]

Feeling inspired My weekend project begins...

 

[sam.basye]

Feeling inspired My weekend project begins...

QUOTE]
Looking good Bill!

Where'd you find the black eggcrate???

 

[Gbrum]

Added a hydra 26 hd light this week. here is how the wall is looking so far. now just need to start adding corals.

 

[sam.basye]

Added a hydra 26 hd light this week. here is how the wall is looking so far. now just need to start adding corals.

Looks great, Gbrum!

What are your plans for the tank?

 

[Gbrum]

Looks great, Gbrum!

What are your plans for the tank?

As far as fish. Yesterday I took my 4 clowns out of 5 week quarantine and introduced them to the tank. I plan on getting 2 leopard wrasse, a dot dash wrasse. And a couple fairy wrasses. And probably a yellow tang.
As far as corals. A mixed reef. I like zoas a lot. But I also like lps and sps. Here is the fist coral I added. A frogspawn

 

[Husker]

Used pond foam for my display refugium/seagrass tank that is in progress.

Made the structure with legos and foamed over it.

 

[sam.basye]

Used pond foam for my display refugium/seagrass tank that is in progress.

Made the structure with legos and foamed over it.

Legos are a great idea! Just don't smell them when wet. Haha Legos get stanky after a swim.
Looking forward to seeing it progress!


How's your tank coming along Gbrum?

 

[Husker]

Legos are a great idea! Just don't smell them when wet. Haha Legos get stanky after a swim.
Looking forward to seeing it progress!


How's your tank coming along Gbrum?

Really? I wonder what smells... I wasn't sure how reef safe they would be, but I have seen reef tanks that used lego pirate ships or buildings in the aquascape, and they seemed fine. I have heard legos (brand name "Legos") are well-known for their quality plastics and non-toxic materials. I figure if they can let kids suck on them without fear of lawsuit, my coral can probably handle it.

In retrospect, I'm not sure I took full advantage of the legos. Pretty much everything I did could have been accomplished with just live rock or live rock rubble joined with the foam. Some people get really angry about that foam, but I kind of like it. I think it makes the structure look like a single structure with nooks and crannies instead of a pile of rocks. I would like to see more people with more skill than I using pond foam. I bet there could be some really interesting structures.

 

[sam.basye]

Really? I wonder what smells... I wasn't sure how reef safe they would be, but I have seen reef tanks that used lego pirate ships or buildings in the aquascape, and they seemed fine. I have heard legos (brand name "Legos") are well-known for their quality plastics and non-toxic materials. I figure if they can let kids suck on them without fear of lawsuit, my coral can probably handle it.

In retrospect, I'm not sure I took full advantage of the legos. Pretty much everything I did could have been accomplished with just live rock or live rock rubble joined with the foam. Some people get really angry about that foam, but I kind of like it. I think it makes the structure look like a single structure with nooks and crannies instead of a pile of rocks. I would like to see more people with more skill than I using pond foam. I bet there could be some really interesting structures.

I'm sure they'll be fine. Especially if you foamed all the way around them.
I just remember playing with a Lego boat and other various Lego parts and them smelling weird after pool or bathtub use..
I also remember trying to get some parts "unstuck" via my teeth. Haha
Never had to file any lawsuits for getting sick from licking or drooling on any!

Eventually when I upgrade I'm going to do something cool with the foam structure-wise.

When done right, a foam wall looks way better than a pile of rocks!

 

[Gbrum]

Legos are a great idea! Just don't smell them when wet. Haha Legos get stanky after a swim.
Looking forward to seeing it progress!


How's your tank coming along Gbrum?

My tank is doing well. Have not added a lot to it. What I have added I a few zoa. A pair of neon blue gobies.

 

[sam.basye]

My tank is doing well. Have not added a lot to it. What I have added I a few zoa. A pair of neon blue gobies.

Slow and steady wins less algae and issues! Things tend to get worse when they are rushed.

 

[OmahaReefs]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm building a foam wall in my tank now.

Watched your videos. Nice Modest Mouse in the background!

 

[sam.basye]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm building a foam wall in my tank now.

Watched your videos. Nice Modest Mouse in the background!

Post up some pics of the process making your wall!

Lol I think one of those videos got flagged for the music playing in the background and they muted the entire video. Haha


I actually retired my 26g bow front and now have a 30g cube with a foam wall. Still have the 2.5g going as well.

If you have any questions feel free to ask away.

 

[OmahaReefs]

Thanks for the reply!

The only thing I'm having trouble with is deciding which epoxy to use. I read that loctite isn't reef safe. Have you had any issues with it?

 

[sam.basye]

Loctite Ultra Gel Control is my go-to superglue for fragging and is definitely reef safe.

I used this contact cement I found at Lowe’s. Worked great and dried clear. And was only $8ish dollars for the big can I believe.

I’ll try to post a new build thread for the 30 cube and link it here this evening. I mostly detailed the build and posted it over on RC.

 

[sam.basye]

That was a lot of work.. lol

Here’s the new 30 cube build thread!

30 Cube Foam Rockwall Reef Tank
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/30-Cube-Foam-Rockwall-Reef-Tank.358416/

 

[sam.basye]

30 cube update pic: