Devon's 240

[Debow]

So I finished the fish rack and moved the sump, saltwater tank, qt tank, and hospital tank over. Still have ways to go but glad I freed up the room space to make room for the 3 barrels. Still need to paint and seal the wood but that wil come. I also plan on doing some planted shrimp tanks on the top shelf when everything is all finished.
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[Debow]

So after a few weeks of looking at the new background laying around I decided to tackle the monster and get it in the tank. So for those that have not worked with one of these I have to say this was not for the faint of heart. This material is a polyurethane rubber coated with stone, It is extremely heavy, rough, stiff material. I ordered 102'' to compensate for the overflow box. So I had to figure out a way to get the monster inside the tank with only 2 access panels in the top. Another challenge was figuring out how to bend/from the center section to conform to the over flow box. This is where calling the manufacture helps, I called Universal Backgrounds and had a long chat with 2 of the employes and thought of a method to install the back ground, They also sent me a scrap of the background to test the method on which was very nice of them.

So I went ahead and made a 2x4 form that was the exact shape of the overflow box the angles were 45 degrees. I measured and marked the points that the bends had to be and began to heat with a heat gun along the part that needed to be bent about 15min. Once it was hot (very hot) i took drywall screws and began to screw it to the form, I was not skimpy on the screws the more the better. Once screwed down I heated again and then let it rest a hour or so. I repeated this on the other side and then again on the remaining 2 sides. So not I had a total of 4 bends, with which I cut the center section out and doing it this was insured I would have a perfect seam on the cut as it was already shaped, and would just go right back together. The rest was just trial and error measure and trim a little here and there on the ends to get a tight fit. I took off my returns and drilled out the holes, screwed everything back together and its done. I spread the substrate back against the bottom and did a water change.

I am very happy with the quality and extremely pleased with the look of the tank. I would suggest to anyone that is on the fence of getting a Universal Rocks background to do it. In my case I have a difficult tank wot work with and that's why I had to do so much work but I was worth it. The guys at Universal Rocks are great people to work with too.

Here is the form with the background attached after heating. I inserted a small piece of wood the exaggerate the bend to compensate for any bend back after forming. Best part of the material is you can not see the screw holes once the screws are removed.
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[Phillydubs]

That sounds like a lot of effort, but it looks well worth it as that tank has just transformed! Beautiful!

[Jack L]

I used their background before you are right it is not flimsy stuff. I had to use a RotoZip to cut holes in it for my biocubes intakes. it looks good but I cannot see what you were trying to get around from your earlier pictures ,what was there?

[Phillydubs]

How did you approach the whole space or gap behind issue and the possibility of left over food and nasties being back there? Can you slip it in and out to clean if needed?

[Debow]

How did you approach the whole space or gap behind issue and the possibility of left over food and nasties being back there? Can you slip it in and out to clean if needed?

The sides are tight and the bottom is flush, the only spot there would be any gay would be the center section where the overflow is as this is below water level and the rest is above. I have a 1/2 gap on the bottom to vacuum anything that might get trapped behind. I will learn more once I have to start cleaning it. I can move the panels with a little patience if need be.

[Debow]

I used their background before you are right it is not flimsy stuff. I had to use a RotoZip to cut holes in it for my biocubes intakes. it looks good but I cannot see what you were trying to get around from your earlier pictures ,what was there?

I think your talking about the reason why I had to bent the center section? I have a center overflow box that is on a 45 degree angle that come out towards the front of the tank, I had to wrap the background around it or it would just be a straight sheet across the tank and that would not work. everything had to be flush and tight.

[Phillydubs]

Very cool! Sounds like you did your homework and really approached it the right way. I love how it looks, you must sit there and watch for hours!

Keep us posted on the progress!

[Debow]

I fell in love with the tank again! I need to order some new plants and fill it in with a few more rocks and I think it will look even better. In the spring or summer some more discus might be a idea. I was getting tired of the plain black background it made the tank look dark and I don't think the fish cared for it much. This was not a cheap addition cost $400 on sale with 30% off! This is why I have been putting it off for the last 2 years. But once I saw the sale I had to buy it! I have to say when it arived and I saw how ridged it was I was a little defeated and concerned I would not be able to make it work, and being a custom cut they do not take returns. So I had to figure it out one way or another.

[Debow]

[Phillydubs]

It really looks great! I was going to ask you for a ball park price.. lol! Wow, pretty penny...

I was also going to say... MORE DISCUS! You have so much room there, that tank would look amazing bustling with fish. I love your school of cards!

[Debow]

So far I have put all my money into the tank and equipment, I plan on saving up for the fish.

[Jack L]

school of what fish at 10 secs?

[Jack L]

the sawed off stump, is there a way to bust that up some to make it look more broken and less sawed? just a thought.

[Debow]

school of what fish at 10 secs?

Those are Rose Line Sharks, (Torpedo Barbs) I have 6 of them, they are a nice medium size schooling fish that don't bother anyone.