Then you should be fine as long as the back of the tank has a lip that the background can wedge against. But not having it siliconed in it may come dislodged. Just keep that in mind while doing maintanence and moving decor around.
3D Background in set up tank.
- Thread starter Karl K
- Start date
If it were me, I would install the background this way:
Attach the background to pieces of slate on the bottom, the same way people do with driftwood, to keep the background from floating.
Put the background in the tank where you like it. Then lower the water level of the tank an inch or 2 below the top of the 3D background, and apply one thick bead of silicone to the top of the background. I would also use clamps of some sort to press the background against the back while the silicone dries. The slate will weight down the background at the bottom, your substrate or other rocks can press against the background at the bottom, and the bead of silicone at the top will keep it flush against the back of the aquarium. I believe most silicone dries within 24-48 hours, then just fill the aquarium back up to the top and enjoy
If it were me, I would install the background this way:
Attach the background to pieces of slate on the bottom, the same way people do with driftwood, to keep the background from floating.
View attachment 1023970
Put the background in the tank where you like it. Then lower the water level of the tank an inch or 2 below the top of the 3D background, and apply one thick bead of silicone to the top of the background. I would also use clamps of some sort to press the background against the back while the silicone dries. The slate will weight down the background at the bottom, your substrate or other rocks can press against the background at the bottom, and the bead of silicone at the top will keep it flush against the back of the aquarium. I believe most silicone dries within 24-48 hours, then just fill the aquarium back up to the top and enjoy
Thank you. Isn't siliconing the background to the edge of the slate gonna be an issue?
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Its removable. You can kind of peel it off, or scrape it off with a razor blade. I imagined attaching the slate to the background with stainless steel screws (which is what people usually do with driftwood.
Karl K, your tank is about 55 gallons? Is it planted? How many fish? I still think it would be easiest to get a 50 gallon Rubbermaid container. And put your substrate and fish in there. Hook up a heater and filter and your good. Take your time on the silicone job. This way you will have no regrets later. This is just me. It would drive me crazy to do it any other way. But I love messing with my tanks. Part of the fun for me is the build. Good luck!
google gold label silicone, it sets underwater you can leave the fish in. this silicone is not cheap but it is the best! one down side is if you are planning to remove the silicone its a real pain to get off once set, its more like a cement then silicone when dried and really requires some force to get it going. Silicone under water is not a simple task your best bet would be apply the silicone to the background then place it in the water as the silicone is a real pita to move / spread underwater. its defiantly going to cure though I have sealed a leaking sump with fish in the system zero effects sump stopped leaking.
the other option is magnets, one brand of the 3d backgrounds down here uses magnets to hold them in place.
the other option is magnets, one brand of the 3d backgrounds down here uses magnets to hold them in place.
