Hi,
I'm planning on building a 3D rock background out of polystyrene to place inside my aquarium.  The plan is to sculpt and shape the polystyrene 'rocks', stick them individually onto a thin flat polystyrene backing sheet and then brush it with several epoxy resin coats (with suitable dyes if needed) to achieve the right colours and a bit of strength (the polystyrene itself is inert and does not need to be sealed off completely from the aquarium water).  I'm hoping to achieve a matt dark grey slate colour (or ideally shades thereof).

The polystyrene is then glued to the inside of the tank with silicone aquarium sealant.  The size of the 'wall of rocks' will be 7ft x 2 ft with depths of up 3 inches.

Researching on the web shows others have done this but I'm a novice in terms of resins and am not sure of the products available and sutable for this.  Looking at your products, I'm guessing if anything is suitable in terms of my planned process, it'll be the Epoxy Coating Resin?

Are any of your epoxies and dyes aquarium-safe (usually anything ok with potable water is fine)?

I'm hoping you can recommend resins, dyes and approx. amounts (I appreciate the latter will be a guesstimate! to the nearest pack size will do). Also I get the feeling the resin dries to a gloss finish - any techniques to reduce the gloss effect also appreciated.

Thanks in advance
 
Hiren.

I seem to remember that West Systems stated that their Epoxy is "aquatic -life safe" after a minimum of 1 month at room temperature.

They stated that their epoxy will remain safe up to 60 degrees Celcius, after the recommended 1 month post cure.

Since EC epoxies ar Bisp-A phenolic resins like the West Systems types, they should be the same for practical purposes.

Post curing at slightly elevated temps, maybe using an electric blanket, will of course shorten that period a lot. 

Btw .. Warren, I have actually managed to get a sample of West systems Resin cured perfectly using EC fast hardener ... and using the EC recomended mixing ratio, which incidentally is the same as the WS ratio ... (I had run out of normal WS fast hardener   ) 

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