3D Background problems??

[Far2lively]

Just wondering how you guys go about installing 3D backgrounds?

I’m doing one after Christmas on a new tank I have just bought, have a few questions if anyone can help that would be great.

1. Will any aquarium silicone be enough to hold the 3D background in place?

2. I have an external filter so what’s the best way to attach the outlet and inlet to the background? Or are there other ways of doing this?

3. When it’s complete does it make a lot of difference? I’ve had printed backgrounds before but they always seem to get water behind them and don’t end up looking that great on the long run.

Any ideas and tips would be great!

Thanks

 

[BIG-G]

pictures or a link to the background may help.
Unless it’s a diy.

If the silicone is made for aquarium it should be okay.

Seeing the background may help for advice on mounting the filter as well.
If it’s thin and the return and intake may go over the background. But if it’s a thick background you may be able to mount these behind.

 

[Far2lively]

pictures or a link to the background may help.
Unless it’s a diy.

If the silicone is made for aquarium it should be okay.

Seeing the background may help for advice on mounting the filter as well.
If it’s thin and the return and intake may go over the background. But if it’s a thick background you may be able to mount these behind.

Here’s a picture of the one I plan on buying,
If mounted behind surely any larger particles and poop etc won’t get sucked up by the inlet? Or I could cut a 50mm circular hole

 

[duanes]

Don't skimp on silicone, the first background I installed was very buoyant, and I was a bit wimpy with the glue, so once the tank was a little over half full, the background broke loose, and shot/flew straight up, and out of the tank like a breaching whale. (it was a 6ft L 2 ft tall H tank)
I can't tell how thick yours is, but my background was thick, had lots of open spaces behind where if fish got in, could hide, and die, detritus would build up, and didn't provide tight fit. I ended up shaving, and cutting off a lot of excess width to minimize those spaces, and allow for a tighter and more secure fit. Any left over spaces near the top, I packed with floss type media to catch detritus, and easily be removed and rinsed. In some places the background was 6" thick, before shaving the excess off.

 

[Far2lively]

Don't skimp on silicone, the first background I installed was very buoyant, and I was a bit wimpy with the glue, so once the tank was a little over half full, the background broke loose, and shot/flew straight up, and out of the tank like a breaching whale. (it was a 6ft L 2 ft tall H tank)
I can't tell how thick yours is, but my background was thick, had lots of open spaces behind where if fish got in, could hide, and die, detritus would build up, and didn't provide tight fit. I ended up shaving, and cutting off a lot of excess width to minimize those spaces, and allow for a tighter and more secure fit. Any left over spaces near the top, I packed with floss type media to catch detritus, and easily be removed and rinsed. In some places the background was 6" thick, before shaving the excess off.

I plan on siliconing the whole back wall of the tank and sticking the background to that, not keen on having a space between the rear of the tank and the back of the 3D background

 

[BIG-G]

It looks to me to be thin. Dimensions state 4 cm so I think you just seal it to the tank and the filter should just plumb over it.
I would go completely around the perimeter with a bead of silicone and a couple passes in the center and you should be good.

 

[Hendre]

S Steve_C does a lot of 3D backgrounds. Surely he can help!

 

[Steve_C]

The type of silicone I use on my backgrounds I build is GE *1. It is 100% silicone without and mildew inhibitors. Also as duanes mentioned, don;t skimp on applying it. Nothing sucks worse than installing it and then a couple months later having part of it come lose and getting fish behind it and then having to drain the tank and reinstall it. So use a good amount. Then be sure to let it off gas for a few days, then fill it and drain it again just to make sure everything is flushed out.

For mounting the intake and return normally on thin ones like that you have no problem mounting right over the BG with them. The thicker DIY ones are the ones where you usally have to plan ahead on how to incorporate them into the BG, but you should not have much issue with yours.

 

[Far2lively]

The type of silicone I use on my backgrounds I build is GE *1. It is 100% silicone without and mildew inhibitors. Also as duanes mentioned, don;t skimp on applying it. Nothing sucks worse than installing it and then a couple months later having part of it come lose and getting fish behind it and then having to drain the tank and reinstall it. So use a good amount. Then be sure to let it off gas for a few days, then fill it and drain it again just to make sure everything is flushed out.

For mounting the intake and return normally on thin ones like that you have no problem mounting right over the BG with them. The thicker DIY ones are the ones where you usally have to plan ahead on how to incorporate them into the BG, but you should not have much issue with yours.

So how do you fix the inlet and outletto the background? Or are they just sort of hanging off the back of the tank with out any fixing? I was going to silicone the suckers to the BG and the clip the piping in place? Would this work do you think? I ask this because I don’t want them to be loose and also don’t want to ruin the BG and like you said have to drain the tank and re install.

 

[Steve_C]

Is your BG thin enough so that your U shaped fitting for the intake/return can fit over it? If so you can run those over the BG but then put your little suction cops holders on the side glass panel. So in other words the tubes come from over the back, but are held on by the cups on the side. Sometimes that works well. Just depends what type of lids you have though, some lids don't allow for that much movement for stuff coming into the back of the lid/hood. If that doesn't work then you can do like you had in mind and put some silicone on the holders and that should hold them to the BG. Just put some pressure on then while they dry so it adheres well.