just finished a concrete back ground for a 10 gallon

[digital_cichlid]

i know that this is a very small tank, but i had it laying around, had space on my computer desk, had a power head and filter laying about, and i was really wanting to try out the foam and concrete background

Just started out with pink foam from [acronym:29de227eba="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:29de227eba] and silicone.


i'm using a penguin bio-wheel filter for a 55 gallon. the intake is hidden behind the background, but the return water goes out in front of it. i am also using a penguin 550 powerhead thats hidden and hase a sponge filter on it, the outlet water is directed through a 1/2 clear tube that is directed across the substrate to keep debris from settling on the bottom, i don't have an undergravel because i did't think that it would be very efficient.

i just cut the very basic shapes, and then used a propane torch to do all the shaping.

[wahoo_drew]

that is pretty cool!!! you made this out of concrete?

Im guessing this is for a [acronym:0430e3e08e="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:0430e3e08e] tank?

can i see a pic with it in the tank?

[digital_cichlid]

alright, that one was getting long. her's the finished project. it's my first time and wanted to test myself before i start on my 37 gallon tall that i am moving my jack dempsey and jewel into. i think that i learned a few things in the process and am very thankful to Sulla. i had seen a few articles before but after reading his post, i decided that i would finally try it. It might not look the best, but remember that it is just a 10 gallon tank.

i used a mix of quickcrete wallcrete and acrylic fortifier and on the last 2 coats i added cement color, all found at [acronym:76925a9df5="Home Depot"]HD[/acronym:76925a9df5]. When i filled it and checked it the following day the [acronym:76925a9df5="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:76925a9df5] was only 8.5. i did a 50% water change, then another the following day. [acronym:76925a9df5="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:76925a9df5] never rose above 8.5 and is now at 8.0. only cured for 2 days.up for a week and a half now and everything is going great.

i just threw in my albino zebra and a yellow lab that were in my 35 gallon hex cichlid mixed tank. they were the smallest and it was overstocked any way.

when i first put them in they seemed like they missed the 35 gallon, but soon found the caves and hid for a day. that's when i put in the drift wood because i wanted to see them a bit more. now they come out and sit in the shade.

let me know what you think... and thanx again go out to sulla.

[digital_cichlid]

just a few more pictures

[digital_cichlid]

anyone?

[Scottcenfla]

I think it looks great! I've never been a big fan of store bought backgrounds or just painting the back with black spraypaint, which I've done several times early on. A nice touch you added to the tank, nice goin'.

[digital_cichlid]

does anyone have any ideas as to what to put in here? I'm thinking about either a pair of p. demasoni, or a pair of kribensis...anyone have any ideas...only a ten so must be dwarf cichlids, is it possible to have more than 2 in it?

[FawnN]

I personally think that a pair of Kribensis is too big for the 10g. They actually need a lot of room to move around in.

What about some shell dwelling cichlids (Neolamprologus multifasciatus)?

[digital_cichlid]

sounds like a plan...any recommendations?

[Gunnie]

desktop cichlids

shelldweller corner