Disguising the Overflows

[Second Hand Pat]

Hey guys, a while back I installed a slimline background in my 100 oceanic. This tank has built-in overflows on either end of the tank. Hubby and I have failed to devise a way to install pieces of the background in front of this overflows.

This tank is already running so silicone is not an option. Other ideas could include using wood etc to disguise those things. Ideas, suggestions.

Here's a picture of the tank
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Discus%20Tank/IPhoneDec18001.jpg

[Jennie]

ok here goes.. ditch the stumps and use the branchy pieces on each end, keeping the center open..the wood currently in the middle hides the beautiful background u installed. Attatch anubias or something to the driftwood and let it fill in..that will draw tha eye away from the boxes behind the branches and to the center.:)

[Second Hand Pat]

I do not like the stump either. The only reason it is in there is the L183 love it. That piece could be cut down to just the roots and use the roots base for anubias along with branchy pieces.

[Jennie]

can't see them. well work in the branches first and add the stump later to see if it works..

[Laconic]

As nice is the background is, the only thing I can think of is to replace it with a solid black background to match the overflow colour.

[vera]

ok here goes.. ditch the stumps and use the branchy pieces on each end, keeping the center open..the wood currently in the middle hides the beautiful background u installed. Attatch anubias or something to the driftwood and let it fill in..that will draw tha eye away from the boxes behind the branches and to the center.:)

Oh yes Pat , branchy roots will do the trick , u already have 1 in the middle , just move it as it is towards the pipe and it will disguise it completely

[Second Hand Pat]

As nice is the background is, the only thing I can think of is to replace it with a solid black background to match the overflow colour.

It is solid black behind the background. Point of the background was to get away from the black. It not the best color for most discus except albinos.

[Second Hand Pat]

Here is the current hard scape.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Discus%20Tank/IPhoneDec24007.jpg

[Jennie]

MUCHO BETTERO! add plants on left side and finito!

[Second Hand Pat]

yeapo

[Jennie]

lol

[Second Hand Pat]

sorry, just going with the flow.

[saltydog]

I actually really liked the stump but i also think it looks great with the changes too and much more simplistic which is nice! I agree a few nice plants and when they grow in they should cover that overflow pretty well. You can get a small pot and get a nice large leaf java fern or sword and that would probably look pretty sweet. The pot could be covered by the root base there on the left.

[Crockett]

I had the same problem with my Oceanic 175 gallon bowfront. I've solved the problem with these, check link, http://www.livingcolor.com/aquarium-products/overflow-box-covers

I purchased the crystal river ones, tank looks awesome , you don't even know the overflows are there, great product but they are priced high. I will post some pictures when I get a minute.

The crystal river or everglades model would blend in great with your background. Like I said, they are pricey but if your're like me, I had to cover up those horrible looking overflows so I broke down and got them

Hope you like

Dave

[Second Hand Pat]

Dave, I do like. I would love to see some pictures of your tank. I think the everglades would work famously. I do not see how to order them. Are they custom made?

[Second Hand Pat]

I actually really liked the stump but i also think it looks great with the changes too and much more simplistic which is nice! I agree a few nice plants and when they grow in they should cover that overflow pretty well. You can get a small pot and get a nice large leaf java fern or sword and that would probably look pretty sweet. The pot could be covered by the root base there on the left.

Thanks, I had already cut the stump down to the root ball. I just could not make the stump look the way I had envisioned it when I bought it.

[Crockett]

I can't remember where I got mine from, (had them about 2 years) still looking through my older emails from when I ordered. I think I ordered them directly from the Company “living color” because that was the best price. Here is a link of a retailer that has prices listed. I just did a random google search for this retailer.http://www.copperfish.com/ovcocoso.html

I'm sure there are several other dealers, maybe you could contact living color and they could advise on a dealer that is closer to your area, so you will not have to pay shipping costs

I will post a picture of my tank tomorrow.

Dave

[Second Hand Pat]

Wow, they are quite proud of these covers. Still would appreciate a tank shot. Thanks Dave.

[Crockett]

Here are two pictures of my tank I just took, I experimented using ImageShack as the pictures were too large to load to my post, not great pictures but I just wanted to give you an idea of how they would look. Currently I don’t have any Discus in the tank, but that should change in the next few months. I also plan on replacing the white gravel with sand and I may add some more driftwood. Also like I said, your background would blend perfectly with either these covers or the everglades model, but I agree with you the everglades would look great.

Dave





http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/6763/img2456f.th.jpg (http://img602.imageshack.us/i/img2456f.jpg/)

[img=http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/6763/img2456f.th.jpg] (http://img602.imageshack.us/i/img2456f.jpg/)

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Dave, they did look nice. Way better then the two black columns. I am going to have to call the company who makes these. My overflows are shaped differently then the ones they show in their website. Mine are square vs U shaped.

[Crockett]

Pat, I’m sure they will be able to accommodate you, at least I hope. I know before I found these it was hard for me to look beyond the dull look of those two columns. Hope it works out for you. I really like that background you have, I’m thinking about looking into getting a similar background with more of a rock look that will blend with my rock overflow covers.

Dave

[Second Hand Pat]

Dave, Here's a thread I started concerning background and where I got mine.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?83411-Slimline-Backgrounds-By-Designs-By-Nature&highlight=

[Crockett]

Perfect, thanks alot Pat.

Dave

[Second Hand Pat]

Sure Dave, The slimline I got is easy to install but a bit harder to cut the top the proper height. I ending up cutting it down three times but did not want to cut it to short.

[Doc_Polit]

You could use coated rare earth magnets. Mount them in the background pieces and attach to overflow. Voila!

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=164&gclid=CJ3cgMiYrKcCFdO4KgodCAmPBA

[Sean Buehrle]

go buy some rocks and silicone them outside the tank in the shape of the overflows. allow them to cure and place in the tank.