Epic Fake Rock in the making!

[Light of Dae]

I recently bought another tank that will become Georges' new home. I also acquired a large sheet of styrofoam. So me being me (the creative odd ball) I decided it would be awesome to put two n two together! So here I am carving out a form fitting 'rock' to become a basking spot as well as a cave.

I should have took some pictures before starting to carve it into shape so y'all could see the process a little better but maybe next time.

This is the tank n the lid it came with that I will be making escape proof.
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Here is the basic structure. Not done carving it yet, but it fits perfectly in the tank corner.
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[kimbosaur]

Neat! I attempted one of these but found that the quikrete left a layer of dust on it. I was too lazy to clear-coat it so it ended up in the trash. Cant wait to see how yours turns out though!!

[Light of Dae]

lol I use sanded grout. You can add acrylic paint to adjust the color to your liking then I coat it with a Matte finished clear coat twice over. It's a lot of tedious work, but I enjoy it.

[chris-uk]

lol I use sanded grout. You can add acrylic paint to adjust the color to your liking then I coat it with a Matte finished clear coat twice over. It's a lot of tedious work, but I enjoy it.

So just tile grout that contains sand, and a clear coat of sealer? And that wipes clean and is OK under a heat lamp?
If it's that easy I'll go looking for sanded grout and clear coat. I've got ideas for structures I want to put in our vivs, nobody makes what I want to buy.

[Light of Dae]

So just tile grout that contains sand, and a clear coat of sealer? And that wipes clean and is OK under a heat lamp?
If it's that easy I'll go looking for sanded grout and clear coat. I've got ideas for structures I want to put in our vivs, nobody makes what I want to buy.

You got it :D Just make sure the clear coat you buy is a 'sealer' . It doesn't really wipe clean as its really rough textured but I bought a baby toothbrush and use that dry first to flake off everything, then use a weak vinegar water mix with the toothbrush and do a good clean :) It is easy though.

I'm considering making lots of these and selling them round here because like you said, nobody makes what you want, so I think there's a good market for my creations. :)

[EasternGirl]

Wow...I wish I had the patience for making creative things like that. I just don't. I'm too ADHD. It looks like a great project and I'm excited to see the end result!

[chris-uk]

I threw away a huge sheet of polystyrene recently because I didn't have a good use for it. It would have filled all the vivs we have at the moment. :(

[GarterGuy17]

i was less creative and bought a cave which she uses as a basking spot as well hopefully your project ends well :) Its looking good though.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I have a neat little rock cave hide that my snakes love that I bought...it is very small compared to what you are building, Dae...and like I said, I bought it...I did not build it....no creativity here :rolleyes:.

[Light of Dae]

I put the first layer of grout on, I'll have enough grout for this one, but I think next one I make I'll experiment with un-sanded grout. It is very frustrating to apply the sanded grout... Maybe Ill use un-sanded grout then for the last coat add sand of my own... I think that will be way easier. I've already got plans for my next creation :) Also started sewing on mesh to the tank lid so that it is secure... Man does it ever hurt when a strand of the metal mesh stabs into your skin!! I'll be sewing up all those sharp ends for sure! lol Looks like my hands have measles, I should be more careful eh?

Here it is so far, you can see Georges' tank will be considerably larger then it is now lol This 'rock' will not fit in his current home! Yet it leaves lots of room in his new tank.
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[Light of Dae]

Progress. Soooo... I lied. I did not have enough grout for this, I have bought some 'unsanded grout' and 'painted' a layer on it last night. I think the combination of sanded n unsanded grout will work out quite nicely. I am now debating what to make for the other side of the tank... I was thinking making an Egyptian Sphinx, but then was also thinking of changing the color of the first piece to more of a green n making the other piece a 'mossy' ruin, Something like the Cambodia ruins.

I am also thinking of getting some velcro to attach the second piece.. It won't be form fitting like the first as that is A LOT of work.. it will be flush with the back wall though... possibly the back corner as well... *DING* lol Light bulb! I so know how I'm going to make it, Just got a great idea.

