stevebris Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Well finally got my hands on the 3d latex rock background I have been chasing for a while! So going to post pics up of my project as it progresses The tank is a 6x2x2 and was previously set up with Discus and b/nose, gravel substrate and anubias on wood. The filtration is a 4ft sump, 1200lt/hr canister (just with sponge/matting), and 2 powerheads. The old background was the nasty blue/black plastic you buy at the lfs So this is how it looked, crap pic I drained and cleaned the tank yesterday, getting ready for the re-scape. Cleaned the glass with a mixture of bicarb, warm water and vineager. Dried it off and placed in my new background with tank right way up. Held the background up with some wood to see which parts on the rear touched the glass and marked it on the outside with a nicko pen. I did this so to know where to apply dots of silicone when the tank was on it's side...see pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 Before I siliconed it in I siliconed a small powerhead(5ool/h) behind the background. I did this as water will get in there and I wanted some flow to stop waste etc collecting there. Then placed the 25mm bulkheads for the sump in. So next was the silicone! I had left the background in the sun for awhile to make it more pliable, it did help but gotta say not an easy job! Laid the tank on it's side to use gravity and waited it down in some areas with rocks. Used about 2 1/2 tubes of selleys aquarium silicone.... So this is where I'm at and will wait around 5-7 days for the silicone to cure properly. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noyakfat Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Congrats mate, looks cool My 6ft has a background very very similar and i love the look it gives to the tank. The silicone job on mine was very dodgy, but it still looks great. I like your idea of creating flow behind the latex, because it certainly does fill with water. I had the odd feeder disappear, only to reappear a couple of months later after living in behind the latex!!! Anyway, I think it looks great and I'm sure your fish will love you for it. My female Jag kept found an indentation low down in one corner and continued biting at it to try and dig a cave. Thought she was nuts till about a week later she figured out she couldn't dig it anyway and just laid eggs in the depression. Looking forward to a pic of the completed and stocked tank when it's done. All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Thanks Nige! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Looking good Steve. Not an easy task. Throw up some pics of the finished product eh? Cheers Shorty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 how did it get in the tank? lol sorry if its a silly question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 Thanks Shorty! Hey Shon, the background is flexible, but I left it in the sun for a while to make it more pliable and thus easier to get in..... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 OHHHHHHHHHHHH lol looks solid though thats so cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidae Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Nice! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noyakfat Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yeah the latex is firm but bendy, so you can twist it around and bend it together til you get it in the tank. Looks great and the fish seem to think it's pretty cool too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yeah the latex is firm but bendy, so you can twist it around and bend it together til you get it in the tank.Looks great and the fish seem to think it's pretty cool too. I wouldn't know, waiting till tomorrow night then filling! 5 days should do it, well 4 1/2 Can't wait picking up my 1st batch of peacocks on Sun, and want it all done by Sat night! Background is in firm, can't move it when I pull hard.....so Post some pics tomorrow night with sand and hopefully all rocks in!!!! :upsidedown: :upsidedown: Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisNorris Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hey mate, looking great Just a little confused as to where you placed the powerhead? perhaps its a stupid question or im overlooking something very obvious haha Cheers, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hey Chris if you look at the background in the tank, on the right hand side a big rocky bit juts out. I put a generous dab of silicone on the glass and placed the powerhead sideways, facing down the length of the tank. Being just a 500 l/h powerhead they are quite small! Don't ask me when I will have to replace it cos I don't want to think about it! (it is brand new btw ) If it goes down I will probably just plumb a cannister filter I have into the back of the background! Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidae Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Wheres the pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Long day for fishies and me, will let em colour up for a day or so! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidae Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Waiting......... How did those pinicles work out? My change was done by about 5:30pm the action started at 5:31pm am expecting spawning within the week, Wham bam Thankyou Mam! Ps his colour is phenomenal and she is the brightest I have ever seen her. Cichlidae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Haven't sorted out my rock formation yet but here is picks of tank at the moment More work to do, more fish and pics to come..... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlidae Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Wow! the Background looks awesome! The fish are soooo tiny! They will look awesome when they mature, you'll need a lot of fish to keep that sucker overstocked to break up fights! If you keep on your current track that will look like a ken done painting (reference to colour not sh%tty art) when you are done! Keep us up dated, looking great so far! If I get any extra tiger stripe males out of this batch they are yours if you want them. . Keep up the good work. Cichlidae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayman Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 tank looks wicked man.... cant wait to see the finished product. put sand in beks tank too. looks heaps better but took 24hrs for the water to fully clear up. if u hear of any more colourfull affricans for sale cheap let me know. bek wants a couple more for her tank. go 2 crimson tides yesterday for her and they look pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstevens Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Nice! That looks so much better already. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Thanks for the comments guys! Hey Jay will give you a call bout fish, say g'day to the family for me! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBGC Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Wow mate, that looks unreal! Top job there, love it! I was tempted to do this myself .. might have to think about it in the future. Did it take up much tank width / space... i need a lot of room for my fronts and dont want to take up much space in the tank... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 Hey JBGC! Thanks for the comments! Tank space wasn't an issue having a 2ft wide tank, but the largest rocky bit is about 170mm deep and average would be 100mm. HTH Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuby_snax84 Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 Looking good Steve! Im very green with envy. Have you got any close up pics of the fish yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebris Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Updated pics, hood and lighting will be on Tomorrow and will post up in the Full tank shot thread..... Pics are average and don't do it justice! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
