Well, this is my first DIY project. So I decided to make a 3d background using Styrofoam for my new Lake Malawi setup. Using tips from many other threads in this forum, I will be using similar materials and methods. Therefore I might not be as detailed in my project on this forum, but rather show my pics and progress.
My tank is a 55 gallon tank, 48"x13"x20". I bought a pack of 48x15x3/4" Styrofoam and Great Stuff foam. Unfortunately Home depot did not have anything thicker, so I will be doing allot of gluing. I'm using typical aquarium glue from HD.
I started by measuring out my foam and cutting. You guys said this stuff was messy, I had no idea had bad it was. I have four sections going in. Two large sections and then I'm splitting up the last section, one above and one bellow my filter return. I will end up leaving a large crack in the rock to allow the water to go through. I decided this was the easiest way since my tank is limited on depth, I did not want to fully enclose my return and intakes. But I will conceal them the best I can. I plan to using colored cement to finish the background.
Here is a pic of my current tank. I will be getting rid of the little fishies soon, so I can use my tank for fitting the Styrofoam.
Here is a pic of the lower left block. I decided to make some realistic rocks along with some not so realistic caves for my fish. This is just after cutting the Styrofoam. I will heat it next to get rid of the ruff edges, then add seal it with cement.
Here are some Misc pics.
Filter:
Leporinus
[/img]
My tank is a 55 gallon tank, 48"x13"x20". I bought a pack of 48x15x3/4" Styrofoam and Great Stuff foam. Unfortunately Home depot did not have anything thicker, so I will be doing allot of gluing. I'm using typical aquarium glue from HD.
I started by measuring out my foam and cutting. You guys said this stuff was messy, I had no idea had bad it was. I have four sections going in. Two large sections and then I'm splitting up the last section, one above and one bellow my filter return. I will end up leaving a large crack in the rock to allow the water to go through. I decided this was the easiest way since my tank is limited on depth, I did not want to fully enclose my return and intakes. But I will conceal them the best I can. I plan to using colored cement to finish the background.
Here is a pic of my current tank. I will be getting rid of the little fishies soon, so I can use my tank for fitting the Styrofoam.
Here is a pic of the lower left block. I decided to make some realistic rocks along with some not so realistic caves for my fish. This is just after cutting the Styrofoam. I will heat it next to get rid of the ruff edges, then add seal it with cement.
Here are some Misc pics.
Filter:
Leporinus
[/img]
You'll have to keep up a photo diary of the progress on the background.
