Topic: New Styrofoam Background Project

[Burntwave]

WOW!  That is really informative, SerVo!  Thank you!

[Burntwave]

Okay, I have one question.  Is it okay to use aluminum or tin in the aquarium?

[Paleo Fish]

I don't see why not Since it doesn't rust.

[Burntwave]

Really?  I don't know much about metals or anything, so thank you!  Is it going to affect the pH or anything else?

[Essabee]

Aluminum reacts with water at all temperatures forming aluminum hydroxide. The hydroxide and tin will react with the organic acids which will form in the tank water from breakdown of food and fish excreta. It is better to stick with non-metal materials which don't rot.

[Burntwave]

Okay, thanks!  I'll just use Styrofoam then.  What I was going to do was build a slide from my filter outtake and into the water because the idea I had earlier of carving it out of the background isn't possible.

Thanks guys!

[Essabee]

If you need something hard which you could mold also - use epoxy putty, they are safe in water once cured. You could attach epoxy putty to Styrofoam by using strings stitched in the Styrofoam and then incorporated into the putty. Epoxy putty is easy to use too. 

[servo]

Also spray foam... I can't get enough of this stuff.  Its hard to mold it into a definate shape the first time.  However it can be cut afterwards.  To retexture it, just spray on a little more foam and wipe it around. The foam turns into a liquid again... but after a few minutes it will foam back up slightly giving the overall texture the same as if you didn't cut it.

As E says though, epoxy putty is some amazing stuff.

[Burntwave]

I didn't know epoxy was easy to mold.  I wonder if my dad has some that I can borrow.

I'm pretty sure I will be using spray can foam because there is a space inbetween the styrofoam and the glass that wasn't cut strait that I need to fill up so fishies won't get stuck.

Thanks guys!  I'll post pics of how it looks in my tank later.

[Burntwave]

Here it is!  I'll bring out the rubbermaid tub and cure it.  Hopefully no mosquitos will mistake it as a nest for eggs and larvae.  If there are, I'll just scoop up some larvae and feed them to my fish after netting them out of the water that is curing my backgound.