Making a false rock wall.

I'm looking at making a false rock wall for my new 75 gallon. Has anyone on here ever attempted this diy project? Any advice on materials?

 

Hi, just make sure that you use all aquarium safe material including silicone and watch for weight, imo.

 

I tried once to make a plaster waterfall. Epic mess and epic disaster. I would carve it out of foam and then make a mold from the foam shape. That way you could just pour your material into the mold and let it set. Not sure what material would be best though.

 

After further consideration I've decided against the rock wall simply because it would take up to much swimming space; I am still curious though as to what kind of materials one would use, just in case I want to try this in the future.

 

I had an idea for one actually. A slate tile chipped down to the width you want. If you get the ones that aren't graded it would still have high layers and low ones. I'd imagine you'd want to use a 1/8th inch tile though and I can't find any that thin that aren't graded.

 

And cement them in the back to give the frontal appearance of dry stack?

 

I have use styrofoam covered in cement . Then silicone was used to secure it to the aquarium. Lasted for years only thing I wish I would have planned it out better . I used cement pigments to change the color. It will effect ph for quite a long time so lots of soaking and water changes needed unless your keeping high ph fish

 

I've used the strofoam/cement method as described above as well. It's alright... I'm a perfectionist and I really took my time with this project but in the end it just looks like cement covering styrofoam, not to mention how long it takes to for pH to level.

 

To secure it to the back I was thinking silicone some plunger thingies to the top and give it a slight lean so if they let go the wall doesn't go anywhere. (Plunger thingies... I shouldn't have to be awake this early....)