Foam Rock center piece I made for a LFS's coldwater display tank

Thought I'd share some pictures of the rock I am making as the center piece for a coldwater display tank I will be supplying the livestock for at a LFS here in Oregon.

The entire structure once completed will be spray foamed onto the bottom of the tank. It should stick out of the top of the tank just enough for me to plant some native salt tolerating plant species, or have standing pools of tigroprius californicus growing out.

Nice looking rock stew. One of these days I might have you help me make some rock for an idea I have.

I was curious about this actually. You have given it amazing texture from the looks of it which is the major downfall I find to making your own rock. Is that rock salt you are using? Is it mixed with anything or any major diversity in the mix? I wouldn't mind making my own one piece structure for a tank if I could get the texture right.

that is huge! well done!

finch6013 wrote:Nice looking rock stew. One of these days I might have you help me make some rock for an idea I have.

Anytime I'm actually going to be down at Salt Water Fantseas this sunday puting the finishing touches on their coldwater display tank, swing on by if you have time.

Bluntokian wrote:I was curious about this actually. You have given it amazing texture from the looks of it which is the major downfall I find to making your own rock. Is that rock salt you are using? Is it mixed with anything or any major diversity in the mix? I wouldn't mind making my own one piece structure for a tank if I could get the texture right.

Food grade extra coarse Mortons Rock Salt. Nothing special, cost me $7 for a 50lb bag, most of it falls off or gets brushed off and the rest gets sprayed off with the hose.

J-P wrote:that is huge! well done!

Thanks It is pretty massive. Biggest one I've attempted thus far.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not a customer, or friend of Patrick.

finch6013 wrote:Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not a customer, or friend of Patrick.

No worries

If you buy a couple cans of the Touch N Foam Landscape foam from Bi -Mart we can do some work anytime here at my house just let me know when it works for you

I got it all painted the other night, and this morning me and my buddy Josh got the background of the tank painted, put the rock in, got some sand in, and got water in.

That's pretty cool. Do you have newer pictures?

Yeah its coming along really nicely, I'm pretty stoked how it turned out.

Here's a recent picture of one of the green pen point gunnels and some of the green anemones in the tank.


And here's some ok pictures I took with my phone last time I was down there.
Catalina Goby (I think there is at least 10 in there now)


Catalina Goby and 3 Spine Stickleback


3 Spine Stickleback (There is a school of 3 I think in there currently)


Green Anemones (Anthopleura Xanthogrammica)


Green Anemones (Anthopleura Xanthogrammica)


Moonglow Anemone (Anthopleura Artemisia)


Moonglow Anemone (Anthopleura Artemisia)

Hi,

That looks excellent.

What did you use for painting it?

Used an epoxy based paint for garage floor coatings.

Do you have any pictures of the structure before applying the foam?

hugocosta wrote:Do you have any pictures of the structure before applying the foam?

Sure do

Nice work ...And thanks for sharing..

Been following your Updates on Facebook with keen interest..

I just finished up a nano tank for a local guy that is going to do coldwater. He's got a pretty sweet ledge and cliff look going on so that is cornyactis are shaded a bit, and all his tidal anemones rest on the top of the ledge so they get most of the light. Its pretty sweet

Here's some quick pics

Neat.

Nice work