Have you used sculpey or another pvc clay?

[user_name]

I'm not sure for others, but expanding foam can be tricky to get it exactly the way you want. Plus, they don't sell fish safe great stuff in my area.....

 

[user_name]

I wanna see some pics!

 

[mellowvision]

the advantage is that it's 10 times faster and is a solid material that is controllable. great stuff requires so much additional work form it, coat it, cure the coating etc. with the clay, I sculpt it, bake it, and glue it in place.

 

[mellowvision]

well, it sure bakes up nice. I can see this being useful if the critters like it.

 

[mellowvision]

so here's a quick shot of the baked sculpee III wall. This I made by rolling out sheets of brown and black mixed clay, and pinching the sheets into shape. I left it out over night to firm up near the AC, and then used my fingers to smooth it all out this morning. Then, in the oven at 275º for 45 minutes, and another half hour or so to cool, and it's very firm but still flexible, like an action figure or something. The surface is almost as porous as terra cotta, but is more smooth.

Behind the wall I have a little false bottom, to house the filter and support whatever rock becomes the water return area. the rest will be trimmed off and then it will be filled with gravel and planted.

 

[user_name]

very nice as usual! What size tank is that?

 

[mellowvision]

thanks! it's a 12" square vase. about 5" tall.

this is going to be a grove stand planter for my Ming Aralias.

 

[dudley]

I love the way that looks!! Is the clay very easy to get in that shape or did you have difficulty?

 

[mellowvision]

it was kind of a challenge at first, but once you use it a few times, I think you'd develop a method.

here's a few more pics, just finished gluing.

 

[msjinkzd]

looks super cool. can't wait to see where this goes.