--13 Snakeskin barbs, 12 Brass Tetras, 20 Rosy Tetras, 12 Calico Tetras, 3 Pearl Gouramis , 8 corys (Axlerodi), and 2 BN plecos. The layers soft dry fairly quickly (30-45 minutes), but your entire project youll want to let dry at least 24 hours before putting in your tank. Not bad, Not realy something i would go for myself though. I used a concrete overlay called Ultra Tex U-91-1 but others have used regular concrete and the quickcrete overlay stuff.
Does it cost much to make an aquarium background? Again let this coat dry for at least 24 hours or longer. You must log in or register to reply here. Interesting. For this reason, its unhealthy to add anything they can ingest that isnt part of their diet.
Heres what you need to know, Aquatic turtles: Care and feeding basics every Testudine enthusiast needs to know, How to fix cloudy aquarium water in a few easy steps and make your fish happy, When can kittens leave their mom? 5 years ago, Scale down? JavaScript is disabled. I really really wanted to do something like that but was kind of afraid of how it would turn out seeing as it was my first attempt at something like this. I made the mistake of not measuring how much coloring I used when I had to mix some more to cover the area where the foam was split (shown as the more-orange-looking serpentine line going through the middle). If you likewise plan to create a planted tank, keep in mind a thick layer of special substrate is recommended as well as adequate lighting. You may discover that your PH has climbed pretty high. I poured some on then used the brushes to spread it around even.
DIY Aquarium Background Using Styrofoam, 15 DIY Air Hockey Table Projects For Beginners And Pros. Has anyone accomplished this or attempted it? Did cement can give any harm to my fishes. Sorry I did not have a pict of this step but I had one right before I finished it. be sure to press on it slightly to help spread the silicone against the glass. 1 inch pink foam board (the kind you buy at Home Depot or Lowes) In the pic below I had already begun the carving process. You want a smooth mixture and real watery.
I'm planning on doing this for a 750 litre aquarium! My thought was to create something like this with a planted tank and plant some ferns or something right on to the polystyrene. this will make the foam shrivel down to ~zero volume without the hazards of high heat and fire. I am curious to know the long term ramifications as well.
It is also super easy and quick to build. You need an aquarium silicone, styrofoam, Quikrete concrete dye, drylok Masonry sealer, a knife or butane torch, and finally an empty aquarium tank. How To Lower PH In Aquarium - 8 Methods That Work! Curious as to how it will hold up over time though as I don't want to have to pull it out, scrape everything down, and rescape in a year ;). It is in a 30 gallon hexagon tank. The pH level in a freshwater aquarium is a delicate balance, and the chemicals most household items contain can be fatal to your fish. Just check it and decide for yourself, you dont want to kill your fishies After letting mine sit for a couple of weeks I felt confident to start cycling the tank. I added my sand, started my filters and started a fishless cycle. Hiii i want to ask that if we use cement for colour so it will harm my fishes or not ?? You want to mix the concrete ALMOST water thin. This coat went on a bit smoother and started filling in the gaps and small details. Most of all the aquarium background you would buy will be made out of cement and styrofoam. Are there aquarium safe paints that would work here, guys? There are some limitations, but using our guidelines and common sense, you can put together a safe and distinctive living environment for your fishy friends. What materials should I avoid using in my decorations? Most of the treated wood decorations available in pet stores as well as driftwood are fine; however, all other wooden objects should be avoided. -Once dry, carve your desired shape. I used GE Window and Door Silicone II 100% silicone adhesive to attach the rocks to the backing slab of foam. 9 years ago decorations below. Opting for a small space, such as a bathroom tub with a shop vac handy is the easiest way to keep things contained. With 96 cents You can cover up your 55-gallon aquarium tank and it will last and look beautiful as well. Small finishing nails Yeah if I were ever to do another one, I would make it less uniform. most extensive collections of aquarium rocks, backgrounds, driftwood, artificial plants and aquarium
was the primary cutting tool.
