240g Custom Rock Wall Reef

[cutterx23]

Here's my custom rock wall reef build, still in progress but really just a bit of laziness away from being filled with water. (Literally just need to mix 200g lol)... But here's my build as I went (posts are basically all in the past tense, all this has already happened, just taken from my local forum. So if it reads weird, that's why).








Finally got this beast inside and on the stand. Now to finish cleaning and then build the rock wall.



















Rock wall framing













Added a couple more over hangs, probably going to add a couple pillars in the middle of the tank to add more depth.

















Now to add the rocks and start foaming.

 

[cutterx23]

Foam wall framing with rocks now attached. 3 pieces. Next foaming and sand coat.




















Panel 1: 1 can of spray foam





2 cans of spray foam





Gonna need a few more cans than I thought.








12 pack of spray foam later

















Rock wall done

 

[cutterx23]

Filled in the seems for each piece, finished overflow box, added one rock pillar, would've been two but I broke the rod (rocks a little too heavy I think). Now to add a couple baffles to the sump, buy the rest of the black sand I need and then I'll be filling it, hopefully, will be water filled in a week or two.






















Ready for water

 

[KingOfPain86]

What kind of foam is that? And are are you worried about it leaching stuff into your system?

 

[Spinner]

Looking really nice What black sand are you using?

Keep up the good work!

 

[cutterx23]

No not worried about it leeching, it is made for ponds and aquariums, even has a little fishy on the can with the fish safe label. I've had one in what is now the frag tank for this system for over a year and never had any problems. It stays perfectly intact and doesn't degrade, atleast not over that short a period of time.

 

[Jonn]

Interesting! Do you have brand name or link to the foam used. Also does the foam come out the color or did you need to do something else to it to get it to look that way. Looks really great....

 

[cutterx23]

Touch 'n Foam Landscape, black can, make sure to find the one that is meant for ponds and has a little fish safe logo on the back. Usually around $12 per can at specialty hardware stores. It comes out black so all I do to add that color is add sand to it. I really love these things, they are so convenient in the frag driven times we live. Not really trying to offer a service but if anybody is really interested, I enjoy building these and would have no problem making them for people. Shipping probably wouldn't be super friendly, but it's better that it wouldn't have to be overnighted like coral.

 

[cutterx23]

Uh oh look who's wet!!!! But seriously, love the wave function on the RW powerheads. Just 2 RW-15's in there and I get that much wave action. Should be finished filling it by the end of the week, making water is slow.


http://vid586.photobucket.com/album...B-E74B-4B66-9B99-8488DB5D07FC_zps5uxpmurf.mp4

 

[Daniel@R2R]

This is SICK!! I have got to do this on my next build!

 

[Pagey]

So what black sand are you using? Is it fine? Any chance you could get a pic of a few grains on your hand maybe?

I am looking for some black sand that will allow wrasse to burrow. Thanks.

 

[BlakeyBoyR]

I'm keen to see what brand the sand is and how everything will look once full with wavemakers running.

 

[cutterx23]

Here is the same black sand in my frag tank.

 

[basile]

Foam solutions guys

Very nicely done man . If you get urchins they unfortunately eat some of it mine did. He lost his spines , not sure if he's dying from it or if its just a phase hope not. but they like to graze on it. Just so you know. But don't shy away from getting a tuxedo they're great algae eaters and help to keep a clean tank , they eat more species of algaes than any snails combine. one urchins per 60 G is enough or they starve.

Here's the foams ideas.

They're both UV resistant for your LED's and fish safe since they're made for fish ponds. waterproof( for fish ponds) You need to epoxy them and spray with sand to prevent urchins from eating the foam .

That was mine a few years back;

And this is mine now;

One fish i'd recommend, it look silly but you've got a lot of realestate there , for algae to grow; is a sailfin blenny. They graze a lot on the wall and help with the algae problems, their's also have a great personnality, not too colorful i admit but cool to watch and very friendly and no one bothers them, and they don't bother anybody. Good luck and again super job!!







​

 

[skinz78]

Looking great so far!

 

[cutterx23]

Thanks everybody!!!

Tank is full, RW's making good waves, got the live rock I've had seeding in my other tanks for a few years in the new tank now, going to steal a scoop of sand from my 5 year old reef. Need to get a couple plumbing supplies from Home Depot today to finish the return so I can have the system fully running.

 

[EricTMah]

Great job!

I actually did a partial reef wall in my 120. How did you fasten the panels in the tank? Silicone it to the back glass? I had to attach a bottom plate to mine and silicone it to the bottom of the tank to stop it from floating

 

[cutterx23]

I use the same glue they use to seal tanks. I also use a small base (or in this case the different structures coming off the wall) to glue onto the bottom of the tank. You do need copious amounts of glue either way, these things really really want to float away. I had one in my frag tank that I had reattached after taking it down and I didn't use enough glue so it just floated up, but I had already added the sand so I just said screw it and went without, atleast for now.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

What about using magnets to keep it in place?

 

[cutterx23]

What about using magnets to keep it in place?

I'd think they'd just float up sliding on the glass. But I'm not sure on that, never used magnets before, would have to be pretty strong and need to be embedded on the inside layer of the wall. Would be interest. Something I may have to try.