Rock wall construction vs. gravel and time

LOL! Playing with epoxy putty is an allowable reversion to childhood play, and perhaps a valid release in it itself. It is a tad more expensive than modeling clay however...

At least I am consistent - that is comforting I suppose. ;)
 
I've been thinking of doing something like like this in my new tank. Glad to ahve found this thread.
Can you make a retaining wall out of a piece of driftwood?
 
The Europeans have been using driftwood for a long time for retaining walls, but it is commonly "faked" in that the real substrate holder is glass or plastic, faced with the driftwood. The Aquabotanic URL kveeti gave above mentions such also - but the "faking" is usually much better than that diagram implies - if you can tell that it is faked, it did not work. Cork bark stuck to the glass or plastic works well also if it has a support base overlaid with gravel to ballast the buoyancy of the cork.
 
Are casting resins aquarium safe?

I was also just thinking about doing something like this :) But I'm going for the natural river bank idea. I had intended -- once I found out if resins were safe, in creating a hollow mold the size of the wall that I want. The wall would be approximately 8" from the bottom and gradiate up to about 4" at the top. Sort of like a sloping river bank.

I was going to fill the mold with 8" and down sized river rock and driftwood small natural gravels here and there. Filling the whole thing with casting resin and making sure it was level at the top.

Put the new wall in the tank and fill the back of it with gravel and plants.

I haven't planned it all out yet -- since I haven't ascertained if casting resins were safe -- so this is rather sketchy. I'm going to draw it up if its feasible.

Doable?

Roan
 
what about using styrafoam and cement?There are many DIY threads showing how to do this,and it is very flexable as to what you can create.I did a background and am now doing a more extensive full tank layout in my 20gal brackish setup.just a thought,lots of fun and cheap too.peace.
 
I really have to learn how to do that. That Dutch aquascaping picture on the website was amazing. It is so full looking. I'm saving that website! Thanks!
When you get yours done post a pic.
 
beviking said:
I plan on constructiong a 3" wall using slate pcs. Foreground will have ~2" gravel. The wall will sit on the ~2" and have ~3" of gravel behind it so you'll be looking at a "stone wall" like you might see around a garden or border of property.
My plan is to use pcs that are 2" wide (front to back) by whatever length. The bottom most piece will be 4-5" wide so the gravel behind will hold it in place. I also plan on using silicone to hold the pcs together.
Any input as to whether this thing will slide forward over time? Would epoxy be the better adhesive to use?

!!! i was going to do that!!! you stole my idea!!!
 
Jerm said:
!!! i was going to do that!!! you stole my idea!!!

That's like saying you stole my idea of putting the left shoe on the left foot!!! It's been done 1.000's of times :D

I think the styrofoam/cement idea would work...only it wouldn't look like a SLATE WALL! :duh: ;)


Since we're talking epoxy...any brand better and/or more economical than the other??? How far will 4 oz. stick of epoxy go?? Do you use just a dab here and there or smear it on?
 
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HEHE and i don't suppose you plan to put fish in the tank? I came up with the "fish tank" too.
 
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