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Post by coco on Feb 22, 2016 20:09:29 GMT -5
Ok. I made a divider out of gravel and aquarium silicone aprx 2 years ago to separate my sand section from my gravel. I mixed the gravel and silicone together in a bowl, and then pressed it together in a kind of a wavy "river" shape aprx 2 inches across. The length covered the width of my 55 gallon. I placed some pretty river rocks on top to make a stone path, and pressed those in. I let it dry for a couple weeks before placing it in my aquarium. I looked really nice when first made, and worked fairly well to separate sand & gravel. But, after using some meds with either malachite green, or the med WS, the silicone got stained. Then it got algae grown in the little grooves. Doesn't look as pretty anymore. I am going to be extending my sand area (which now is about 1/3 of my tank), to about 2/3 sand. I am looking for another way to divide the sand & gravel. What I would really like, is a type of river trough, that would fit the width of my tank, about 2 inches across, where I could place fluorite gravel in it and make a "grass river". I would have the sand on one side and gravel on the other. Have never found anything like that. I thought maybe I could make something like that out of plexiglass, but it wouldn't be as natural. I would like it made out of resin. The resin decorations they have now are pretty realistic looking. Anyone have any ideas?
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Post by childofiam on Feb 23, 2016 8:34:02 GMT -5
I have not found any way to keep sand and gravel separate. The fish would scoop the sand up and spit it out of their mouth causing sand to get on the gravel side. You can get a cat liter scoop to remove the rocks from the sand, relocate the sand back into the sand area and then replace the gravel where you need it. This is what I did...
Richard
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Post by Carl on Feb 23, 2016 10:32:17 GMT -5
I made similar things, although not used as a divider many years back for the Bahooka Restaurant and other clients.
I used a 2 part marine epoxy resin mixed withe gravel and any other decor such as shells or driftwood. I would also make these in two parts so as to place part 1 into part 2 which would be a base so as to give a more 3D look
Carl
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Post by coco on Feb 23, 2016 21:44:10 GMT -5
I will keep looking and see what I can come up with. I wish there was an ornament making company that could make things to your specifications. That would be convenient.
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Post by alasse on Mar 17, 2016 9:01:53 GMT -5
I made a 'rock' wall to divide an older setup, it did need to be silicone in back then. Now I would make them minus the foam so they can just be placed and easily removed if you decide to rescape  |
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Post by coco on Mar 17, 2016 9:40:19 GMT -5
Wow! Very cool. You made that? How did you do that?
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Mar 17, 2016 13:13:42 GMT -5
Great suggestion  |
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Post by childofiam on Mar 18, 2016 7:39:36 GMT -5
You can sell these... Well done!
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Post by coco on Apr 12, 2016 14:18:42 GMT -5
Ok, since I don't have Alasse's talents, I came up with a little design for my river divider. I made the model for it out of cardboard. I will take it to a local glass place tomorrow and see what they can do for me. Probably gonna cost me "an arm and a leg", as they say. I would like it made out of a type of resin/plastic if they carry that. If not, then plexiglass. I am planning on bringing them some aquarium silicone, so they do not use any toxic chemicals not made for aquariums. I know Carl mentioned using marine epoxy to glue designs together, I have never used that before. Is it safe for fresh water too? Do you guys think it is better than the aquarium silicone? It will really just be used to attach the pieces together. Of course, I plan on glueing some small river rocks along the top edge of the river "trough", to give it a stone path look along both edges too. If the marine epoxy is better, where do I get some?
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Post by childofiam on Apr 12, 2016 14:53:00 GMT -5
Ok, since I don't have Alasse's talents, I came up with a little design for my river divider. I made the model for it out of cardboard. I will take it to a local glass place tomorrow and see what they can do for me. Probably gonna cost me "an arm and a leg", as they say. I would like it made out of a type of resin/plastic if they carry that. If not, then plexiglass. I am planning on bringing them some aquarium silicone, so they do not use any toxic chemicals not made for aquariums. I know Carl mentioned using marine epoxy to glue designs together, I have never used that before. Is it safe for fresh water too? Do you guys think it is better than the aquarium silicone? It will really just be used to attach the pieces together. Of course, I plan on glueing some small river rocks along the top edge of the river "trough", to give it a stone path look along both edges too. If the marine epoxy is better, where do I get some? I would go to Lowes and select the thinnest plexiglass and they will cut it to width and length you want and then you can do the glueing yourself... this will save you a small fortune... Just say to yourself, "I can do this". Richard |
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Post by coco on Apr 12, 2016 15:00:26 GMT -5
Thank-you for that info Richard. (And your faith in me that I can do it!) The only thing is, I want this river "Wavy" so it's looks more natural. If it will cost too much at the glass place, or if they can't "wave it" for me, then I will take your advice and go there. Thanks for telling me!  |
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Post by Carl on Apr 12, 2016 18:16:04 GMT -5
As far as silicone versus epoxy, it really comes down to what you are trying to do.
I found I could do much more complex/delicate designs with epoxy, which is why I used it.
I was also given the tip to use epoxy by a custom aquarium designer I worked with a few decades ago (much of what I have learned over the years was from being very involved in the industry and meeting many interesting persons then allowing them to mentor me, so I cannot take credit for much of what I now now, as it is learned from others).
This guy made some interesting aquariums and sculptures inside the aquarium using fibber glass and epoxy resins (I wish I had pictures as I can see them in my head, but that doe not help anyone reading this).
As for safety, I mostly used this 2 part marine resin in freshwater
Carl
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Post by coco on Apr 13, 2016 14:21:40 GMT -5
Ok, I went to the glass place today. They can't "wave" the plexi for me. So, I took Richard's advice and went to Lowe's. The plexi they cut for you is thiner than what I wanted, so I bought a slab of the thicker piece. Aprx 1/4 inch. I will have someone cut it for me into the measurements I want. Then I will epoxy it together. I will send a pic when it is finished. |
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Post by childofiam on May 9, 2016 18:45:19 GMT -5
Ok, I went to the glass place today. They can't "wave" the plexi for me. So, I took Richard's advice and went to Lowe's. The plexi they cut for you is thiner than what I wanted, so I bought a slab of the thicker piece. Aprx 1/4 inch. I will have someone cut it for me into the measurements I want. Then I will epoxy it together. I will send a pic when it is finished. How is this project coming along... |
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Post by coco on May 9, 2016 19:27:47 GMT -5
Hi Richard. It is all made and in my aquarium. I still think it would have looked better "waved", it would have been more natural looking, but it looks ok. I took pics, both before I put it in and after. I finally had someone show me how to shrink the pictures to attach them to this forum. I have "shrunk" a bunch of them, so I can finally have a tank blog. Once I am finished, I will update with my divider pictures. I have been sick with the flu for the past week, so I haven't worked on it since then. But, I promise to update soon. Thanks for asking! |
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