Easy to make background pieces from WM

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number17Fan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 6, 2006
112
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Rhode Island
Apologize if this is already posted somewhere, but I found these plastic "rock" slabs at WalMart for 4 bucks a piece and wanted to put the word out. They are 16in by 16in, so 3 of them fit perfect across the back of the 55 gal yellow lab tank I'm building. They have sharp tabs along the edge on the back side to sink them into your lawn, so I had to cut those off with a skill saw.

I plan to put some verticle driftwood in front of the seems between the slabs and I am attaching some flat sided rocks to the side of the slabs to give them some more depth. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Steve

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you make sure to take pics of the steps.
 
Well I finally completed my 55 gal mbuna tank that uses these plastic tiles. Thanks to the encouragement, motivation and inspiration of this board I got it done. I can't imagine how some of you folks build some of these monster tanks. This 55 was pretty massive for me.

I'd been looking for a used 55 gal setup in the local paper when I stumbled upon a complete setup for $100. I've been wanting to upgrade my lame 35 gal hex that my neighbor gave me for 2 years and finally convinced the wife that we should do it.

So I grabbed 3 of these tiles from Walmart for $12, $10 for eggcrate and added in 30 bucks in lumber for a hood to cover up the ugly light it came with and I was on my way.

First I choped the teeth off the bottom of the tiles, them I chamfered the edges on one of them so it would dove tail with its neighbor. I hung them using plastic coated paper clips. Because they don't float I didn't need to weigh them down.

I siliconed some shells and rocks to them to add some depth. I'm not 100% happy with that look, but I'm hoping it grows on me. Then I added some aged driftwood, 1 piece at each tile edge to hide airhose and the heater cable.

Orginally it was all rocks, but I got a ton of plants with the 55, so I thought I'd use them to add some color. Its not a pure mbuna tank, but I like the look better.

I just filled it with water today. Figure I will add the fish, gravel and filter media from the 35 in a week or two. I should have the hardness and ph stabalized by then.

Again, great board, thanks for all the help.

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:clap:
 
:/ you people have everything!
Just a question though....

besides pointless aquarium backgrounds, what else is that thing used for?
 
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