I want to create this AMAZING DIY Background for my 75 Gallon? Some advice please!

[dani_starr]

After going through many pages of DIY 3d backgrounds, I decided that I needed a 3D background, but didn't like how some didn't look "natural."

After stumbling upon this http://www.acquarionline.it/acquari/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=1
I knew that's what I was going to *try* to recreate as I could vision it with bichirs and ropefish, and it would look AMAZING!

I realized quite quickly that this guy is from Italy? (I think) and that a lot of the stuff he uses I have never heard of, so I am assuming it's all stuff that is in Italy.

So my main question is can anyone give me the U.S. names of some of the stuff he uses, and any advice/tips?

I don't plan on going the "au natural" method like he did, collecting everything from the wild and such. I basically figured I'd be able to buy a lot of that at home depot, lowes, walmart, etc, places like that. I am either going to get manzanita wood, or the grape vine branches.

Also, any ideas on how to do this as cheaply as possible? As I am on a fairly very tight budget for the next few months.

Thanks so much!

 

[dani_starr]

After rereading the article, I have 3 specific questions.

1) My 75 Gallon has a center brace, do you think I'd be able to make it as one piece, would it fit? I tried to imagine it, but until I can get a piece of plexi glass to try, I won't know for sure. I'm sure it could be possible, somehow right?

2) My tank has a built in corner overflow, it's rounded:


(don't worry, I quickly realized that I had to raise the black snakey tube thing so it didn't suck the water and overflow my sump..)

Given plexi glass doesn't come rounded, any ideas on what to do with that? I was thinking of somehow cutting and gluing the plexi glass into a
((just to show how I plan to "cut" the corners)
Oh darn it, I can't think of my third question now, but I will either edit it in later or if I get past my alloted edit time, ask it seperately

EDIT:

This isn't my 3rd question, but another question I now have. I realized that I can't just completely cover my overflow, because then it wouldn't filter correctly, right? What if I had holes in the plexi glass/wall so the slots (the one's on the top/bottom) in my overflow wouldn't be covered? Would that work? I still don't fully understand how my filter system works (I get how the sump underneath works with the pump, but that's about it).

Also, unrelated to DIY, but am I suppose to cover the overflow so the fish can't get in there?

Here's a list of the things he uses, so if anyone cares to shed some light on what they are/what they are in the U.S/where to find them, it'd be GREATLY appreciated

~expanse polyurethane
~Quartz sand
~lava powder (is this what they made from pulverizing lava rock)
~polystyrene
~polyver leaf
~plastivel

 

[H2Ogal]

I read somewhere, can't remember where, that grapevine should never be used in an aquarium ... It leaches something into the water. You might want to google about that, see what you can find.

Good luck with the build. Should be awesome!

 

[fshfanatic]

I read somewhere, can't remember where, that grapevine should never be used in an aquarium ... It leaches something into the water. You might want to google about that, see what you can find.

Good luck with the build. Should be awesome!

You are correct. I have read that numerous places, it will also start to rot once water saturates it completely.

 

[dani_starr]

Ah okay well I don't think he used grape vine anyways. I'll stick with Manzanita wood, or some other aquarium safe wood Thanks

 

[dani_starr]

So after I brief talk with platytudes, I now am aware that it will be pretty much impossible to build this in a solid piece outside the tank. My new plan is to try to build it in 3 pieces. Piece A to cover the overflow, PIECE B and C to be the bulk of background wall.

Here's my attempt on Paint to show what I mean

 

[dbosman]

Create a lap or jagged over lap on the pieces so the seams aren't straight lines.
Cured and properly aged (rinse the heck out of it) works for most aquariums.
You don't need to use plastic as the backing. Cast on flat ground, flat cardboard, flat garbage bags on the ground, etc.

 

[Chrisinator]

Is this going to be permanent?

If you are planning to make this a permanent background, I would say just do a single piece and add things to the glass instead of trying to create three different piece.

 

[mykidsmylife]

Ah okay well I don't think he used grape vine anyways. I'll stick with Manzanita wood, or some other aquarium safe wood Thanks

I think the reason they thought grapevine was because he was using "wine roots"...which is grape root. lol

I think it's a cool background. As I watched his build I thought "Uhhhmmm...not so pretty" then I saw the finished project. Very cool! You need to do a build thread with it. I'm interested to see how it works out for you.

 

[dani_starr]

Create a lap or jagged over lap on the pieces so the seams aren't straight lines.
Cured and properly aged (rinse the heck out of it) works for most aquariums.
You don't need to use plastic as the backing. Cast on flat ground, flat cardboard, flat garbage bags on the ground, etc.

I have absolutely no idea what you mean by creating a "lap" or "jagged over lap." I was thinking of cutting the pieces so they fit kinda like a puzzle, but then thought that the plexi glass would be a pain in the arse to cut like that? I just figured using the plastic would help give it something to help it sink?

Is this going to be permanent?

If you are planning to make this a permanent background, I would say just do a single piece and add things to the glass instead of trying to create three different piece.

I'm still debating on this, I figured if I just attached the plexiglass to it, then it could somehow be removed one day if need be? Or that the plexi glass would be heavy enough to not have to be siliconed on there? I plan to have this tank for a LONG time, but the idea of changing it permantely seems to be... I don't know.. daunting? (not the word I was thinking of, but close-ish)

I figured it would be impossible to fit as one piece, not too mention a major SOB to work on inside the tank? (Plus, I am trying to do eveything in my power so the tank doesn't need to be moved from the stand, it was a total pain in the butt to move there, I'd rather it stay there.)