background

[vidrar]

Are there any drawbacks to using plaster of paris to make a custom background in an aquarium.

[carpguy]

Plaster isn't waterproof. It'll dissolve and send your KH into the stratosphere.

Aside from that, no. ;) :p :rolleyes:

[vidrar]

can you think of anything i can put over top of the plaster of paris that would seal it good, maybe epoxy, or cement?

[seeseven]

i've made a huge amount of backgrounds for my tanks and friends tanks .....i first started with cement which is great when you start off but there are a few draw backs ....
one depending on the size of your tank it is very very very heavy..and you have to cure it in water for at least 7 weeks so it takes a while ....

i've tried it with plaster which is not as heavy as cement.....but you need to coat it in epoxy resin or the plaster will leak into your tank making it into a milk bath....

best way i've found is to make them out of two part foam ....the stuff you get at hardware stores to fill in gaps ......you spray it and it expands to foam....great stuff.....once its cured it takes about a day to cure properly you can mold it with a knife to the shape or shapes you want then just colour it and give it a few coats of epoxy resin and silicon it to your tank .......realllly good stuff to use for back grounds.....

[carpguy]

I'm still searching for the perfect thing to use to build a rockscape for the loaches.

Right now I'm using rocks. They work well, but they're a little hard to customize.

I was going to build a base out of foam and then cover that with a coat of concrete, possibly reinforced with a modeling mesh. I'd been looking at quick-curing concrete and at grout, liking its texture and wide color assortments. Except that concrete is made with lime, and lime will tend to drive up the pH. And I don't want to do that.

I was thinking that a good coat of epoxy or some other type of waterproofing might help mitigate this, but I haven't found anything conclusive on that. Haven't run any trials yet, still researching a few other avenues. The epoxy and plaster route could work, just seems like it'd easy to have it go wrong. Some area neclected or damaged could start to undermine it. If you really want to go that route I'd run a few trials first.

Other folks have done backs with foam, either styro or the expanding stuff, and sprinkled sand on a few successive epoxy coats. Works.

I also was reading something the other day that gypsum (plaster) would drive up your GH and make your tank look like chowder, but not effect KH.

[DonnieP]

I just finished a 3/D styrofoam and cement background for my 110 Cichild tank, here is the link if you want to check it out, let me know what you think!
http://www.catfishheaven.net/day1.html

[Andy16]

Did you put up that step by step intructions thing? That is pretty cool, and really helpful for whoever wants to do somehting like that. Good job!

[DonnieP]

Andy
Yep, I posted all that on my site to help out anyone that might want to give it a try. It was really pretty easy to do and I tink it turned out well.. I have three Tetras in it now cycling getting ready for the Cichlids.

http://www.catfishheaven.net/background/28.jpg

[125gJoe]

I like the idea!! Looks great!
But, on a planted tank, the efforts may be hidden...

Now about those alien faces?? :eek:

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL59/715239/1510346/33516075.jpg
http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL59/715239/1510346/33897447.jpg This graphic looks like the 'left face'...


That pic is from the website posted here. I shoulda enlarged it some, but I did not edit those 'rocks' at all.

The face on the right looks like the Mars Face. The left one looks, well, just scary.....

The pic may show up better if you link to the website yourself.
Click the link and scroll down.

Link:
Alien Rock Background (http://www.catfishheaven.net/day9.html)

(this could get more comments in GCC -- Chit Chat Forum)

:D

[DonnieP]

80gJoe

Looked at it a million times and never seen them faces, you must have a vivid imagination.;)

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by DonnieP
Looked at it a million times and never seen them faces, you must have a vivid imagination.;) And, you have never heard all the "hullabulloo" about the "Mars Face", you've never seen "X-Files" or the movie....? Ok, I understand..

What kind of monitor do you have? Resolution?

http://www.catfishheaven.net/day9.html

I'll go back and read thru your site. This must have been planned and I missed it. ;)

[DonnieP]

Why it shows up in the pic I have no idea but looking at the tank, you can't see it.. It must have been the combination of flash and shadows.. Anyway, I never did like X files and I don't believe all that Mars crap, my head is right here on Earth where it should be..Besides, why would I want an alien in my Cichlid tank???:rolleyes:

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by DonnieP
Why it shows up in the pic I have no idea but looking at the tank, you can't see it.. It must have been the combination of flash and shadows I guess the shadows and flash did indeed cause the 'anamoly' or extra reflections!

I have an ongoing 'raz' or joke with a Mod/member here on Aquaria Central -- that's all. It is nice to know you can see how the shadows 'look interesting'.... "Why it shows up in the pic I have no idea...."

Nice job on that project!
(edit)..
Sorry to have bothered you.
By the by, nice website!!

[125gJoe]

Day 9 pic..

http://www.catfishheaven.net/background/29.jpg

Wow -- so many "views"!
It's about 250 now..

edit: now at 315 views.. ..interesting.. :D

[Tyler718]

DonnieP,
That backgound looks great in that tank. I have been trying to figure out how to do something like this. I think I might give this a try on my 150g. Just out of curiousity, how heavy is each piece when all was said and done?

Thanks,
Dave

[DonnieP]

Tyler718
Each of the three pieces were, I'd say about ten pounds each at the most, remember the last coat goes on after they are siliconed into the tank, you also fill any gaps at this time, they were light enough that it was easy for me to to on one leg since the other was out of commision at the time..

If you need any help just email me from my website via the link below "Catfish Heaven" or ask on this forum..

[chefkeith]

Just an fyi,
The Quickrete Quickwall that Donnie P used for his background is USDA and EPA approved for potable water applications.

Hope this helps.


http://www.quikrete.com/spec_data/surface_bonding_cement.pdf


http://www.quikrete.com/catalog/QUIKWALLSurface-BondingCement.html

[DonnieP]

chefkeith
Thanks for the added info, I did lots of research on the Quickwall before choosing that as my cement material..:)

[chefkeith]

Your research and website helped me on my current project. - A network of caves for my clown loaches. I'll start a new thread for my caves project.

[vidrar]

well i've tried a few different ways now.

spray foam-----hated it.. for that size of a project

sheet style foam----i was okay, but *@#$ed it up with the heatgun.

Cement -------was way to heavy

now i'm trying a artists clay approach, it will be much heavier then the foam, not nearly as heavy as the cement, but it has been the nicest product to work with and shape so far.

Just not sure what i'm going to seal it with once it's all painted and looking the way i want it too. i need something clear that won't bleed into my water.

[DonnieP]

vidrar
You might need to rethink the clay for a background, I've never tried it but with my experience using clay in my Taxidermy I think unless you have a kiln to fire the clay its just going to crack and crumble and it will also be heavy and you will never get it sealed good enough that it want get wet and dissolve.. Why don't you try the strofoam again? its cheap and easy to work with, just go easy on the heat gun next time, or don't use heat, you can use sandpaper and smooth up the styro for the cement coating.