10G Brackish Crab Tank: Build Log with Pics. - Page 8

Pufferfan · #71 (**permalink**) 02-20-2009, 12:11 AM

I started with inspiration from a pre molded "rock" from petsmarter after i applied pieces of it using greatstuff i artistically arranged my sculpture. After the GS was dry i spent a good amount of time carving out spots to look like rock.

The next step was to apply the silicone. I used a paper plate and a Popsicle stick to mix up about 7 different colors of grey using a tube of white,black,brown. (you can skip the brown i didn't use very much of it at all) Use your fingers (wear gloves if you would like) and dab the silicone one creating thousands of little peaks, the dryer the silicone gets the stiffer it gets and the more texture it creates. Have a separate little spot on the plate for plain white and plain black, use this on top of wet grey to make highlights and shadows, it really makes it pop.

I did several coats making it very deep, i even rubbed a thin layer of black on top in some places, wiping it off the top of the texture and leaving it in the cracks.

After that just make sure it dries well and i rinsed the tank out with hot water a few times. You are bound to get some silicone on the glass where you dont want it, a razor blade will help you get it off but if your having a tough time like i was, there is a silicone remover you can buy at home depot.

Hope this helps, thanks for looking guys

Jarett · #72 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 04:14 PM

Hello. I'm new to this and have spent the past several days researching all over the internet for a how I want to make my first vivarium/paludarium for Newts. I too really like your ideas, for the simplicity of it and the for how great it looks.

I do have a couple of questions though. You put your waterfall/filter instead all the "great stuff" and you put the egg crate on the bottom. My question is does the water penetrate through all the "rocks" you've created to get to the filter, or does it only get water from the space under the egg crate? If it penetrated does all the garbage (food, feces whatever) not get into the filter because the rocks block it all? I'm not sure I see how the waterfall filter is able to do its job. If you could please clarify that I'd really appreciate it.

As for putting moss in the tank, as I will be using freshwater, would it only grow on wood? Or will be okay on the silicone? I know that's a basic question and I still need to do more research, but thought i'd ask.

Thanks

Pufferfan · #73 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarett

I do have a couple of questions though. You put your waterfall/filter instead all the "great stuff" and you put the egg crate on the bottom. My question is does the water penetrate through all the "rocks" you've created to get to the filter, or does it only get water from the space under the egg crate? If it penetrated does all the garbage (food, feces whatever) not get into the filter because the rocks block it all? I'm not sure I see how the waterfall filter is able to do its job. If you could please clarify that I'd really appreciate it.

If you look at the bottom right of this picture you can see a whole in the GS that goes to the front of the filter, there is plenty of room in front of it and also the little "dam" keeps sand from being sucked up into it.

mitch890 · #74 (**permalink**) 12-03-2009, 09:49 AM

one way that ive created adequate air circulation to prevent mold it to use those tiny electric motors used for balsa wood airplanes..they are cheap about 2 dollars a piece.. they are about an inch long and pretty silent you can run them off of batteries or if you have any electric knowledge you can simply splice it into a circuit and water seal it by placing it into a film canister and using silicone around the top. make yourself a little fan blade for it and you have a fan that is efficient and easy to conceal if mounted right. if pointed at plants it look exactly like they are being blown by a slight breeze, and pointed at the water it will create ripples across the surface. very naturalistic. your set up looks great. and I was wondering if you put any sand over the silicone to give it texture or did you just texture the silicone?

Pufferfan · #75 (**permalink**) 02-26-2010, 05:34 PM

I sold the tank.

I was out in my garage working on my car looking for some tools when i stumbled upon a 5.5 gallon tank.

I think i might just do another build

idk what it would be for though.

froggsong · #76 (**permalink**) 02-27-2010, 05:55 AM

How much did you sell it for? Hopefully you got what it's worth. It an innovative piece of art, I say.

beckdg · #77 (**permalink**) 02-27-2010, 06:39 AM

looking forward to the next build.

Gold3nku5h · #78 (**permalink**) 03-02-2010, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch890

one way that ive created adequate air circulation to prevent mold it to use those tiny electric motors used for balsa wood airplanes..they are cheap about 2 dollars a piece.. they are about an inch long and pretty silent.

Could you link us to a website, that sounds like something that could really help my design become more compact and invisible....

and again, as far as your method here its one of the best for rocks i've seen, and will make for an amazing naturalistic design in my paladarium.

froggsong · #79 (**permalink**) 03-02-2010, 03:44 AM

Me thinks I'll have to pop into Hobby Lobby this week...

Pufferfan · #80 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 08:08 PM

Im thinking something along the lines of a water fall that fills up a pool that will house a single fishy or possibly nothing. Then that pool fill spill over into the second pool which will be at the bottom the aquarium that will feed the pump that goes back up to the top.

Thing about putting a fish in the top is if the pump ever fails then the top pool dries out. And idk if i want to risk that.