FAKE ROCK INSTRUCTIONAL

Things to get: (most items can be purchased at a hardware store)
* Polystyrene foam- comes in one large sheet or a pack of smaller sheets
* Foam in a can- there are 2 kinds, make sure to get the kind that hardens. The can should say.
* Grout- comes in many colors, I used gray
* Grout sealer- make sure it's acrylic or water based. I used aqua-mix
I also used:
* Poster board- to create a 3-d model
* Box cutter- to cut the polystyrene foam into a basic shape
* Dremel tool- to cut the polystyrene foam into a more curved shape
* Sand paper- to even out the polystyrene foam when cut
* Paint brush- to apply the sealer
* Latex or dish gloves- to apply grout and work with foam in a can (can get messy and a pain to remove from your hands!)
* Sand- to add a more realistic feel
* brown paper- to cover the floor (I would recommend something put on the floor because this got messy for me)

STEPS:
1. I drew out on paper how I wanted the fake rock to look
2. I took my 'blueprint' and cut poster board to create a 3-D model to the size of the tank. Although poster board is not the full length of a 20 gallon long tank, I added a piece of computer paper to give it the full 20 gallon length



3. I then traced the sides of the tank onto a sheet of polystyrene foam and cut them out



4. I used the dremel tool to shape the sides. With each cut, I made sure to check to make sure it would fit inside my tank, and because my tank has a lip on the top, the sides had to be cut slightly short.



5. I used glued the sides together and checked to make sure it would fit inside my tank, and with a few alterations it finally fit.
6. I used some of the cut foam to create a ledge.



7. I then began cutting the sides of the hides, making changes as I went along. I started with the smaller house on the left of the 3-D layout, but before gluing it together I made the larger house, gluing the pieces together.







Now although the pieces may not be straight and even now, this can be fixed later with foam in a can and grout.

8. After gluing the two houses together, I realized that I didn't want the third house on the right side anymore. It was replaced by a small ledge and steps. Now, although there is no longer a hide there, the area is still covered on four sides.



9. I also decided to put steps on the inside of the larger hide, so my leo can climb to the top through the roof of the house. I cut out small steps and glued them to the back of the foam. I traced out where I wanted the hides to go so that I knew my limits as to the steps.





10. I wanted there to be two ways to get to the ledge, so I added steps to the left side under the ledge that would lead up to the smaller hide.





11. I then started using the foam in a can on the ledges and steps, making them more durable and giving them a better look.







12. After letting the foam sit for at least an hour, I decided I didn't like the rounded look, and used my finger to add just a little bit of foam.



13. I added foam in a can to the hides so that they wouldn't look quite as square and to fill in any gaps.





14. Once the foam in a can had fully dried and hardened, I glued the hides to the back piece. Although there were some gaps where somehow things didn't fit, the foam in a can fixed that, but it is of course best to try to get things to fit.







15. I decided that I wanted to put in a calcium dish. What I did was take lid that would hold the calcium and traced the outline on a piece of foam. Then I cut out the outline. I glued the foam piece onto the side. I left the hole so that I can remove the lid for cleaning and whatnot. This way there is also a lip so that calcium cant be as easily thrown about. I added foam in a can to the piece. If you decided to make a piece similar be VERY careful! I was completely finished with the project when I put in my calcium dish, and I pushed a little too hard and the grout cracked. I fixed the grout, and when adding the last layer of sealer, the half the piece fell off, and I had to glue it back on, regrout the crack, and reseal it.



16. Once all the foam in a can was hardened, I was ready to grout. It takes about an hour for the foam to dry, but I tended to wait a little longer just to make sure it was settled before adding the grout. Make sure that the first layer of grout you add is a watery layer, this serves as the base coat.









17. Let the grout sit for 24 hours before adding the second coat. Make the second layer of grout less watery than the first layer. I'd call it a medium consistency.





18. Once again, wait 24 hours for the grout to fully cure and harden before adding the third coat. Make the consistency of this layer very thick. If you choose to add sand to the fake rock, do so on this layer. I took handfuls and dropped on the wet grout. What didn't stick will come of.





19. After shaking the excess sand off, I used a paint brush to apply the first coat of sealer. I also added sand to the sealer because the sane on the grout was a little light for me.



20. The sealer dries in about thirty minutes. I shook the sand off before applying a second coat.





21. Just to make sure I added a third coat of sealer to the entire fake wall piece.
22. I let the piece sit outside for a day before bringing it into my room just to make sure all the fumes and whatnot where gone.







This can be used for other things as well & I have redone my humid hides using this method and although I had a slight problem, I overcame it and they look great. I also used old whipped cream tupperwares to create regular hides. I'm cheap and figured since the foam in a can was open I might as well use it before it goes bad (only lasts a few days if your lucky). I think it all turned out well.