Tips and Advice for DIY Foam Build
I have gone overboard planning, buying, & designing for my dream 40 gallon DIY & could use some major tips and advice. I am planning to build a central tunnel through a Dutch inspired planted mound (with a central monte carlo carpet "street") that leads to a hidden areas with "rock" walls. Its going to be 360° view, so walls are for mound support & divider between areas. I'm using egg crates for the base that I'm going to silicone into the tank, XPS foam for a round stone like wall in the back, spray pond foam wall in the front with pots for a bunch of ferns i have, and slate tiles (siliconed just in case) for weight within the structure.
I'm planning on painting with non toxic acrylic, aquarium safe colored sand, or mica powder tinted epoxy resin, using clear food grade epoxy or silicone to seal everything in.
Any and all tips on carving XPS & spray foam, tools used, painting, any examples, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Here's pics so far of what I have planned & built.