Your fish are also at risk from any naturally occurring item with common bacteria that hasnt been properly cleaned. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. With either method you can accessorize. Would attaching to slate pieces that would rest on the bottom of the tank and could be lifted out be too far away from what you want? The first thing you're going to need is a great stuff pond and stone for just $10 a can on Amazon, a Quikrete liquid cement color, white drylok paint, paintbrush, and a small paint bucket. I had to cut mine in half to get it into the aquarium. 11 years ago Are you looking for an aquarium tank to build without spending so much money? About the consistancy of thick pancake batter. Here is a short list of five aquatic plants you can find at your local pet store: Now that you know the basics, feel free to get creative: In other words, have fun! Trust me, I tried everything from nail polish remover and vegetable oil to goo-gone. My full 3D fish tank background used a resin skull and the output house of a canister filter to create a water fall. Share it with us! These items, while decorative and likely a fond reminder of a past vacation or great hike, contain calcium and other minerals that can alter the pH of the water in your freshwater tank. I've had the fish in it for over two years. Green water can indicate an imbalance of nutrients in the water. on Introduction. Summer Holidays for Chicken (using Poor Man's Fibreglass). Youll need to add aquatic plants that thrive being submerged in water. The subreddit for anything related to aquariums!
Pond and landscape spray foam Like ajk1717 mentioned, I'd probably make tunnels and other features that make it look a lot more natural. Anyone tried this with reptiles at all? Has some algae growth on it and some black build up, not sure what the black build up is, some sort of algae I suspect, it does come off if I scrub it but I like the way it looks and the fish and trumpet snails dont seem to mind it and it doesnt seem to effect the water quality. This is based on people making "aragonite rock" which is portland cement mixed with crushed aragonite. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The first time I saw this awesome realistic unicorn skull, my immediate thought was, that needs to be in a fish tank! and not just in a first tank, it needed to be the center piece. What materials are safe to use in my aquarium? and the other does not. I just cut them out of the foam as I needed them. The first step.is to place the foam and start laying the layers and pieces to form your rock-like formation. Hi!! but this is still cool and i will definitely try it if i get the chance anytime in the near future. Although he finishes the sides of the piece as well and adheres the panel to the exterior of the glass, creating a deeper look to his tanks, avoiding corrosion and also reducing the water displacement the panel creates. I tried to keep all the "rocks" lined up by laying it out on the table while building the other side After you get all the rocks on it that you want, be sure everything lines up and fits together inside the tank like you want before the next step. How long did you have it in your tank? More pictures and a video of the unicorn tank (planted and stocked with glofish): Our site contains affiliate links, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Maybe you could paint it? Did you find yourself with a ruined tank and deep regrets several years later? Thank you for your support! -Sharp knife Try adding a few of these salt water aquarium plants to breathe life into your tank, The 5 easiest fish to take care of for clueless newbies, Are turtles reptiles or amphibians? They also give off CO (oxygen), which can help your fish breathe. The first step is creating your foam shape, apply the rebound self thickening brush-on silicone, then the plastic paste and the rest of the materials will follow when the previous materials have thickened and set properly. Dont use one-use plastic items such as water bottles or unsealed, painted plastic toys, as they can contain toxic chemicals. I sprayed out a base, placed a balloon on that base to create the hollow, then sprayed layers around the balloon until my skull was properly encased. This held it in place while I built up the foam rock around it. I dont know if it was just the stuff I used or our well water. I mixed this coat about the consistancy of the first. This is a very messy process. Our well water is high PH to begin with but I let mine sit a week and didnt see any change in PH levels. I have being doing all sorts of projects my whole life and Im always saying, Hey, that would make a good blog post! Finally, I decided to take the leap and put myself out there. Sure, you could go to the store and pick up plenty of aquarium decorations from whimsical to practical to suit your needs. on Introduction, Reply Inserting the skull and creating a cave also required a balloon and fishing line. It's now 4 years later, and I'm wondering, how did it work out long-term? Seriously, there will be tiny bits of foam everywhere. Caulking gun You can also make it for your tank even though it's bigger, not light just costs you more than the original budget. I glued two pieces of foam together using silicone and the finishing nails for my bottom row and allowed them to dry. I love these kind of things. :D. No worries!
