[saltysteve]

Id like to know if this idea will work and what are the negatives about it?
I want to get a plastic grill and put down black foam them stick dead live rock (small rubble) into the foam to make a live rock back ground. It would be shaped around my overflow so it would be free standing against the back glass. This would form a wall that would become a live rock background.

Is this possible and what do you think of this technique?


(cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms- Im really not sure what these are but im guessing i dont want them)

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by saltysteve

Id like to know if this idea will work and what are the negatives about it?
I want to get a plastic grill and put down black foam them stick dead live rock (small rubble) into the foam to make a live rock back ground. It would be shaped around my overflow so it would be free standing against the back glass. This would form a wall that would become a live rock background.
Is this possible and what do you think of this technique?
(cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms- Im really not sure what these are but im guessing i dont want them)

I'm not sure what kind of foam you could use. Cyanobacteria is not good. dinoflagellates are not bad - read here - Dinoflagellate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A certain amount of diatoms are pretty normal when first starting a tank, they go away pretty quickly.. Before you put anything in your tank research what it is made of and how it will affect your water and inhabitants.

[saltysteve]

black pond foam- its okay to use in the tank- well many people do use it and it seems to be reef safe. im more concerned about the lack of water movement. it will be right up against the baack wall but there still will be water in between. is this bad?

[stephaniesquires]

Lack of water movement is not a good thing, although I think most tanks have some areas of low water flow. As for safe, while it may be "safe" for a pond, doesn't mean it is good for your tank... I wouldn't give up tank health for aesthetics - just stack up live rock to make your own background, and after awhile, the corraline algae can cover the parts that aren't covered by lr.

[Lowej82]

check out this build thread over at urberfrags.net

http://uberfrags.net/ForumsPro/viewt...pond+foam.html

[saltysteve]

thats the pond foam i was talking about - i want to make a frame, put down the foam and then lay the rock on top. this will make a live background
any thoughts? i just concerned about stuff growing or getting trapped between the waal and glass

[rlcline76]

I don't want dinoflagelletes in my tank.

Dinoflagellates - Predators, Pathogens, and Partners by Eric Borneman - Reefkeeping.com

Anyway, I have heard of a LR wall. Not certain the best way to implement it, though!

[Lowej82]

Try using a piece of eggcrate a couple inches atleast 4" out from rear glass. You can also use plastic zip ties to secure the LR to the eggcrate. maybe some small rubble rock to hide the eggcrate in the gaps between pieces of LR. (black pond foam also works to hide the eggcrate and zipties)

When I was young we took small pebbles crushed them added sand and little water made a hard but not concrete hard substance. Try crushing LR, add some crushed coral and LS mix these and pack in those spaces between LR. if the powerheads aint pointed directly at the LR and pending the flow in tank it may hold up, if not hide what you can of the eggcrate with LR rubble.

I just glanced at your tank size!! sorry guess this wouldnt be an option for you, but for those who like the LR stacked against the back glass and have atleast a 16"+ wide tank it may work.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

I don't want dinoflagelletes in my tank.

Dinoflagellates - Predators, Pathogens, and Partners by Eric Borneman - Reefkeeping.com

Anyway, I have heard of a LR wall. Not certain the best way to implement it, though!

Ahhh I seem to have misread the info on dino's. It seems they are not beneficial... When do those classes start???