Here is the start of the 3D background with a "waterfall". It doesn't look like much, this is just a start. At least I can't really mess it up. I need to decide if I want to do a boulder look or a stacked slate. I was leaning to the slate look. I'm also going to make a few BN caves in it. All the life support for the tank will be behind the background too. I need to carve incoming and outgoing water spots for water circulation. I'm going to run a Hot mag on this tank with a small sponge filter behind the falls. I also have some screen That the sand can sift through for the falls. that way fish cant get behind there.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/19495c02-74bb-4be7-9034-9ed7b1d3c3ea_zps9c5u0dht.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/19495c02-74bb-4be7-9034-9ed7b1d3c3ea_zps9c5u0dht.jpg.html)
Scott, it looks and sounds very challenging. Please continue to update us on your progress. I am sure you'll do a great job. ;D ;D ;D
This is going to be an interesting thread to follow. Glad you're sharing your journal with us. :)
Is there a template that you're using for a guide??
I'm following, The King of DIY (uarujoey) for the waterfall. https://www.youtube.com/user/uarujoey The rest I'm making up as I go along.
I have decided to go a easier route for the rock work. This being my first try at anything like it, I didn't want to spend hours trying to make small pieces of slate out of foam and not like it. I got it test fitted in the tank next I'm going to make a pleco cave in the flat corner side and finish the rock work. I also need to find a way to hide the holes for the filter tubes. I'm thinking of making a rock and drilling smaller holes in that.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/1288ab19-7c67-4314-bb08-f1f3e7678012_zps9xxamdxz.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/1288ab19-7c67-4314-bb08-f1f3e7678012_zps9xxamdxz.jpg.html)
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/379b7113-e4aa-45eb-afa9-d0bb4b7e6ce4_zps0ih1hqh0.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/379b7113-e4aa-45eb-afa9-d0bb4b7e6ce4_zps0ih1hqh0.jpg.html)
...could you somehow work/rig a Hamburg Matten type filter hidden behind it instead??....no lift tubes
It looks good to me. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: wsantia1 on April 01, 2015, 07:03:20 AM
It looks good to me. ;D ;D ;D
Yes, it does....can't wait to see it and running.. ;D
Thanks guy's, i think that im going to scrap the hot mag and do a internal filter, not of a Hamburg filter. I do have a few things in mind. There's only going to be a few inches of clearance between the wall and tank. I'm thinking of doing chambers and making a trickle filter. That way everthing can stay in the tank. I'm going to make a overflow i can hide behind a rock and put the return behind or in the side of the waterfall. Then i can use a power head to move the water.
Quote from: b125killer on April 01, 2015, 09:40:28 AM
Thanks guy's, i think that im going to scrap the hot mag and do a internal filter, not of a Hamburg filter. I do have a few things in mind. There's only going to be a few inches of clearance between the wall and tank. I'm thinking of doing chambers and making a trickle filter. That way everthing can stay in the tank. I'm going to make a overflow i can hide behind a rock and put the return behind or in the side of the waterfall. Then i can use a power head to move the water.
You talking about a sump??.....you'll need something to hold the bio...??
Looks real nice. I am to lazy to try and make one.
That sure looks good...especially nice for a first attempt.
I think that most of the carving is done. I relocated the filter and hid a pleco cave in it to.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/9cb15c1e-0cec-40a1-8263-458c9649d47e_zpspnxxpait.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/9cb15c1e-0cec-40a1-8263-458c9649d47e_zpspnxxpait.jpg.html)
This is the back of the first chamber. the water will flow in from a hidden overflow. It will be sealed from the main tank. The pleco cave is behind here too. I was thinking of drilling a hole in the top of it and putting a air line in it so I can get the air out of it once it's submerged.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/7334a2c6-9ab0-436d-9339-95fb562495f2_zpse7ad6hcq.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/7334a2c6-9ab0-436d-9339-95fb562495f2_zpse7ad6hcq.jpg.html)
This is the main filter chamber the water will go over the baffle and filter down through the filter media. I think I have lighting baffles I can make removable shelving for this chamber.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/0223f781-aa3a-470c-a6d3-9ec015de91b4_zps5q3nxhrj.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/0223f781-aa3a-470c-a6d3-9ec015de91b4_zps5q3nxhrj.jpg.html)
This is the last chamber. Water will flow from under the last baffle then returned to the main tank with a return pump. It will house the plumbing for the waterfall and I might put the heater in this chamber. I was almost thinking of making the waterfall its own chamber. I'm not sure what the added water flow from behind the background will do to the falls.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/830ca439-1d88-4208-96bf-10f749b2df4f_zpsrxnlw4hp.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/830ca439-1d88-4208-96bf-10f749b2df4f_zpsrxnlw4hp.jpg.html)
Next step is getting some cement and covering the hole thing. I'm going to try and use different cement tints to create a real looking rock.
after that I will fill the tank and keep doing water changes until the ph is normal. I heard that the cement will spike the ph.
