Great Stuff for Tank Divider?

[aramcheck]

Well, I got my silicone today (gray)...I was all set to start, and then I saw, the Great Stuff had shrunk so much it made a gap at the edge of the tank. Here's pics. I'll do my old standby, I'll get a piece of glass cut to fit and glue it in. So much for my big experiment! I guess they can't all go right.

I have combined both in my sal's tank by making a glass divider, and using expending foam over it for landscaping, then black silicone and coco fiber for a finish, this was a bit over 2 years ago and so far it did well...

 

[NewtZoo]

Has anyone else ever tried using Handi-foam? I tried it several years ago in a Dart set up and if worked great! I did not notice any shrinking or cracking and its non-toxic. I know a lot of my frog friends use it for back drops, but I used it to build several items and a divider like the one in question.
Good luck!

 

[VolatileXIII]

Is it toxic to Paramesotriton Chinensis? I wouldn't mind picking some up and playing around with it in the new tank.

 

[Mac Myers]

Once fully cured it's nontoxic. I've never seen Handifoam... but Great Stuff can be tricky. There are two types... window and door and gap filling. You can use both depending on what you are trying to accomplish...but you MUST be careful if you use the gap filling as it expands in all directions quite a bit. I used to use it because it made better/faster landmasses and back walls... but I messed up one time and got impatient making a back ground. Got the Great Stuff too near the corners of the tank and popped the seams (also cracked one of the class panes). It expands in ALL directions... even if it has plenty of space to go outward... it will still expand side to side enough to pop the tank.
Patience and the Window and door stuff is the way to go. :happy:

 

[NewtZoo]

I dont think handi-foam is toxic when it cures, and I have never had anything die near or livng in a tank with handi-foam. Here is a website for the handi-foam
Straw Foam Sealant, 12 Oz, Yellow - Sealants - Thread and Gasket Sealants - Adhesives, Sealants, & Tape : Grainger Industrial Supply
There is lots and lots of info on the website. Grainger is pretty good about supplying info.

 

[JWERNER]

I'm making a shore line and a creek with Great Stuff. You've got to just make it first and then cut it to the desired shape afterwards or yeah, it's going to shrink.

I'll post pics in the morning. I ran out of Drylock so it's on hold.

FYI, don't we have a thread on what silicone is safe to use?

The best Great Stuffs to use is the black can. It expands the most which means more for the money and more area to carve and add charecter. There is also the Handi Foam for ponds which is black but it's the same exact thing basically and way more money.

 

[JWERNER]

It would be super cool if I could edit.

Here is a few pics. Its crude but as I said I ran out of Drylock.

You should be able to get a general idea.

 

[JWERNER]

My attachments arent showing.