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	custom backgrounds?
monkeyboy Fish Addict Posts: 521 Kudos: 375 Votes: 223 Registered: 10-Apr-2005	ok everybody, i've been seeing these in tank backgrounds http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/6665/cid/2866 for the smaller tanks. but i'm looking for one that will fit into a 150. there have been a few threads across the board about making them, but i just dont have the time or patients (sp?). moneys almost not an option there. but i'd really like one Fish tanks are an expensive addiction
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
poisonwaffle Mega Fish Posts: 1397 Kudos: 591 Registered: 11-Feb-2003	I dunno if it helps or not, but I built a custom background for my soon-to-be 10 gal paludarium (half land, half water... for newts and toads and anphibians and whatnot). I started with a 4'x8'x1/2" sheet of construction grade styrofoam (the pink stuff), cut it to size (12"x20" for my tank), hot glued on layers of grey window screens (so it wouldn't look pink...just grey), and sealed that with epoxy. Then I fit together about 25lbs of slate (that I got on my trip to the east coast...most of it was collected in NY and PA)...shaped them, cut them to fit, filed 'em down, etc. I drilled a 5/8" hole in one of 'em with an $8 masonry bit so I could run tubing thru the slate, down thru the background, and down to a pump that will be burried under the gravel. So I basically have a nice waterfall will run down one of the biggest pieces of slate. Then I soaked 'em all in a 5 gal bucket of water with a bit of bleach, then rinsed, rinsed, rinsed, rinsed, and then soaked in a bucket of water for a few days, and rinsed again When they were dry, I epoxied them all to the background how I'd layed 'em out before. I ran all the tubing and cords behind the styrofoam (cut channels out so the whole thing would be flat against the back of the tank). I've got about 40 hours of work and about $50 invested in the background (and that's not including the price of slate...I got that for free...it's about $4/lb if ya buy it here...so that makes the background worth about $150 here ) I'm still not done with the tank! Another 10 gal tank that I had cracked, so I had to quick move everything to the tank that I'd intended the paludarim to become! Then my ACF's spawned, so I bought a new 10 to raise the tadpoles in, and when they grow up, I'll sell 'em, and THEN I'll be able to finish the project Anyway...here's some pictures of the background and stuff if yer intrested! The Whole Setup The Waterfall Hole A Closeup of the Epoxied Slate HTH Last edited by PoisonWaffle at 07-Nov-2005 20:47[/font][/font][/font]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
houston Fish Guru You want what when? Posts: 2623 Kudos: 2462 Votes: 337 Registered: 29-Mar-2003	How about taking several of them and cutting them to fit the tank? that's my best thought...and I can understand how little time and patience is available for doing something like thatI know I don'theidi EDIT: and pancakethe pics aren't showing upwhat's wrong:%) Last edited by houston at 07-Nov-2005 18:35 "I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
poisonwaffle Mega Fish Posts: 1397 Kudos: 591 Registered: 11-Feb-2003	Piccies working now You might want to check out [link=Cichlid Forum's DIY Articles]http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_list.php" style="COLOR: #66FF33[/link]. Scroll down a bit to see all of the DIY background stuffs Don't shoot me for posting that link
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
monkeyboy Fish Addict Posts: 521 Kudos: 375 Votes: 223 Registered: 10-Apr-2005	dont want diy, dont have time. but ty anyway. hhmm didnt think of cutting and pasting them houston. thanks may think of that idea. just scared as how many it may take lol. Fish tanks are an expensive addiction
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
sharkbait_whohaha Hobbyist Posts: 89 Kudos: 65 Votes: 0 Registered: 28-Sep-2005	Not sure if you have seen this, but give them a call and see if they can help you out with a background http://www.universalrocks.com.au/aquarium.htm Last edited by Callatya at 09-Nov-2005 22:00
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
dan76 Big Fish Always Reading Posts Posts: 343 Registered: 08-Jul-2003	sharkbait i have seen a few of those backgrounds in action and they look great OH TOLEEDY!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
monkeyboy Fish Addict Posts: 521 Kudos: 375 Votes: 223 Registered: 10-Apr-2005	thanks sharkbait, that was exactly what i was looking for Fish tanks are an expensive addiction
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
sharkbait_whohaha Hobbyist Posts: 89 Kudos: 65 Votes: 0 Registered: 28-Sep-2005	Monkeyboy - anytime. just make sure you shop around for the one you want as l found out there is a big difference in price from shop to shop. Dan - these are fantastic. I was going to do the DIY background, but when l saw these in the LFS l couldnt help myself. I have already fitted it to the tank and it looks mad.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53
houston Fish Guru You want what when? Posts: 2623 Kudos: 2462 Votes: 337 Registered: 29-Mar-2003	Sharkbait, awesome site Monkeyboy, that "Ribbed Rock" might be just what you need 7 ft long and 2 ft tall, should take care of your tank But the others are nice as well houston "I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:53


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