Creating rock ledges

[clm08k]

Has anybody made DIY aquarium-safe rock ledges? My Polys love resting on the magnafloats I have placed in a line. My 10in polli and 6.5 in albino love to perch up there. Any suggestions how to make a fun little resting platform/ledges that can go on or in acrylic?

thinking of something along the lines of magnaturals.....but I know these are mainly for reptiles and amphibians.

Amazon.com : Magnaturals 37099 Rock Ledge Extra Strength Magnets, Large, Earth : Pet Habitat Decor Terraces : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com : Magnaturals 37099 Rock Ledge Extra Strength Magnets, Large, Earth : Pet Habitat Decor Terraces : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

poly photo for tax:

 

[kno4te]

Used some ceramic logs, zip ties and suction cups. Attached to the glass and didn’t look too bad. My polys loved that when it was up.

 

[dr exum]

could probably get some aquatic turtle ramps that suction to the inside -

gl!

 

[twentyleagues]

Same way I make backgrounds. You could easily carve foam and paint and coat it. You could easily embed magnets to be able to easily move or remove it. Pond shield makes a clear epoxy you could coat it with which I've used before. Or if not super ambitious you could use premade plastic or ceramic fish tank decorations and using one of the jbweld two part epoxies attach magnets or suction cups. I recommend clearweld. I've seen your costuming skills you got this!

 

[Deadeye]

The reptile decor should work. I’ve used plenty of fish still in lizard cages and vice versa (cleaned of course).

 

[twentyleagues]

Also I have found most of my polypterids like to perch on something just below the surface and be able to dive down to the depths when scared or startled. I have marginal plants in the pond which are in baskets that hang off the side of the pond they sit just below the surface. The ropefish love sitting on the edges as do a few other polys. The sides of the pond also has ledges they rest on. I'm guessing it's a natural instinct for hunting bugs or baby fish that tend to stay near the surface.

 

[clm08k]

Same way I make backgrounds. You could easily carve foam and paint and coat it. You could easily embed magnets to be able to easily move or remove it. Pond shield makes a clear epoxy you could coat it with which I've used before. Or if not super ambitious you could use premade plastic or ceramic fish tank decorations and using one of the jbweld two part epoxies attach magnets or suction cups. I recommend clearweld. I've seen your costuming skills you got this!

Still waiting for that tutorial lol.
I think my problem is if I am making something from "scratch," I need to know exactly what I'm doing, or else it takes me FOREVER to get it going in the right direction (see 180-gallon tank setup that has been a year without fish in it). If I don't have the experience or skill set, I need step by step instructions, a material list, and pictures, or I can't figure it out. lol.

 

[clm08k]

Same way I make backgrounds. You could easily carve foam and paint and coat it. You could easily embed magnets to be able to easily move or remove it. Pond shield makes a clear epoxy you could coat it with which I've used before. Or if not super ambitious you could use premade plastic or ceramic fish tank decorations and using one of the jbweld two part epoxies attach magnets or suction cups. I recommend clearweld. I've seen your costuming skills you got this!

Thank you for the product recommendations. I found the JBweld epoxy clearweld if I do the "less" ambitious route! The pond shield seems expensive, but definitely worth it if I was building rocks, platforms, or a background.

For the carving foam: what type of foam and paint would I use? What do you use to carve the foam? Is this going to indirectly get me into carving foam props for costumes lol

 

[twentyleagues]

Thank you for the product recommendations. I found the JBweld epoxy clearweld if I do the "less" ambitious route! The pond shield seems expensive, but definitely worth it if I was building rocks, platforms, or a background.

For the carving foam: what type of foam and paint would I use? What do you use to carve the foam? Is this going to indirectly get me into carving foam props for costumes lol

Possibly!
I use a few different tools hobby knife, steak knife, various files, foam cutters are great (joann fabrics, hobby lobby and michaels carry these). I have used various thicknesses of housing foam insulation sold in sheets at home depot. I've painted back grounds with acrylic paints under the clear pond shield and krylon over the black pond shield. You can also paint the foam with drylock basement paint tinted with concrete tint. The drylock once dry is said to be safe( I have not tested this myself). The krylon will flake off over time on the out side of the pond shield. Krylon will hold better and longer if you lightly sand the pond shield before applying.

 

[clm08k]

Possibly!
I use a few different tools hobby knife, steak knife, various files, foam cutters are great (joann fabrics, hobby lobby and michaels carry these). I have used various thicknesses of housing foam insulation sold in sheets at home depot. I've painted back grounds with acrylic paints under the clear pond shield and krylon over the black pond shield. You can also paint the foam with drylock basement paint tinted with concrete tint. The drylock once dry is said to be safe( I have not tested this myself). The krylon will flake off over time on the out side of the pond shield. Krylon will hold better and longer if you lightly sand the pond shield before applying.

Thank you! I am definitely gonna look into this! and the gate valves so I can get my fish into the tank this year.