jetajockey
come get me tang police!
Here we go.. I had an empty 29 sitting around so I decided to try my hand at a 3d wall. I had most of the materials on hand already, so why not? I went for the stacked stone look.
I started out by cutting a piece of styrofoam to fit the back of the tank. I ended up trimming it later on, so I suggest cutting it about 1/2" shorter than your initial measurements on the top and sides if you plan to do this.
Then I started shaping the 'stones'. I had my 8 year old help me silicone them. I attempted to layer them in different thicknesses but I'm finding out that certain thicknesses are harder to cover with cement.
Once I had all the stones 'shaped, I cut it down the middle (I left the middle open) so I can test fit it in the tank.
I took 2 1/2" pvc pipes and ziptied them together, added 90 degree elbows on top and cut a small gap at the bottom of each one.
At the base where they mount I cut a piece of styro with a shallow bowl to it, and angled it slightly back towards the tubes so that the sand will hopefully collect and go back into the pickup.
I used expanding foam (great stuff brand) to cover the tubes up, then once it set I cut notches in it and added little pieces of styro to make pseudo ledges for the sand to fall down on. I also took some styro and stacked it at the top of the pipes where the sand comes out, to hide both it and the air bubbles that will be coming up.
Here's the concrete I used, I ran it through a screen (screen door material) to get all the big rocks out, there were a lot.
Then I got the concrete a soupy consistency and started painting. The expanding foam didn't want to take it well so I scuffed it up a little bit and used a little bit thicker concrete to keep it in place. Hopefully it stays.
That's it for today, will reapply the concrete tomorrow and then later tomorrow night a final coat mixed with a charcoal gray to give some shading. Stay tuned.
I started out by cutting a piece of styrofoam to fit the back of the tank. I ended up trimming it later on, so I suggest cutting it about 1/2" shorter than your initial measurements on the top and sides if you plan to do this.
Then I started shaping the 'stones'. I had my 8 year old help me silicone them. I attempted to layer them in different thicknesses but I'm finding out that certain thicknesses are harder to cover with cement.
Once I had all the stones 'shaped, I cut it down the middle (I left the middle open) so I can test fit it in the tank.
I took 2 1/2" pvc pipes and ziptied them together, added 90 degree elbows on top and cut a small gap at the bottom of each one.
At the base where they mount I cut a piece of styro with a shallow bowl to it, and angled it slightly back towards the tubes so that the sand will hopefully collect and go back into the pickup.
I used expanding foam (great stuff brand) to cover the tubes up, then once it set I cut notches in it and added little pieces of styro to make pseudo ledges for the sand to fall down on. I also took some styro and stacked it at the top of the pipes where the sand comes out, to hide both it and the air bubbles that will be coming up.
Here's the concrete I used, I ran it through a screen (screen door material) to get all the big rocks out, there were a lot.
Then I got the concrete a soupy consistency and started painting. The expanding foam didn't want to take it well so I scuffed it up a little bit and used a little bit thicker concrete to keep it in place. Hopefully it stays.
That's it for today, will reapply the concrete tomorrow and then later tomorrow night a final coat mixed with a charcoal gray to give some shading. Stay tuned.
