we're picking up the new 250 next week, so i thought i'd go ahead and get started on my game plan.
the tank is going to be planted (probably sparsely at first until i can afford to add more)
the future inhabitants are described in my sig.
but here's the thing.
I wanted a big fallen log in the tank (hence the thread title)And, while actual logs out of the Tar River in NC are quite cheap, they're also on the back end of countless pig farms and there are signs up along the river that say "do not eat more than one serving of fish from the tar river in a given month"
so that made me feel like i shouldn't expose my babies to that. besides, i couldn't find anything big enough.
so i decided to make my own.
I went out and bought a big piece of styrofoam (2 inches by 4ft by 8ft) from the hardware store (cost $22)
and a tube of silicone.
then i started cutting.
about 2 months ago i got "the wonder cutter" styrofoam cutting hot wire. works great, keeps the mess to a minimum and makes nice smooth lines... but it takes ALL DAY LONG. each strip takes 10 minutes.
so i got impatient and switched to the butcher knife method.. which is VERY messy and uneven.. and even after the strips are cut, they still make messes. (picture included)
so then i went outside to do this, and i got an electric router thingy. (the spinny saw contraption) this worked great, but since i got 2 inch thick styrofoam, the stupid thing doesn't go all the way through.. so i end up having to use the knife anyway. I'm gonna try to find a larger blade for the router, cuz it definitely makes a smooth line and goes VERY quickly.
since the router didn't quite work, i decided to stop for the day. but i figured i'd go ahead and get the thread started and the few pictures i've already taken up.
the tank is going to be planted (probably sparsely at first until i can afford to add more)
the future inhabitants are described in my sig.
but here's the thing.
I wanted a big fallen log in the tank (hence the thread title)And, while actual logs out of the Tar River in NC are quite cheap, they're also on the back end of countless pig farms and there are signs up along the river that say "do not eat more than one serving of fish from the tar river in a given month"
so that made me feel like i shouldn't expose my babies to that. besides, i couldn't find anything big enough.
so i decided to make my own.
I went out and bought a big piece of styrofoam (2 inches by 4ft by 8ft) from the hardware store (cost $22)
and a tube of silicone.
then i started cutting.
about 2 months ago i got "the wonder cutter" styrofoam cutting hot wire. works great, keeps the mess to a minimum and makes nice smooth lines... but it takes ALL DAY LONG. each strip takes 10 minutes.
so i got impatient and switched to the butcher knife method.. which is VERY messy and uneven.. and even after the strips are cut, they still make messes. (picture included)
so then i went outside to do this, and i got an electric router thingy. (the spinny saw contraption) this worked great, but since i got 2 inch thick styrofoam, the stupid thing doesn't go all the way through.. so i end up having to use the knife anyway. I'm gonna try to find a larger blade for the router, cuz it definitely makes a smooth line and goes VERY quickly.
since the router didn't quite work, i decided to stop for the day. but i figured i'd go ahead and get the thread started and the few pictures i've already taken up.
