flagstone + silicone = aquarium background?? - Aquarium Advice

DallasFish · 06-19-2008, 10:34 PM

Hello All -

I'm looking at background options for my new 55g FW. The one I liked the best is the discussions I've seen about making a natural rock background by attaching rocks to the back glass inside the tank with aquarium-safe silicone.

I've got some nice 1/2" thick flagstone that I think would work well, but I wanted to run it by you to see if the idea really works based on your experience.

If I use a good amount of silicone, and let everything cure for a few days, does it really work? Does the silicone adequately support the weight of the rocks? I don't want a rock crashing through the floor of the aquarium

.

Thank you very much for your thoughts!

**Fishyfanatic** · 06-20-2008, 07:12 AM

I have never attempted this project but I have used aquarium silicone. I will tell you from experience, I have had rock structures come apart at the silicone. I wouldn't trust it to hold rock to the back glass.

kimo · 06-21-2008, 05:44 AM

Scrub the rocks real good then silicone them together. Don't make a huge mass thats hard to fit. 4-6 rocks glued as a unit will work. Then stack the different pieces. Let them sit for 72 hrs to cure before putting in the tank.
I wouldn't silicone them to the back glass though. It makes it much to hard to clean the tank during a tear down. If you get any type of hair algae with the rocks glued to the back, it will be impossible to get rid of. Use egg crate or an old UGF filter plate beneath the gravel to act as a cushion above the bottom glass.

DallasFish · 06-21-2008, 01:42 PM

Thank you for the good information

. I'm thinking I'll stick to rocks in the tank and paint a black background on the outside back of it.

06-19-2008, 10:34 PM	#1
DallasFish Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 143	flagstone + silicone = aquarium background?? Hello All - I'm looking at background options for my new 55g FW. The one I liked the best is the discussions I've seen about making a natural rock background by attaching rocks to the back glass inside the tank with aquarium-safe silicone. I've got some nice 1/2" thick flagstone that I think would work well, but I wanted to run it by you to see if the idea really works based on your experience. If I use a good amount of silicone, and let everything cure for a few days, does it really work? Does the silicone adequately support the weight of the rocks? I don't want a rock crashing through the floor of the aquarium . Thank you very much for your thoughts! Last edited by DallasFish; 06-19-2008 at 10:34 PM. Reason: typo

06-20-2008, 07:12 AM	#2
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,251 Images: 15	I have never attempted this project but I have used aquarium silicone. I will tell you from experience, I have had rock structures come apart at the silicone. I wouldn't trust it to hold rock to the back glass. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-21-2008, 05:44 AM	#3
kimo Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 221	Scrub the rocks real good then silicone them together. Don't make a huge mass thats hard to fit. 4-6 rocks glued as a unit will work. Then stack the different pieces. Let them sit for 72 hrs to cure before putting in the tank. I wouldn't silicone them to the back glass though. It makes it much to hard to clean the tank during a tear down. If you get any type of hair algae with the rocks glued to the back, it will be impossible to get rid of. Use egg crate or an old UGF filter plate beneath the gravel to act as a cushion above the bottom glass.

06-21-2008, 01:42 PM	#4
DallasFish Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 143	Thank you for the good information . I'm thinking I'll stick to rocks in the tank and paint a black background on the outside back of it.