help with diy mangrove roots

[Dingodan]

i need help building artificial mangrove roots like seen in this picture. i want them to be roughly 24". what products, techniques, etc? i need them to be 100% reef safe and permanent. any suggestions are greatly appreciated. i been to all corners of the internet looking for manufactured ones i can buy and none look like the real thing or are large enough.

 

[Sillyfishies]

I remember a post almost exactly like this. It even used that picture.

I suggested that you could use manzanita wood and just coat it with aquarium safe paint.

 

[Dingodan]

yea that post was probably me i still havent found a solution. i want these to be 100% reef safe inside and out so theres no risks. i think i can use a resin for the outer layer but i need something to use for a skeleton frame i can bend into the shape i want. (not metal wire)

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

You can use a hair dryer to heat up thin PVC pipe and bend it. And it will hold the shape when it cools

 

[Dingodan]

problem is 1/2" is the smallest pvc pipe you can get and thats inside diameter...good for some larger pieces but need smaller ones too

 

[Dingodan]

love the heat bending idea i didnt think of that

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Not sure if you could get it hot enough with out it actually melting, but if you can get it hot enough that you could stretch the pipe I imagine it would get thinner

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Looks like these guys have 1/4" PVC
http://www.usplastic.com/mobile/item.aspx?itemid=23979

 

[mr_X]

Ocean Star International Ocean Star Smooth Bark Tree Stump Ornament Artificial Wood & Vines

 

[mr_X]

https://www.google.com/search?q=art...ament&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=shop

 

[mr_X]

artificial tree root mangrove | eBay

 

[Dingodan]

Looks like these guys have 1/4" PVC
http://www.usplastic.com/mobile/item.aspx?itemid=23979

1/4" thats awesome ive never seen that

 

[Dingodan]

thatll work if i can ship to canada or find another supplier within canada. now i need to find an epoxy resin product that i can dye brown and coat the pipe in. maybe a putty too that i can add in some areas before coating