Allow to dry for at least 48 hours before adding water. When I get my 125 gallon back up, I want to take this idea, but shape it a little more and have tunnels and areas for smaller fish to feel safe and hide. There are a multitude of choices. In my background I added lots of platforms, as this tank was for semi-aquatic newts. This is where a foam cutter comes in handy. I then measure the left side of the aquarium, I decided on this side I was only going to cover about 3/4 of it. The next coat should be a bit thicker. The unicorn rock sculpture in this post took two cans of spray foam at about $4 a can for comparison. Note: an email address is necessary if you wish to receive notifications. (styrofoam). As a general rule, terra cotta clay pots and other dinnerware are safe in your aquarium; however, those with lead and copper glazing should be avoided. It's commonly referred to as "homemade reef rock" and lots of people make it to replace live rock in their reef tanks and saltwater fish only tanks. With these materials, you can make more than one kind of aquarium background design. What are the dangers of making my own aquarium decorations? I measured 1 inch shorter because of the taper effect or the back piece. Sort of like runny pancake batter. This picture is from 2 years ago and as of today the cement has held up for the most part, but underneath the filter return, pieces have flaked off exposing the pink foam underneath. Ruler or other sutible straight edge our products nationwide and to many international regions, and take tremendous pride in the detail and
As long as it does not contain any mold or mildew inhibitors and is 100% silicone it should be fine. Follow the steps carefully and you will build this amazing background within a short time. If you want to add sand to your aquarium, its best to purchase it from the pet store where it has been specially designed for freshwater aquariums. It is faster and it shouldn't pose a threat to your fish. I got my inspiration from these two videos, among others: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Ng6GeF9mA&, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLpfYxvBC_c&.
I would say method 2 is the way to go for caves, method one better for backgrounds, but you could also combine the methods. Note on pink foam: There are two types, one has a plastic cover on it (vapor barrier I think?) maybe next time a horizontal staggered slate design would look better?
Place a heavy object on top and allow to sit overnight for a tight seal. 15 DIY Aquarium Decor Ideas To Beautify Your Aquarium, 15 DIY Algae Scrubber Projects To Keep Your Aquarium Clean, 15 DIY Hermit Crab Tank Projects: Setting Up A Crabitat, 19 DIY Aquarium Caves You Can Make For Fish To Hide, DIY Bait Tank: 19 Ways To Make A Bait Tank Yourself, How To Raise PH In Aquarium - Guide For Absolute Beginners. Gotta scale it up , yeah we, unfortunately, no longer have any fish. I also cut the pieces 2 inches shorter so that there will be sand under the edge when I am done.
Let this coat dry for at least 24 hrs, more the better. A relatively low-maintenance pet, one of the best parts of keeping fish in your home is creating a loving habitat for them and that means amazing aquarium decorations. Working with foam by hot water foam cutter really Artistic work and addicted !?? Did you use this on a planted tank? Is this just styrofoam and the concrete mixter? We use cookies on our websites for a number of purposes, including analytics and performance, functionality and advertising. you can get this material at any hardware store near you and they are quite inexpensive. Regular beach sand may have chemicals and other bacteria that can be toxic to your freshwater environment. However, I believe I read more recently that it now does contain the anti-fungal agents. Add the color as well. Please keep in mind that each product is individually crafted and hand-colored, so exact shades may vary slightly from sample to sample.
-Paint your creation with Drylok. Check carefully for any signs of cracks or sharp edges that might do more harm than good. I got this elaborate vision of a rock encrusted fallen unicorn turning all the neighboring fish into rainbows. In my case, I measured the height I wanted my unicorn skull in the tank, then hung it by fishing line from a stick at that height in my work area. After filling with water, check the PH level. Continue to cut and lay pieces in the desired pattern you want. I started with the back corner. Items that are marked food-safe generally make acceptable decorative items, but be careful. shape the artificial rock formations. One involves building a foam block from foam slabs, carving that foam into your shape, and then sealing it. If I choose to do another DIY background on a future tank, I'll be sure to add some sort of epoxy or resin that will seal the cement and protect it from the corrosive effects of the water. This step may or may not be necessary but needs to be considered. I recommend measuring your tank and sketching out your desired design. Now remember practicing in step 10 ? I used a razor blade to scrape all scum and hard water stains off mine. --20 Cardinals, 9 Neons, 10 Head-Tail Lights, 14 Black Phantoms, 12 Lemon Tetras , 4 Angels, 8 corys (Robinea), and 2 Bushy-noses. Simply put, anything foreign you add to your aquarium can introduce dangerous toxins and hazards that put your fish at risk. Latex Drylock works much better than concrete.
