randy Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Started with a chunk of Styrofoam Carved out rocks with a knife and screwdriver, then sanded to make it a little smoother made room on the right for the HOB filter to fit ended up with this Then I realized needed a place for the heater. Cut off the left side and siliconed a second layer of rocks to cover the heater. Covered the whole thing in cement. (learning curve here on cement!! more to follow) I then covered it again with 2 part epoxy. Before the epoxy dried sprinkled the whole thing with very fine black aquarium substrate. (you can see where the heater will be) I then let it sit for 2 days to completely dry (here is where I found out I used the wrong cement!!!! as it all just turned to powder) so I pealed off the epoxy and gravel, pealed off quite easily. The cement I used was for plugging holes, you make it into a ball and shove it into the hole. After all the epoxy/cement/gravel was all cleaned off I applied the 2 part epoxy and black gravel again, skipped the cement part. Finally ended up with this Filled up tank with water.......more to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegrandpoohbah Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Looks really good. A question though: will there be enough water flow around the heater to circulate the heat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I think so. The heater is not completely enclosed lots of room for water to move about. If not that's were I will but an air stone to move the water around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catshanon Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 You might have to empty and fill the tank numerous times with water to make the pH stable..People do this when they use cement, so I am not sure if you will still need to do this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I will do a few full water changes as there was still some residual of the cement on the Styrofoam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy Posted March 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Here is a pict. of it full of water PH is currently at 9 will do a few water changes till it is at an acceptable level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soliver Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 Looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letsgofishn Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Wow great job Randy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83BULLDOG Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Wow great job Randy! Looks Good great job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally-o Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 That looks really great! Can I ask what it ended up costing and where you got the styrofoam sheet from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy Posted April 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Got the chunk of Styrofoam from a construction site of a new building going up across the street (I did ask before I pinched it). I had the black substrate small bag of it, the only expense was the 2 part epoxy and a tube of silicone total cost was under $20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firestorm Posted April 11, 2009 Report Share Posted April 11, 2009 Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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