Lack of inspiration [Archive]

zamboniMan

12-22-2009, 05:41 PM

Here's my current display tank. I'm pretty bored with it. Thinking about tearing it down and doing a diy background. But I'm having trouble finding inspiration. Any suggestions.

Plants currently in that tank:

Cryptycornes:
Walkerii
Ponderfolia
Lutea
Petchii
Red Wenditii
Undulata
Spirillis

Itallian Lepoard Val
Narrow Leaf Amazon Sword

William Palumbo

12-22-2009, 05:51 PM

A new background would help a lot. I have my wild Greens in a semi-decorated tank...and I canNOT stand the painted background. On the BB's it's not too bad. I am not sure what floats your boat, but I like a display tank, I guess a "biotope" tank to have LOTS of wood and branches, placed freely about the tank. Not in a symetrical or manicured way. Anyways, that's just me. But a new backround would improve it greatly, if nothing else...Bill PS...The 2oogal tank Hans has with the wilds in it is what I would shoot for.

ChloroPhil

12-22-2009, 06:20 PM

zamboniMan

12-22-2009, 09:10 PM

I totally agree with Bill. A nice background would really spruce that tank up. Even something as simple as wood attached to egg-crate with the gaps filled with spray foam would work. If you paint the foam brown using Rust O Leum rather than using sand+epoxy you can easily attach plants to the wall with staples or super glue. No, neither the paint nor the staples will harm the fish.

Regards,
Phil

Well you answered all my questions before I could ask except for 1 :-p

Does the rustoleum last? I've used concrete over foam which I probably wouldn't do again simply because of how long it has to be submerged before it stops affecting the pH/hardness.

Well, okay I just finished reading through Hans' display tank thread and as always with Hans WOW. I definitely found some inspiration there.
*Shh don't tell Hans* ;)

Merry Christmas,
Josh

ChloroPhil

12-23-2009, 10:07 AM

Yes, it lasts a good long time. If you want to fork out a little extra cash you can get black pond foam that should be chemically neutral for your water and it's already colored black. With this you can move plants around without having to worry about pulling paint off the back. I had no issues with peeling when pulling off well established plants.

Here's a pic of my egg-crate and foam wall. It was intended to be covered or otherwise obscured by plants so I didn't pay much attention to aesthetic details. http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/SwimsWithFishes/Picture009.jpg

Regards,
Phil

David Rose

12-23-2009, 10:21 AM

Good luck with your project! I've been researching these as well and will have to check Hans' tanks. Until I saw your thread, I was thinking about a project like this one:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php

Sounds like cement isn't the way to go.

seanyuki

12-23-2009, 11:33 AM

I gonna start a new set up after Christmas and getting some nice driftwoods from April's shop....my ideal tank.;)

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh127/seanyuki/2235509508_f87f0450df-1.jpg

ChloroPhil

12-23-2009, 11:48 AM

That's a pretty tank, where'd you find the image?

Wahter

12-23-2009, 06:40 PM

I think these photos are from the ADA 2009 contest:

http://acuariorosa.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/the-international-aquatic-plants-layout-contest-2009/

Hope that inspires you! :)

Walter

Eddie

12-23-2009, 09:33 PM

My source of inspiration.....Discus Heaven IMO by Takashi Amano.

http://truthinart.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/amanotank1.jpg

tcmemphisbbq

12-23-2009, 10:07 PM

beautiful - the wife and i were talking past few days about redoing the 125 - I just redid it couple months ago and I used flat rocks to make flower pots for the plants in the back using them as retaining walls, the front has very little almost bare and most of the discus hang towards front half of the tank - but its looking cluttery to us so we are thinking about doing just what the photos show..... minimalize and simplistic - yet beautiful....

I actually like the simplicity of your tank zamboniman

Wahter

12-23-2009, 10:13 PM

My source of inspiration.....Discus Heaven IMO by Takashi Amano.

http://truthinart.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/amanotank1.jpg

Eddie, take a flight to Niigata and visit Amano's showcase gallery!

http://adana.co.jp/_gallery/

There you go!

Walter

Eddie

12-23-2009, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the link Walter, might have to take a trip out to mainland soon!

Take care and Merry Christmas

Eddie

zamboniMan

12-23-2009, 10:17 PM

I think I've figured out what I want to do. Of course I doubt what I'll end up with is anywhere near my drawing and I'm sure I'll change my mind several times throughout the process. I've got enough tanks to move the fish around and tear down so I'll probably do that tomorrow and then tackle as much as I can before I leave for Minnesota Monday morning. Ideally I'd like to get it coated so it can dry for a week without me sitting there wanting to put it up.

I'm going to try and use the background and sides to hide as much of the equipment as I can. Any idea's on how to hide the heater and still have it still be effective?

Possible equipment list:

1 sheet poret filter foam (borrowed this from hans hope he doesn't mind)
1 Magnum 350
*Still not sure about this one* 2 Large sponge filters (I've decided to run these in the front two corners hidden by "tree roots". (This will also give me sponge filters to put in new tanks in the future. I haven't put a sump on this set up as it's not drilled and I don't want to wreck it)
2 air pumps (one to run the two sponge filters) One to split up and spread out behind the back foam.
150 watt substrate heater (i always use them in my planted tanks)
150 or 200 watt submersible heater

David,
You can do it that way and it will hold up until the end of time. You just have to wait for the water to come down. (About a month maybe two if I remember correctly) I'm going to try the epoxy thing because i'm not that patient.

Eddie/Walter,

I love those tanks (one of them's my background shhh) but I'm no where near that talented. I've only been into planted tanks a couple years. I'm working on it. I just bought a new 10 gallon which will probably become my scaping tank practice (its small and easy to tear down/put up) so look for lots to come later on that :D