75g Paludarium build log (56k)

[vespers_]

Originally Posted by 2in10

Epoxy the foam to seal it. You can add sand on the epoxy while it is drying to give it a more natural look.

only thing is that epoxy has a tendency to melt foam. i haven't tested it with expanding foam, but it cuts right through the rigid sheets of blue and pink foam. i think sharkfood is testing to see how it goes.

silicone seems to be the most commonly used method of sealing it. i looked into drylok and cement, but decided against it it ( drylok because of price and cement because of weight and cracking).

if it fails, i can always pull it out and replace it with acrylic sheets that i have handy.

[duff]

Black Aquarium Sealant - if you want to go that route....
http://www.amazon.com/GordonGlass-Bl...6647231&sr=8-1

[vespers_]

hmm i'm tempted, only thing is cost... i get my clear tubes of GE1 for 4$... and i'll be using about 4 of them... if i get that it'll be about 52$ (assuming it is 5.75$ to canada)... and then the wait for it to get here...

i'll keep it in mind though. i may end up just getting them and being done with it. thanks!

[duff]

Oops - crud - how did I miss the Canada part... sorry about that! Where are you at in Canada? What was the drylock cost? Down here its about $25 a gallon.

[vespers_]

Originally Posted by duff

Oops - crud - how did I miss the Canada part... sorry about that! Where are you at in Canada? What was the drylock cost? Down here its about $25 a gallon.

i'm in quebec, which has funny laws about stuff... and i think drylok is 36$ a gallon at canadian tire. home depot and rona don't seem to sell it. would a gallon be enough to give the tank multiple coats?

i am coming down to the states for the day this weekend, so i might be able to pick some up when i come.

[vespers_]

so this morning i covered the wood in painter's tape and i have now painted the foam black with krylon h2o. krylon fusion is used in lots of aquariums, but it can't really be used on foam because the acetone propellant melts it.

[Sharkfood]

I did some poking around online, and apparently only cheap polyester epoxies melt foam. Resin epoxy is supposed to be fine. I actually found several applications in marine use where foam is covered with epoxy resin.

It seems to me that epoxy is 10X easier to work with than silicone. Then again, silicone is probably 10X cheaper.

[vespers_]

Originally Posted by Sharkfood

I did some poking around online, and apparently only cheap polyester epoxies melt foam. Resin epoxy is supposed to be fine. I actually found several applications in marine use where foam is covered with epoxy resin.

It seems to me that epoxy is 10X easier to work with than silicone. Then again, silicone is probably 10X cheaper.

good to know. i'm not really feeling spending a ton of money on this... have school to pay for and my future motorcycle

i did a bit of work today. was a little shocked to see how orange the new can of GS is... it's really bad lol, hope the spray paint covers it all.




peeled off the tape, it isn't really dark or completely covered, but it will suffice. i hope never to see it anyway.



rough foaming of the piece that will become a stream from the pools down to the main water area.



the actual pools. yes, those are 10 cent food containers from the dollar store painted black. once they get foamed in an filled with water and sand, i think they'd look pretty good.



and some wood foamed into place in front of the place where the pools will be placed.

[duff]

I just love seeing DYI stuff! You're making good progress but boy o'boy that is orange isn't it! It's amazing to see a collection of stuff come together and it does look good!

[driftwoodhunter]

That is a perfect piece of driftwood to accent the cascading pools, leading the eye downward. I am really enjoying following this thread!

[vespers_]

Originally Posted by duff

I just love seeing DYI stuff! You're making good progress but boy o'boy that is orange isn't it! It's amazing to see a collection of stuff come together and it does look good!

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

That is a perfect piece of driftwood to accent the cascading pools, leading the eye downward. I am really enjoying following this thread!

thanks guys! i'm really enjoying making this. it's pretty much the first DIY i've done, and i have to say it is fun



i'm thinking i'll try to coat the area around the pools with riccia to fill in the space and have ferns hanging over top of them.

[Sharkfood]

I'm anxious to see water flowing down the cascade.

[vespers_]

bad news... i painted the pools outside and left them to dry outside, got distracted and then realized it was raining...

they got soaked. the paint was dry before the rain started which is good. it doesn't appear to be coming off, but i'm not sure what to do... should i just leave it to dry off inside or try and wipe it dry with paper towel/hair dryer?

[duff]

I'd just let it dry and check it in a few hours to see how its doing. it looking good! Cant wait to see the tape come off

[vespers_]

Originally Posted by duff

I'd just let it dry and check it in a few hours to see how its doing. it looking good! Cant wait to see the tape come off

it seems to be drying up pretty well, especially the painted parts and it isn't smearing so fingers crossed



not sure why it keeps rotating like that...

still some hard to reach/near the wood places that are orange, but i'll just touch them up with a brush afterwards.