Step by step ... the river

The fish were delivered for my river.  Now is my challenge. I am doing the next process untested.

I started by filling my base with sand.  Most of the sand will be dumped out later.  I formed a river in the sand placing some rocks along the side and bottom.  Then I mixed up a batch of bar top coating (EnviroTex Lite, pour-on High Gloss Finish).

The river with 3 fish

I poured about 4 ounces into my river bed making sure that I got the sand and rocks on the side and ends.  Even as the extra seeps into the sand around it will keep it's glossy "wet" appearance. I was originally concerned about too much surrounding sand being removed when everything is set.  Now I am curious to know how much sand will remain.  

Close-up of swimming fish

I may need to buy another batch of bar top coating.  I only had partial bottles left.  I had done a few projects in the past that needed it.  Don't oo and ah my creativity of a river.  I had seen it at a craft show where a man had made a log bench.  The log had a rotten spot in the center and the man used that rotten area to create a river with fish and plastic plants.  His was a much larger scale.  I thought to myself, "I need to try that some time!"  Today is my sometime.  With the thickness of the bar top coating, it might take all week to dry.