At Long Last.... Sydney's Rimless Tank Build!

[Autumnsky]

Tracking info just came in on the Eco and its supposed to be here by Friday the 3rd. :/ Later than I was hoping, hopefully it gets here earlier! It's coming via ups and is in California right now. What do I do if the plants get here before the substrate?

I would throw them into a bucket with a fish tank light or planted tank/or daylight bulb. I usually use pwc tank water, so it has some stuff for the plants in it.

Love your light bulb creation.

 

[Jev12]

Lol I ordered 9 bags of Eco complete that are expected to arrive Friday the third too

 

[Scottyhorse]

Lol I ordered 9 bags of Eco complete that are expected to arrive Friday the third too

Wow, how big if a tank are you putting those in?

 

[Scottyhorse]

What color background should I put on the tank?

 

[Ayi]

Just paint it black. It makes the colors pop more.

 

[Old Scales]

Petsmart has a vinyl sheet background that is solid black on one side and dark blue on the other. I think I paid 8 bucks for it about a year ago. OS.

 

[Fresh2o]

Petsmart has a vinyl sheet background that is solid black on one side and dark blue on the other. I think I paid 8 bucks for it about a year ago. OS.

Is it shiny or "flat"? I used a black trash for one tank. Looks okay except with flash photography. I used a black desk pad / poster pad on another tank and no shine or reflection.

 

[Kimlafeiet]

Subscribed. You new tank is gorgeous! Definitely jealous! Might have to splurge on a rimless myself.
For background, maybe look at window covering, like Bill did on his 12 long. It might have a nicer look with the rimless setup. Just my 2 cents

 

[Old Scales]

Yes window tint would cling where the vinyl would have to be taped on. Good idea. OS.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Take a look at contact paper. I've used both black and clear to great effect on different tanks. It has a light adhesive that makes application a breeze, without leaving a sticky residue. You just need to use a card to push and smooth out bubbles that can get trapped to make it look clean.

The black actually goes by contact paper (brand), chalkboard paper. Got mine from Amazon. I used it on my 60P. As for the clear contact paper. It's not actually clear, it's more like an opaque semi-transparent film, similar to the glass etch stuff Bill used. I'm currently using it in the 60F and GLA tanks.

What's also neat is that the paper side, before you peel it away, has a grid that makes it easy to cut it to size accurately prior to application.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I think I'm going to go with the window etch paper like bill used on his 12 long. I think black would make the tank less rimless. If that makes sense.

 

[maxwellag]

Just to compare black and frost backgrounds... these tanks will look familiar

 

[Scottyhorse]

Hrrmmm... Never seen those tanks before LOL.
They both look nice, now I'm second guessing myself. Thanks, Max.

 

[Old Scales]

Beautiful!

Just to compare black and frost backgrounds... these tanks will look familiar

Max,
Are these recent pictures? I really love pic #1. I especially like the plants cascading down the rock face on the right end. Awesome. You have the touch my friend. OS.

 

[maxwellag]

Max,
Are these recent pictures? I really love pic #1. I especially like the plants cascading down the rock face on the right end. Awesome. You have the touch my friend. OS.

Those aren't mine- the frost one is Bill's be the black one is Brian's.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Old Scales]

LOL OK. I just assumed. Sorry.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Eco is still shedualed to get here on Friday, looks like that's when I will start the tank. Assuming the plants and driftwood are here. Most of the plants will get here before the Elatine Triandra and Ludwigia sp Red get here from Joey. (Thanks for those, btw.)

I have it narrowed down to 1 or 2 Peacock Gudgeons, or a Sparkling Gourami as the final livestock.

Now I'm kinda thinking about doing a black background on this tank, it will help things 'pop'.

Lastly, had anyone here done a planted HOB filter? What plants will work for that?

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Oh and I forgot to mention, I think I'd vote for putting the frosty clear background on your tank. You can even be creative and add a small light behind it to create a sunrise effect.

Here's how the clear contact paper looks on our 60F.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I think I am going to go with the frosty background.

 

[Ayi]

I like the idea of the sunrise effect.