DIY Rock Fixtures

[KyAsh]

I tried searching and couldn't really find the answers I needed.

We just bought a 200 gallon tank and want to make some fake rock fixtures to fit our needs. I like the 3d background stuff but I'm looking to custom build some tunnels and caves and other things of the sort. I figure we can make the fixture out of styrofoam and cut out space for PVC pipes and glue them together.

What styrofoam or styrofoam like material is safe for freshwater aquariums?

What glue is safe?

What paint or paint like substance is safe?

What is a material I can glue to the styrofoam to make it look like rock? Or how do the 3d background people do theirs?

Hopefully this isn't to many questions, thanks for the time!

 

[seedubs1]

Standard styrofoam extruded sheets that you find at home depot or lowes in the insulation section is fine (pink or blue 4 foot X 8 foot sheets).
Great Stuff is fine (its like spray on styrofoam in a can).
GE silicone 1 is fine for bonding most things together (the stuff WITHOUT the anti-mildew stuff in it. GE silicone 2 will poison your tank).
Dryloc (again, get the cheaper NON anti-mildew kind) mixed with Quick Crete concrete pigment is the best for coating the styrofoam stuff you build so that it has a rock like hard surface (you could still push your finger through it if you REALLY wanted to, but after a few coats, it's pretty resilient).

 

[KyAsh]

thanks! was beginning to think I had asked impossible questions

I'm going to give it a try and if it doesn't turn out the way I want I'm gonna get a huge drift wood center piece instead. Thanks for the info!