DIY tank background

[ChloroPhil]

Hey folks,

Here's the step-by-step of how I made a 3D background in my old 75g. The wood is from my 2003 award winning planted discus display. After giving the fish to a breeder friend of mine I decided I'd work up a West African biotope with a nice inset background. Here we go!

*the tank is no longer in service. I just found the disc with photos on it looking for old junk to sell in a garage sale.*


Step 1- Create a place to put all the in-tank hardware. I made a triangular pocket on the right side of the tank by siliconing a 1/4-inch thick glass pane to the right rear corner.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/SecuringShieldPane.jpg

Step 2- Attach sheet foam backing and secure the wood in place. The materials used are 3/4-inch thick insulation foam and Great Stuff brand expanding insulation foam.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/SprayFoam.jpg

Step 3- Figure out how the current would erode the bank and make contour pieces. I decided that some water would have flowed around the top of the stump and cut away a big of the bank immediately downstream of it.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/CrudeContours.jpg

Step 4- Attach the contours to the backing. 100% silicone was used for this.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/ContourPlacement.jpg

Step 5- Smooth out the edges
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/SmoothedContourFinalPlacement.jpg

Step 6- Seal and add texture. West Marine epoxy was used to do the sealing and a mixture of play sand and peat moss was put on top of the wet epoxy to add texture and color as it dried. Four coats were put over all of the foam. After each coat had dried for 24 hours the tank was turned right-side-up and the excess sand and peat were brushed off and used for the next coat.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/StartingTexture.jpg

More pictures
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/FinishedTexture.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/BottomDetail.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/RootCloseup.jpg


Regards,
Phil

[rickztahone]

nice, do you have a full tank pic? or one with fish in there?

[hedut]

How long you can use for? full tank shot will be great ;)

thanks

[ChloroPhil]

Thank you both for the kind words. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of the tank when it was full any longer. As far as longevity is concerned, as long as you make sure the edges are well sealed you can use this sort of background indefinitely. The epoxy and sand mix makes a rock-hard surface that won't wear away.

Regards,
Phil

[Chaddush]

ChloroPhil,

Thanks for the post about the 3d background it looks sweet. I really want to make one like it but have a question for you. I went to the West Marine site and found several epoxies. I'm nervous about not getting the right stuff and murdering my fish. Could you post a link with the right stuff. Will any epoxy like something from homedepot work or does it need to be boat stuff? This is where I was looking http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?jspStoreDir=wm51&catalogId=10001&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&view100page=100&Ne=712&Ntt=epoxy&keyword=epoxy&N=377+710+987&y=0&x=0&PopularCat=No&storeId=10001&Ntk=Primary&cid=sc_google&s_kwcid=TC|13788|west%20marine%20epoxy||S|e|333036 9814&gclid=CIi1xfSRlKECFUNJ5wodegjUPw.

Thanks for your help.

[Chaddush]

Is there a specific west marine epoxy to use I saw what appeared to be quite a few different types on the west marine site. I really want to do this but not kill my fish. Thanks.

[Chaddush]

Sorry I thought I screwed up my first post but apparently it just took a while to show up, that's why I posted twice not to be a pushy jerk or anything like that. Thanks again.