Georges tank will be the egyptian style with the Sphinx, and I have a 'ruins' piece already in the making for Babs' tank which I'll make into Cambodia / Forest Ruins type tank! More suited this way anyways since her tank is taller so I can make fake trees n such!

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Think I'll tint this to a more... golden yellowy color, looks too pink.
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This 'Ruins' piece was made out of packing styrofoam pieces that were all shaped funny n odd. So I just cut out square-ish chunks n made it like an uncoordinated jigsaw puzzle! I had no.. uh real plan or idea of what I was doing other then I wanted something tall n narrow.

[Light of Dae]

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Lol A quick rough sketch of an idea what it'll look like... lol

[EasternGirl]

Very creative! Rocks are looking good!

[chris-uk]

Cool. I wish I had just a little bit of creativity.

[EasternGirl]

You have more creativity than me, Chris...you built that platform for your snakes!

[chris-uk]

You have more creativity than me, Chris...you built that platform for your snakes!
That was engineering.

[guidofatherof5]

That was engineering.

Keep in mind it's not to code. :D

[chris-uk]

Keep in mind it's not to code. :D

I wouldn't trust it for Lacrimosa or Vlad, but the substandard platform does the job for the checkereds and blacknecks. If the inspectors come round and have a problem with it I will just untie the knots and rebuild. Maybe I'd try a different design, I wanted to make a couple of tripods with a rope bridge.

[Light of Dae]

Being creative comes pretty natural to me, kick start your creativity by wanting to make something! Look at the boring hides you can buy at a store n think of what you would change about them, what you would of done different. Then use the basic idea of the store bought one but with your ideas. Look at pictures of basking spots for reptiles n old buildings n such. Get inspired! lol

Or if your creativity is not in working order I could possibly make you something... just not sure how expensive shipping n handling would be... Could be something to look into if you like, send me specs on what type of 'rock' you'd want i'll make it n show you as it progresses. lol Just some Ideas I always could use a little extra money. :D

[Light of Dae]

Thanks for all the compliments guys!

[Light of Dae]

So more progress at the cost of my finger... Me, being very blonde at moments(When light shines through lol) I read all the warnings n cautions on the bag of unsanded grout about it being corrosive blah blah blah. The left over mixed batch had settled almost solid bottom and watery top, so it took a LOT of mixing to get it ... workable. It was now thicker so instead of painting it on like I had the last layer I decided to 'finger paint' it on. I had used my fingers with sanded grout with no issue so why not? Well It's working great, I am mushing the lumps onto the rock n it's going quick, awesome... right? I notice over half way done that my one finger(I had only been using the one, Thankfully) looked all prune-y like it had sat in water for HOURS... I think nothing of it, I mean come on this stuff has water in it so it's fine... About a minute or two later it starts hurting... then I see I've left a small streak of blood. So I stop and clean my finger, looks just like I cut it on the sharp sanded grout, no big deal. I use my middle finger to finish this layer...

Now I am left with sever chemical burns on my index finger tip n minor chemical burns on my middle finger. Yay for reading n being aware of the corrosive properties n not adhering to the precautions. lol oops.

I also added some color to the last layer n before it dried I dabbed a little paint here n there... I should have waited till it dried... It looks like popcorn... buttery popcorn. lol At least it's easy to fix color.

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[katach]

Lookin' great!

[guidofatherof5]

The project is looking good.

[RicMartin]

That's really great, it's got me thinking.....

[Light of Dae]

:D Thank you, Thank you.
I have put on one coat of sealer so far, going to fix the color a bit, then add more sealer, and more sealer. It's coming along rather slow... Had my first day of 'work' yesterday and I have never been so bored in my life! I sat there n watched everyone else work... I hate getting paid to sit on my arse n do absolutely NOTHING... And I'm off to do the same today... and for this whole week. I don't actually start training or learning anything till NEXT week. I always said I'd never have an office job.... And now I do... Don't think my spine likes sitting for that long... I'm going to ask my boss if I could bring my fake rock to work for the first 'do nothing' week... It's past the messy stage.... Will see.

[Light of Dae]

... I'll bring it along today lol n just see what he says lol!