Can Styrofoam be used to create a backround. If it can be how would it stay submersed, it floats, and how would it support rocks that are siliconed to it? Do any of you have good ideas for a nice DIY backround
DIY Backrounds
- Thread starter phil_ip
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There are several sites out there that show how to DIY styrofome backgrounds. Most I've seen end up using concrete with dyes to coat it and make it look like natural rock. It's a fairly common thing to do, and you simply use aquarium safe silicone to glue it to the back. You do need to make sure the back glass is very clean and free from greese, or any chemicals, then liberally apply silicone to the styrofome where it will be placed against the wall. Most of these sites also talk about making a complete seal with the silicone. Don't let water get behind the styrofome. I suppose this is partially to keep the styrofome from breaking free and floating, and partially to keep water from becoming stagnant and fouling up your water quality. I'd be safe and coat the entire surface against the glass. I plan to do something like this myself in the near future.
Sure - click my link at the bottom of this response - I have DIY plans for the background I built on my very basic website.
Basically, I used Styrofoam (actually Extruded Polysterene - you will see why in my How-to), carved it - and covered with epoxy resin and sand then siliconed to the back of the tank in the manner Sumpin' Fishy described.
I would be cautious about using a thin concrete coating instead of epoxy resin and sand for 2 reasons. One is it will add extra weight and more importantly - concrete coatings will likely raise your PH - OK if you are keeping Cichlids - but probably not good for most other tanks.