I've been looking at 3D backgrounds to come up with ideas for my new 125 gallon tank because I figure once it's established, I won't make myself build and install a background, so I'd better just do it now.
The first thing I stumbled across that I really liked was on this MFK thread: http://goo.gl/kzeeDj. It looks AMAZING, and it's something a guy could and should be proud of. There are a few things I don't like about it though. It looks like a lot of tedious work including cutting Styrofoam. I intend to add an overflow and return for a sump a few months down the road, and I like being able to move my filter intakes and returns if and when I want to (I have two canister filters + the overflow and return of the sump in the future). The only other thing I didn't like about it was I would always know deep down that underneath that paint, it was Styrofoam, not real rock.
I found another guy (or gal) that felt the same way about it being Styrofoam instead of rock. He essentially ordered a pallet of landscaping rocks giving himself a decent variety of large, flat rocks to choose from to build a real, rock background. You can see the picture below or visit the full project here: http://goo.gl/80QElP.
I saw his project, and quickly decided that still wasn't the answer for me. For one, he spent over $270 on his rocks. I buy EVERYTHING used (Craigslist, garage sales, etc.) AND haggle sellers down until I'm paying exactly what I want to for something. Plus, rocks are rocks. I'm not going to pay three figures for nature. And lastly, modelling my project after his would make the background at least a few hundred pounds and take up several inches of the depth of my tank. I'd prefer not to have that much weight if possible, and I refuse to take up that much space.
If FINALLY occurred to me last night that the creek bed at my folks' house is full of some kind of shale or slate. It's black, it's lightweight, it's flat and you can pull it apart into thin sheets making one rock go a lot further. I went out there this morning and gathered what I could find.
I think if I can find enough of it, it will be perfect to build a background with. I figure I will split them as thin as I can get them without the rocks falling apart, and (I assume) use silicone to stick them to two or three good size pieces of Styrofoam, overlapping the rocks so that you can only see rock.
Finally, I have a few questions. These lightweight slate/shale rocks; good idea? I've never built one of these before. I've never even used silicone before (although I intend to turn a 29 or 20L into a sump in the near future). What materials should I be using? Some kind of sturdy foam to adhere the rocks to probably? I read in another thread where thatbb6 suggested using white Styrofoam, Drylok, GE silicone 1 and Quikrete dye. I'm not familiar with any of these products. I'm not sure what the functional difference is between the Drylok and silicone or why I'd need both. Any input would be much appreciated. I'm sure these answers are all out there on MFK somewhere. I'm very new to the site (and forums in general) so I appreciate your patience. A cou
The first thing I stumbled across that I really liked was on this MFK thread: http://goo.gl/kzeeDj. It looks AMAZING, and it's something a guy could and should be proud of. There are a few things I don't like about it though. It looks like a lot of tedious work including cutting Styrofoam. I intend to add an overflow and return for a sump a few months down the road, and I like being able to move my filter intakes and returns if and when I want to (I have two canister filters + the overflow and return of the sump in the future). The only other thing I didn't like about it was I would always know deep down that underneath that paint, it was Styrofoam, not real rock.
I found another guy (or gal) that felt the same way about it being Styrofoam instead of rock. He essentially ordered a pallet of landscaping rocks giving himself a decent variety of large, flat rocks to choose from to build a real, rock background. You can see the picture below or visit the full project here: http://goo.gl/80QElP.
I saw his project, and quickly decided that still wasn't the answer for me. For one, he spent over $270 on his rocks. I buy EVERYTHING used (Craigslist, garage sales, etc.) AND haggle sellers down until I'm paying exactly what I want to for something. Plus, rocks are rocks. I'm not going to pay three figures for nature. And lastly, modelling my project after his would make the background at least a few hundred pounds and take up several inches of the depth of my tank. I'd prefer not to have that much weight if possible, and I refuse to take up that much space.
If FINALLY occurred to me last night that the creek bed at my folks' house is full of some kind of shale or slate. It's black, it's lightweight, it's flat and you can pull it apart into thin sheets making one rock go a lot further. I went out there this morning and gathered what I could find.
I think if I can find enough of it, it will be perfect to build a background with. I figure I will split them as thin as I can get them without the rocks falling apart, and (I assume) use silicone to stick them to two or three good size pieces of Styrofoam, overlapping the rocks so that you can only see rock.
Finally, I have a few questions. These lightweight slate/shale rocks; good idea? I've never built one of these before. I've never even used silicone before (although I intend to turn a 29 or 20L into a sump in the near future). What materials should I be using? Some kind of sturdy foam to adhere the rocks to probably? I read in another thread where thatbb6 suggested using white Styrofoam, Drylok, GE silicone 1 and Quikrete dye. I'm not familiar with any of these products. I'm not sure what the functional difference is between the Drylok and silicone or why I'd need both. Any input would be much appreciated. I'm sure these answers are all out there on MFK somewhere. I'm very new to the site (and forums in general) so I appreciate your patience. A cou
