silicone/sand mortar... not easy or fun... but worth it!

that's a pretty sweet idea, Em! This may have to be added to the project list. on that note, a guy at petco told me about scorching PVC also. apparently you just take a propylene torch to it, and it browns and looks like wood. He said he did it to UG filter tubes and it looked like you were under a pier. I've been meaning to google that...
 
I'd be worried that scorching the PVC would change the chemical properties.
 
^ ditto. The guy swore that it was fine. Google doesn't pull up much on it except this reef guy. Apparently it works for his reef.

edit fail hyperlinks!

link
 
fixd! apparently we can't just go willy nilly posting links on here :)

edit: not fixd... but it's the first result if you click the link, then hit the google button on the fail page. :wall:
 
I have seen numerous pictures with tree boas on PVC perches that have been flamed by a blow torch. I'm not sure why this is done but understand that it only takes 5 ounces of burning PVC to give off enough hydrogen chloride gas to kill the occupants in an average size bedroom in ten minutes.

This is something I've been telling people for a while. Aside from immediate lung damage (or death) from the fumes...there are also several types of carcinogens released from burning PVC which could expose you to dangerous cancer causing agents.

Make sure you do any scorching outside...I personally wouldn't even bother.
Those two comments were on a site that is www + tree + boas.fr.yuku + .com
After the .com is /topic/51#.UXsfJbWg3Ns
 
yeah, you have a good point... I don't want to mess with that hot mess lol.
 
Last edited:
BUT, back to the original mess!

I ended up doing the "apply silicone then apply sand" method for the edges and to fill in gaps. The stuff I did this way yesterday looked kinda bad... like really dirty silicon... so I pushed more into it this time. It's definitely easier this way! Seems like I'm done with it for now. Hopefully there aren't any more patches to fill in *fingers crossed* three of the rocks in the pic are leaning because that's the rough plan for the final layout in the tank. I'm pretty pleased with the results. There are gaps that you won't be able to see from the front, so I'm thinking of putting colored accent lighting behind the background that will shine through the gaps :drool:

IMG_0925[1].JPG
IMG_0927[1].JPG

And the oceanic 30
IMG_0926[1].JPG

IMG_0925[1].JPG IMG_0927[1].JPG IMG_0926[1].JPG
 
thanks! Alrighty, tomorrow will be day #5 of the silicone curing. sadly, it still smells like vinegar... some of the globs are pretty big... So now there's a box fan blowing on it to try to speed up the curing process. this waiting game is brutal! edit: on the plus side, every rock is still held in place after moving it around and tipping it
IMG_0929[1].JPG

IMG_0929[1].JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom