The stuff that comes in a can to seal windows and doors that is a type of expanding foam be safe for use in an aquarium after it is cured? Ive read in diy posts that it can be used but never heard wether it worked on the background that was being made. any and all help would be appreciated thank you. also could you dig the tunnels of caves out before applying cement to make it easier to coat the inside of the tunnel before siliconing the styrofoam together.
great stuff
- Thread starter will74
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Been reading up on making a vivarium lately (reading a lot of dart-frog info). A lot of people use Great Stuff to make backgrounds. Some of the stuff I've read on it suggests that under water it will break down / do weird things / act like a sponge. I personally plan to stay away from it altogether.
Although it may not work long term underwater, if it's used in a dart frog viv it's probably "safe" as far as not poisoning fish. That is, of course, assuming it doesn't break down. If you really wanted to try it, I would run a 3 - 6 month experiment with it (no fish) to see how it holds up underwater.
Although it may not work long term underwater, if it's used in a dart frog viv it's probably "safe" as far as not poisoning fish. That is, of course, assuming it doesn't break down. If you really wanted to try it, I would run a 3 - 6 month experiment with it (no fish) to see how it holds up underwater.
I used it on my BG, and i even made a cave.
The problem with my "cave" is that i cant get any freakin cement INSIDE on the roof of the cave..... gonne make it hard to get sealant in there too.
What I would have done differently, is to dip the entire face of my BG into a vat of cement, instead of painting it on.
ALSO USE GROUT. (if your going to seal it up with epoxy later) grout works amazing for coating.
As for the foam, it is just that. as soon as it dries, it is just styrofoam, and shouldnt leech anything back into the tank.
I do have a thread showing off my background in the DIY forum.
Go check it out if you like.
The problem with my "cave" is that i cant get any freakin cement INSIDE on the roof of the cave..... gonne make it hard to get sealant in there too.
What I would have done differently, is to dip the entire face of my BG into a vat of cement, instead of painting it on.
ALSO USE GROUT. (if your going to seal it up with epoxy later) grout works amazing for coating.
As for the foam, it is just that. as soon as it dries, it is just styrofoam, and shouldnt leech anything back into the tank.
I do have a thread showing off my background in the DIY forum.
Go check it out if you like.
if you look in my thread here
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103955
You can see on the Right Side Panel, to the left of the UGF uptake tube, there is some "rocky" bumps.
This was merely some great stuff that i randomly sprayed on the board.
as it turns out this gave me a better look than the texture i did on the foam board itself.
Next time, i would simply spray an entire foam board with great stuff, just do it that way.
NOTE: Great Stuff, and expanding foam in general is EXTREMELY STICKY, and will NOT come off easily if it gets on your skin. Acetone will disolve it instantly when its WET. So make sure you have acetone on hand, and ALWAYS wear gloves. if it gets on your skin, and dries, you can expect to have it stuck there for about a week, until mechanical action finally makes it come off. also make sure your cat doesnt walk by and toss her tail into a big gob of wet expanding foam..... its not a fun thing trying to get it out of their tails
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103955
You can see on the Right Side Panel, to the left of the UGF uptake tube, there is some "rocky" bumps.
This was merely some great stuff that i randomly sprayed on the board.
as it turns out this gave me a better look than the texture i did on the foam board itself.
Next time, i would simply spray an entire foam board with great stuff, just do it that way.
NOTE: Great Stuff, and expanding foam in general is EXTREMELY STICKY, and will NOT come off easily if it gets on your skin. Acetone will disolve it instantly when its WET. So make sure you have acetone on hand, and ALWAYS wear gloves. if it gets on your skin, and dries, you can expect to have it stuck there for about a week, until mechanical action finally makes it come off. also make sure your cat doesnt walk by and toss her tail into a big gob of wet expanding foam..... its not a fun thing trying to get it out of their tails
Great Stuff breaks down in the sun, and I heard that this does over time release chemicals slightly (maybe this was the 'older' stuff?). Anyways, I'm not sure how aquatic lighting may/or may not affect the foam...? Maybe not at all.
As a precaution I would definately seal this in an epoxy myself, but if others are having success in thier tanks...all may be well :shrug:
As a precaution I would definately seal this in an epoxy myself, but if others are having success in thier tanks...all may be well :shrug: