Aquascape with pond foam and magnets

[ApoIsland]

Wanted to share an example of a scape for a 90g 48x18 using pond foam.

I have used a few different methods to glue rocks together in the past with various types of concrete. Tried pond foam a few years ago and never looked back. Doesn’t look the best dry but 6 months later when the tank is covered with growth you can’t tell at all. Used pvc primer to color a couple rocks purple as I was curious how it will look in the tank at first and also after a few months.

the 8x floating reef shelves were done with magnets and e6000 rubber cement.

 

[WV Reefer]

Wanted to share an example of a scape for a 90g 48x18 using pond foam.

I have used a few different methods to glue rocks together in the past with various types of concrete. Tried pond foam a few years ago and never looked back. Doesn’t look the best dry but 6 months later when the tank is covered with growth you can’t tell at all. Used pvc primer to color a couple rocks purple as I was curious how it will look in the tank at first and also after a few months.

the 8x floating reef shelves were done with magnets and e6000 rubber cement.

I thought I was cool for having magnetic islands but this is next level! Can we see some pics of it wet?

 

[ApoIsland]

I thought I was cool for having magnetic islands but this is next level! Can we see some pics of it wet?

Absolutely. Made it for a local guy who is still looking for a good deal on a used 75 or 90. As soon as he gets it going I'll post pics. Trying to get him to sign up here himself and do a build thread...

 

[biecacka]

so you used the pond foam instead of epoxy? Did it make any of your structures buoyant? I used it in the past to creat a “foam wall” attached to the back wall of my tank. I think it would be way easier and quicker to use this instead of epoxy to build overhangs and larger rock structures. As long as you don’t use so much that it floats....haha
corey

 

[ApoIsland]

so you used the pond foam instead of epoxy? Did it make any of your structures buoyant? I used it in the past to creat a “foam wall” attached to the back wall of my tank. I think it would be way easier and quicker to use this instead of epoxy to build overhangs and larger rock structures. As long as you don’t use so much that it floats....haha
corey

yes, only pond foam no concrete or epoxy. It’s so much faster and easier. I have a few foam glued structures in my display that are close to 5 years old and are just as strong as the day they were made. The structures may look small but they are fairly large and heavy. The structures are definitely lighter than the concrete made structures but the ratio of rock to foam would never allow them to float. Much easier to pull those foam structures out of the tank than the concrete ones that nearly destroy my back every time.

Also, to prevent the foam from expanding too much around the rocks I also poke it with toothpicks after a few min and tamp it down with the end of a pen which adds texture and makes it look a little more natural. Which also makes the foam a little more dense and possibly stronger.

 

[biecacka]

This is what I am thinking of doing when I move. Just to build some structure that are more stable than stacking and easier than mortar.
thank you

corey

 

[ApoIsland]

This is what I am thinking of doing when I move. Just to build some structure that are more stable than stacking and easier than mortar.
thank you

corey

It makes life so much easier if you ever have to move the tank. That’s originally what inspired me to do it. Between me changing my mind about the location of the tank in the house, or moving every 2-3 years, or just taking some rocks out to catch a problem fish, I got so tired of spending hours trying to rebuild rock structures. Now it takes almost zero effort to put em back exactly how they were before.