I want to make a minimalist scape for sps out of pvc for a red sea reefer 525 but having trouble finding an epoxy or something to coat it in. Kind of the way aquarocks looks. Do I need to buy a dozen sticks of reef epoxy or water weld? Or is there an easier method to covering the pvc with something I can texture? Anyone attempt this in some fashion before with ideas?
Pvc scape?
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NY_Caveman
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Check out what @Rakie did. Somewhat similar, but a bit more involved perhaps. These are just a couple of links from his build thread (since it is long), but there is more info between
Post 296 - structure
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-15#post-4578633
Post 310 - adhering rock
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-16#post-4601379
Post 318 - more rock
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-16#post-4642104
Post 408 - completed
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-21#post-4900756
Post 296 - structure
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-15#post-4578633
Post 310 - adhering rock
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-16#post-4601379
Post 318 - more rock
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-16#post-4642104
Post 408 - completed
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-garden-rakies-shallow-sps-cube.291517/page-21#post-4900756
It'll look much better as coraline / algae starts to cover the PVC. I'm patient, I don't expect it to look natural right away -- And if you have any exposed PVC you shouldn't either. Patience with this type of setup.
I'm also going to remove the rocks on the bottom and put some black PVC pipe down there covering the white legs. It'll blend in with the bottom, and i"ll grow low light corals on it to blend in. Sad to say it's in use, and exactly what I wanted, but STILL not 100% complete.
Here's a few pictures.. Frags aren't all placed yet so don't mind the racks too much
I'm also going to remove the rocks on the bottom and put some black PVC pipe down there covering the white legs. It'll blend in with the bottom, and i"ll grow low light corals on it to blend in. Sad to say it's in use, and exactly what I wanted, but STILL not 100% complete.
Here's a few pictures.. Frags aren't all placed yet so don't mind the racks too much
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ncaldwell
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I read that the black pond foam adheres well to pvc. Do you think it would be practical to build the pvc structure, spray a thin layer of pond foam to give the pvc a more rocky shape then cover it in several coats of mortar? I read Paul B's way of wrapping the pvc in cotton string then using mortar. I just can't find anything about if mortar can stick to the foam
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
Heres my anti rock scape. It will be replacing the egg crate.
Agreed. Very cool idea. You definitely need a thread in the DIY forum. I bet several reefers would be interested in this.
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ncaldwell
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It took me a long time but I finally settled on a method I liked and just put it in place this weekend. Now to let the coral grow out and follow it in for ever. Looking for 2 nice floating coral islands. Probably have to take trip to the bottle corals website now.
