Diy foam and cement 3d background. A great $30 investment

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Pro68camaro

Pro68camaro

Banned
Nov 1, 2012
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Wisconsin
So i was asked how i did it so will make a thread on how i made my 3d background.

Materials you will need.

Cement mix
styrofoam insulation sheet
silicone
Hot glue (optional
cement die (color of your choice)
sharp knife.
Tap measure

Step one- first measure your tanks back glass and cut a slab of styrofoam to fit tge back and test fit it. If u have a top brace you will need to make multiple backgrounds

Step two- start carving stone shape chunks of styrofoam and hot glue or silicone them onto your sheet backing. Look at pics of natural rock canyons for ideas.

Step three- test fit again.

Step four- cover it with concrete. Mix yoy cement with water so it is really runny abd use a brush to put it on. As if u were painting it

Step five- let dry for a day or so

Step six- install tge background in your tank with silicone. Let dry

Step seven- add water, warning some people say this method may affect ph levels. I didnt have a pro blem with this

Sorry for tge lack of pics. This was my first time so i wasnt intending for it being instructional

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWD1uFEdZOM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Very nice! I like it.
 
Did you test your ph before and after?


So the tank has to be empty?


I'm thinking of trying the same, but using silicone, sand and rocks, maybe even directly adhered to the back of the tank.

Great info about the concrete and water paint, you should premake this with standard tank measurement and sell them!


great DIY

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*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--3 MORE RACES LEFT! LET'S MAKE IT 5 BACK TO BACK WINS & 3 WDC!* :beer:
 
Very nice. I made my first one the other week for my Betta's tank & have to say it was great fun to do so will be making some more but I have found the the PH of my water shoots up after about 10 hours so am still doing daily water changes (have been for 2 weeks) until it settles down
 
probassfisher010 said:
Easiest DIY background post I've seen, thanks. I'd like to hear more about the ph possibly being affected though.


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Click to expand...

the concrete must have something in it that affects the ph. alot of type o rock out thier like limestone does this. so it may be that the concrete has some sort of rock in it that does this. like i said i dont have a problem but some do. i do alot of water changes so that may be the reason that i dont have a problem
 
Pro68camaro said:
the concrete must have something in it that affects the ph. alot of type o rock out thier like limestone does this. so it may be that the concrete has some sort of rock in it that does this. like i said i dont have a problem but some do. i do alot of water changes so that may be the reason that i dont have a problem
Click to expand...

Concrete has lime in it, which raises ph. This is why I don't get any rock from a creek by my house. The bedrock is all limestone.


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Fresh concrete will drastically raise your pH initially and after the initial spike will still continue to have a lesser effect on it later. You could avoid the initial spike by soaking it in a tub after curing and swapping the water daily until the pH stops rising fast. Painting it after curing could help against it changing your water parameters.
I'll also add that if you make the concrete mix too runny or let it dry out too fast it will end up weak and crumble easily later.
 
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