jakemyster44
Member
- Messages
- 588
- Location
- Perrysburg, Ohio
I will explain how I make my rockwalls in this post. I have had several people asking me about them, and figured I would show it to everyone.
I have come to the conclusion that perminent walls can be made more nattural looking than removeable walls, so these are the directions for a permemnent wall.
Supplies:
Board of foam- 10$ (PLENTY)
Great Stuff- 4$ (3 cans is good for a 20g tall)
grout- 12$ (dry mix- sanded- 25lb)
Sealer- 7$ (a little goes a long way)
Foam Brushes- ? (optional)
Rubber gloves- ? (optional)
Mixing container- ? (old bucket)
Time
Steps:
I have not done this but I will in the future. Take non toxic BLACK silicone, and cover the inside glass of the sides where you plan to put the wall. This hides the ugly foam when looking from the outside, spread it out in a thin layer.
I like to cut peices of foam board to fit inside the tank up agains the walls I am doing, either 2 or 3 sides.
If you want plant boxes, I suggest cutting 6" plastic pots in half verticaly, and hot gluing them when you want them on the foam board.
Use the great stuff to cover the plastic pots, and create ledges and mounds on the wall. I lik to cover the entire foam board and not leave any flat surface showing. Let dry/expand.
Take a sharp knife and trim off the "brainy" parts of the foam. You can leave the smaller bumps, beaacuse the grout will cover them.
Make any final touches with great stuff.
Coat everything several times with a milkshake consistency grout mixture. You want the finished prodict to have a thick layer (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick)
Wait for it to dry.
Optional* Paint to desired shade with permanent paint.
Let dry.
Seal everything, I like to use multipul layers, espeicially in tanks that will have more humidity, and if paint was used.
Wait for the smell to go away, and everything to dry. This could take a week at most.
Add your substrate/plants/animal
Here are some pictures of my walls. First are pictures of my latest wall. Lat are pictures of a removable wall I made for my leopard geckos, that is no longer in use.
Questions & comments welcome!
I have come to the conclusion that perminent walls can be made more nattural looking than removeable walls, so these are the directions for a permemnent wall.
Supplies:
Board of foam- 10$ (PLENTY)
Great Stuff- 4$ (3 cans is good for a 20g tall)
grout- 12$ (dry mix- sanded- 25lb)
Sealer- 7$ (a little goes a long way)
Foam Brushes- ? (optional)
Rubber gloves- ? (optional)
Mixing container- ? (old bucket)
Time
Steps:
I have not done this but I will in the future. Take non toxic BLACK silicone, and cover the inside glass of the sides where you plan to put the wall. This hides the ugly foam when looking from the outside, spread it out in a thin layer.
I like to cut peices of foam board to fit inside the tank up agains the walls I am doing, either 2 or 3 sides.
If you want plant boxes, I suggest cutting 6" plastic pots in half verticaly, and hot gluing them when you want them on the foam board.
Use the great stuff to cover the plastic pots, and create ledges and mounds on the wall. I lik to cover the entire foam board and not leave any flat surface showing. Let dry/expand.
Take a sharp knife and trim off the "brainy" parts of the foam. You can leave the smaller bumps, beaacuse the grout will cover them.
Make any final touches with great stuff.
Coat everything several times with a milkshake consistency grout mixture. You want the finished prodict to have a thick layer (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick)
Wait for it to dry.
Optional* Paint to desired shade with permanent paint.
Let dry.
Seal everything, I like to use multipul layers, espeicially in tanks that will have more humidity, and if paint was used.
Wait for the smell to go away, and everything to dry. This could take a week at most.
Add your substrate/plants/animal
Here are some pictures of my walls. First are pictures of my latest wall. Lat are pictures of a removable wall I made for my leopard geckos, that is no longer in use.
Questions & comments welcome!
