Hello,
I'm taking on a pretty ambitious project especially for a beginner. I want to turn this aquarium into an outdoor fairy pond.
Fairy Pond?
What I want to do is create a cover for the aquarium that will be turned into a fairy garden. I was thinking that I would do the cover in glued sand, with divets to put plants in, cover it in either air plants (like hen and chicks) or sod, and add a few taller plants in the divets. I want the cover to cover a pump for a water fall (which will sit on something like a 4x4) and a filter in case I want fish. Here are my very basic conceptual blueprint drawings for what I want to do.
For those of you who have more experience with this type thing. Is this doable? How solid is the glue/sand mix while wet, in other wards do I need to make a 3D mold or can I sculpt it like clay? Is there any problems that I missing?
TIA Laura
Boy, ambitious is right! I just humbly used some colored rocks! You go, girl!
Laura-
let me see if I understand...
You want the entire fairy scene above the aquarium, and you intend for the aquarium to be your sunken reservoir for recirculating the water that you will use for an "above ground" waterfall?
Sounds cool!!
-T
More or less, the aquarium will be above ground and the cover will cover the sides as well and will be planted to enhance the scene. The aquarium will be the reservoir, but also a wet garden of it's own, which is why I went for fairy garden rather than Asian recreation. I can just see the Chinese guy sipping tea under a water lily.
Not very artistic, but enough for an idea.
Primrose, that is adorable!!!!
I'll be watching this thread to see how it turns out.
good luck!
:0)
It might be slow, especially since I'm not getting any help on structure. I might have to experiment.
I figure I have three options:
1. Glue sand, which would be the best, but I'm not sure if I can do what I want with it. Can I sculpt it and how do you dry it?
2. Something like salt clay, I can sculpt it, but I'm not sure it will stand up outside. Covering it in sand or rocks might help. It would also need to be an air dry kind since it's too big to stick in the oven.
3. Wood frame planted berm like with sod. Would prefer no to go this way because it would be hard to plant, water and shape the way I want, but would work as a last resort.
I've rejected:
1. Concrete, needs a 3D mold.
2. Outdoor plaster, needs a 3D mold.
3. Standard Clay, would need to be held up for structure until fired and the only materials I can think of to hold it up wouldn't work in the kiln. It also might be too big for my grandma's kiln.
4. Polymer clay, too expensive in that quantity and also needs to be baked, too big for the oven.
Other ideas would be welcome, better yet positive answers or any answers to my basic questions.
I did a dinosaur diorama with my grandkids several years ago. We took sheet of plywood but you could use any frame. Used chicken with to form mountains, draped with wet muslin and covered with plaster. Plaster did not hold up to water so we used quickcrete like "dip'n'drape. Was messy but a great yard toy for years. There is a forum here about building stuff with concrete and concrete mixed with peat etc... I think if you go there and ask your questions, you will find allot of help! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/hypertufa/all/ Please keep us posted so I can learn from you. The idea of a miniature garden with a real pond makes my mind sing!! Thanks, Sue
Maybe you could get an old wash pan, tub, or bucket. Invert it over the aquarium, and cut out for the water feature, and parts you don't want. If you used a plastic tub, you might try melting it enough to soften and shape, or at least make your divets. Or, if you used a metal pan, use a hammer to shape. Then use mortar, or grout, over the bucket for a more natural texture. You could even make a yogurt+moss mix to paint over the whole thing to get moss to grow on the finish.
I'm all for recycling and using whatever I have handy... doesn't always work out though, lol. Good luck on your project and please do post your progress for others to learn!!
Quoting:
You could even make a yogurt+moss mix to paint over the whole thing to get moss to grow on the finish.
This is a good idea. The pan idea I don't think will work, I want something I can get detail with.
The yogurt+ moss is not an original idea. I saw it posted elsewhere a few times on DG, and one I want to try, too, first chance I get. You can also use buttermilk in place of the yogurt.
Let us know what you come up with for your structural base.
I need to fix the fish tank first. I need to reseal the bottom, soon I hope!