ChloroPhil
11-21-2009, 08:28 PM
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
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