Remember rocks are not perfect but also remember small details will not show up after you coat the thing in cement. Looking for something special to spice up your fish tank? -Sketch your design out and setup any accessories. This is because Drylok is relatively expensive ($25-30 a gallon, the 60 gallon long tank in this post took an entire gallon). background was assembled outside the
This is a simple aquarium background that anyone can build from scratch with the right materials and tools at their disposal. You can get other colors to create more detail if you wish. You can also place it in the tank to get an idea how it will look. Wire brushes completed, each with three layers of
To start this project you need to draw a plan for the custom 3D aquarium background with a diagram of the tank. Here are a few materials you need to get started, a great stuff spray foam, you might need 2 cans depending on the size of your tank, a polyurethane spray, some pieces of rocks, a foam board, a tape measure, a utility knife, Minwax clear spray, silicone, and then you're ready to go and start making your simple aquarium background. The longer you let it dry the stronger it will be. Decorative ceramic mugs and plates can provide fun hiding places for your most timid fish as long as they meet the safety requirements. I wanted to paint it on using the brush in a dabbing motion. If you have any other questions on where to get the materials, just check the description link below the video and you will see where to purchase via Amazon. Spray foam will NOT come off skin. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. A surform
Marker (sharpie) Also if you have access or want to buy more foam, you can buy several thickness of the stuff to help create different thick and thin layers. Tape measure This photo shows the backside view of the
Even though it has cement on it, these things still float like life preservers so dont get skimpy here. I no longer have the tanK, moved on to other hobbies.
Its up to you. You will need the following The tools used are things you can easily have at home, just the materials are the things that you might need to buy which are inexpensive. The creator made this with a 4x12 size tank. Aquarium silicone In your aquarium, these plants use nitrogen, a nutrient thats found in abundance in fish waste, and CO2 (carbon dioxide). Of the two, I found this method far easier and cleaner, but it would be more difficult to create platforms with spray foam. You can tint it with concrete tint powder. In particular, I'm worried about algal growth, which looks like it would be really hard to clean off (especially if you've glued it to the tank). So, the creator decided to use some fiberglass for the background, you can hide your equipment behind it and it won't take up much space like cement. -All thats left after that is to silicone it to your tank and begin cycling. Use your best judgment, and when in doubt, just say no. I tinted this coat a lot lighter then the last. Hot glue gun (optional) For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The less ingrediants the better IMHO. Thanks! Some people cut the rocks first and test stack them. Pursue your aquarium decoration ideas with merriment and a little consideration. We're also here to help you if you need advice.
I have one layer of polystyrene foam cut in half as the backing and then I used a second layer as "rocks". Over time, metal objects will corrode and release toxic oxides into the water, which will poison your fish. You need fiberglass resin, styrofoam, fiberglass cloth, spray foam, acetone, sandpaper, and a few other supplies. Also decide what you want your background to look like. -To place the foam in your tank you need to adhere it. The key is to be savvy about the implications and choose your elements wisely. Cheap paint brushes, all sizes The wall held up for about a year, I then had an outbreak of black algea, due to some plants I got.
I tried to overlap pieces so that the seam would not show but I found this to be too restrictive when I went to test fit it and it would not go together. I used the finishing nails to hold it together until it dried. Before doing this, I saw this video and thought it was absolutely stunning. How To Make A DIY Aquarium Background Using Foam, 6. Do you still have it? You also want to wear gloves. Remove the background and make sure the glass surface you are going to stick the background to is clean as you can get it. I can only dream of replicating something like that. 7 years ago I just used my imagination on the shape of the rocks. The sanded surfaces simply appear a lighter color because the top coat is removed. This step is the first in coating your background. Check out our large selection of lifelike
aquarium for ease of applying the cement
wouldn't some kind of a resin make it a bit shiny/plastic lookingtaking away the natural look? Naturally, there are just some things that dont belong in your aquarium.
