polystyrene rock wall

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
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georgia
Im making a diy feau rock background for my 180g tonight (starting, anyway). I was wondering if the green polystyrene from lowes is aquarium safe. It hard to make out the color here, but it's light green.
CAM02944.jpg


I will post updates throughout the process :D

CAM02944.jpg
 

rodger

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 29, 2008
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Kansas City
As long as there are no mold inhibitors it is fine
 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
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Heres an overview of the project so far:

The goal is to create a professional looking rock wall for my 180gallon planted tank. I started by cutting a series of abstract pieces from the green Styrofoam pictured above. I then toyed around with the cutouts for a while. Turns out, the boxcutter I bought proved utterly useless. I did what any reasonable individual would do and gave it to a small child. Just kidding. I opened it first. The only reasonable thing to do after that was taken care of was to find the sharpest mother****ing steak knife in my kitchen. Before we go any further, let me just say:

1415376958904.jpg
There you have it, my friends. Yeah. **** steak knives... I dont even eat meat. Ever. I didnt buy this knife, either. The little bastard just materialized in my silverwear drawer. I think all silverware just materializes in these strange drawers until you get married and some creep gives you a big box of them. No idea how that works.


Anyway, here are a few pictures of last nights work. I will post another update soon.
Beginnings of the first/largest precipace:
CAM02946.jpg
And then...
CAM02949.jpg

Next a few smaller ledges:
CAM02947.jpg
CAM02948.jpg
A bit of filler:
CAM02956.jpg
CAM02957.jpg

And then we throw it all together:

CAM02950.jpg

Some modetate tweaking and basic addition:

CAM02961.jpg

As you can see, it still needs a lot of work. I didnt realize how long it would take to get the pieces cut out. Some portions are glued at this point, but I saved the bulk of the work for today and this week~~

CAM02946.jpg

CAM02949.jpg

CAM02947.jpg

CAM02948.jpg

CAM02956.jpg

CAM02957.jpg

CAM02950.jpg

CAM02961.jpg

1415376958904.jpg
 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
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georgia
Probably a better shot. CAM02964.jpg
1415378788406.jpg
Figure 1
notice the steak knife stuck in the wall in figure 1. It is said that whoever draws it from its plaster sheathe will be the king of nothing for virtually 30 thirty seconds.


CAM02964.jpg

1415378788406.jpg
 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
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georgia
The tank it will be going in. CAM02930.jpg
CAM02910.jpg

To go ahead and answer your question-- yes I feel like a jackass for deciding to add a rock wall after the tank is already set up. But you know what? Life is supposed to be hard. Says so in the prologue.

CAM02930.jpg

CAM02910.jpg
 

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
1,237
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georgia

the lion who ate the sun

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2014
1,237
50
51
35
georgia
Thanks meng. Im still working on it. Next ill add concrete with garnet, brown, and honey sand mixed in, then Im going to paint it.
 

deeda

Silver Tier VIP
MFK Member
Mar 26, 2008
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Nice job on the background so far, lots of detail!

What is the plan for installing it in a currently set up tank?
 
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