LaylaT1, If I were going to put this in a saltwater or reef tank I would soak it for nearly a year doing weekly water changes in some other type of dark container (so no algae). Cost wise, the spray foam method is cheaper. Would love to hear from you if you still monitor this. Once you have done this you are set to go, to start building. Fish? The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Animals Happy & Healthy.PawTracks brings inspiration, tips, the best products on earth to ensure our readers and their pets are happy and healthy. Are you ready to build one? Might work for "rocks" too. Hi!! 3 years ago
Many fish like to nibble at the objects in their environment or forage for food at the bottom of the tank. This guide will give you a step-by-step demonstration on how you can build this using a 1x6 redwood fence board, an expanding foam, sand, concrete, and some screws. fun and easy to take the appearance of your tank to new levels. Did you make this project? I suggest adding some of the color you want to this coat. Trust me, the fishes would love it! Cleaner the better. Whether youre new to fish tanks and aquariums, or a lifetime enthusiast, Universal Rocks makes it
You need spray paint, a plastic bag, duct tape, scissors, and you're good to go. Spray foam is highly buoyant. Trying to get hot glue to come out in the quantity I needed on some of the large pieced didnt work. Install the pieces in the tank and brace/block/tape or hold in place till it sticks.
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on all sides. instead of burning out the styrofoam to get rid of the floatation forces, i would suggest going over it with a hair dryer. Let it sit for a day or two and check the PH again. Love what you did. The second involves spraying out your shape with pond spray foam and embellishing that to look more like your desired shape (rock is the most popular choice, but people also sometimes do trees). Hey, thanks for this cool Instructable! You may have to work in layers. Simply pick your preferred project and start the making process. There's some good info in there but it doesn't answer my big question. This instructable will show you how to make a cool 3D background that goes inside your aquarium and looks like real rock but only weighs less then a couple of pounds. -Create a work space by laying down parchment paper. using 1 1/2 inch thick pink polystyrene
2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. 11 years ago I will update this post as I add plants, fish, and other critters so you can see how they progressed. Pulling up an old instructable here. I cut rock-shaped pieces out of a rectangular piece of the foam and used a heat gun to melt the edges of the rock-shaped cutouts to make them smooth and more natural looking. I have heard of people having to drain and refill up to 15 times to get the PH to stabilize. I do NOT want to glue them to the bottom of the tank. My 75 gal aquarium was 4 foot long on the back and I needed about 10 inches on the side. The perfect way to truly see the detail and craftsmanship that goes into our products. A special hacksaw hand tool
I like it. Foam cutter or maybe electric knife (both are optional) Here is where it will pay off. First figure out if you want to cover just the back wall of your aquarium or more. Trusted by industry experts, celebs, influencers, amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, and re-owned landscape architects. These along with other advertising help make Life with Gremlins possible. Use the wire brushed or the razor knife to give them a rough look.
As mentioned there are two popular ways.
cement applied. Now that we have your attention, relax. 100% Silicone for caulking gun (GE silicone 1 is what some recommend) I used the Red Devil Architectural Grade. Unless they changed something, you're going to need to do it over I'm afraid. Press J to jump to the feed. Dont be shy about this step and add lots of silicone. Cement or cement overlay if there's one that doesn't do that, radical. It would take about 3 days to turn green in our tank. hot glue (optional)
-Foam slabs: I got mine free from a furniture store trash can (with permission). The stand for that by the way, with a rainbow effect, was done by painting an old wood stand black and using neon paint markers. Tools
It's quite good but takes too much time to build and might crumble over a long period. It looks soo good.
-Stack your foam pieces in the rough shape of your design. I cant speak to that process, because I took the easy route. What ever you use make sure its doesn't have a lot of stones in it or you will be sorting through it to remove them. You should try out this method, it is easy and simple to build but will take much time, this is because you need to allow the cement used to set before adding it to your tank and adding water. A folding table in the garage made a good
If it gets on your hands, you have to wait the week or two it takes to wear away. You tube has some great video of some that others have built and a google search also comes up with some great ideas. So I went the safe route. I have a friend that has done something very similar. Materials for step by step instructions on how to build your own DIY aquarium
It seemed to hold up well before and after the outbreak.
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