You've done your research well. It looks well thought out and constructed, Nice job. I can't wait to see it going now.... ;D
and thanks for putting up your 'build' log with pics etc....when you get done...you can come down and help me do the 150... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Doing a 150 will be a lot of work. I'm surprised by the mess I made doing a 40. I didn't show that part, I'm game if you are. Instead of rock we could do a root system. I can see it now, it would look awesome! ;D
I'm happy to share me experiment with the group. It really wasn't that hard of a build once I figured out what I wanted to do. This is only the first part. I still need to finish it and probably the harder part of setting everything up and getting the waterfall to work right. I'm sure if it's not done correctly it will look funny.
Impressive job.
How are you gluing the styrofoam together?
Thanks Bill, I'm using silicone to glue everything together.
As I was test fitting the background I was thinking that I need to make the overflow longer and probably visible. The way it is now the water level will need to be up over the trim of the tank for it to work. it looks good this way but not practical.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/77c56737-8ae9-4a81-8eac-5f6e267af8f4_zpsptwoztqz.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/77c56737-8ae9-4a81-8eac-5f6e267af8f4_zpsptwoztqz.jpg.html)
I think I'm happy with everything, now I'll start the cement covering and coloring.
I cut the overflow deeper and on both sides, now water can flow into the back chamber.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/6fed3bd0-b5a5-4eab-b722-ea4adc4f1b91_zpswt6xcbdl.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/6fed3bd0-b5a5-4eab-b722-ea4adc4f1b91_zpswt6xcbdl.jpg.html)
Water will go over the top of the first chamber into the media chamber, probably have some ceramic rings, bio balls, sponges, and filter floss.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/a3f84228-ca9b-424e-9167-57b9f5102557_zpskjy5xmrc.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/a3f84228-ca9b-424e-9167-57b9f5102557_zpskjy5xmrc.jpg.html)
this is the last two chambers, I separated the waterfall from the filter chamber. I don't want the filter flow to interrupt the waterfall. the last filter chamber will have the return pump and heater. you can also see the mechanical workings for the waterfall. I also got the screen on to stop fish from getting behind the falls. I need to drill the hole in the pvc and run an air stone to the bottom. It should work like the sponge filters. only it will lift sand with the water.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/68c846e2-1d5a-49a6-8cbb-ee340bfe3323_zpsj43vwwv1.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/68c846e2-1d5a-49a6-8cbb-ee340bfe3323_zpsj43vwwv1.jpg.html)
If you can think of something I might need or I'm missing please fell free to let me know. This is the first time I made a filter system and don't want to miss anything. also not sure on what size pump i should get.
If I were doing this, I would want to make sure future maintenance is as easy as possible.
I would try to put any loose media in a bag or a canister-like thing so it could be easily removed and cleaned.
Quote from: BillT on April 05, 2015, 02:17:43 PM
If I were doing this, I would want to make sure future maintenance is as easy as possible.
I would try to put any loose media in a bag or a canister-like thing so it could be easily removed and cleaned.
good idea......or something like the plastic strawberry baskets.....easy to fill and put in/lift out...
The shelving things are only held in by pressure from the Styrofoam. I was thinking of just letting it set right on the filter media. and the media was going to be in filter bags. I'm sure it will need to be trimmed to fit again after the cement is dry. I did make sure I can fit my hand behind the filter also, it's tight but I can get everything out.
There's a few spots that need to be touched up, it's pretty much done. I still need to let it cure. I did it last night and it still a little soft. It also cracked some, when I went to move it. I hope that was just from it being soft.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/0836d32e-62a0-4b68-be20-e7412f7b2a27_zpsxusbfsjv.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/0836d32e-62a0-4b68-be20-e7412f7b2a27_zpsxusbfsjv.jpg.html)
Quote from: b125killer on April 06, 2015, 07:00:20 PM
The shelving things are only held in by pressure from the Styrofoam. I was thinking of just letting it set right on the filter media. and the media was going to be in filter bags. I'm sure it will need to be trimmed to fit again after the cement is dry. I did make sure I can fit my hand behind the filter also, it's tight but I can get everything out.
There's a few spots that need to be touched up, it's pretty much done. I still need to let it cure. I did it last night and it still a little soft. It also cracked some, when I went to move it. I hope that was just from it being soft.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/0836d32e-62a0-4b68-be20-e7412f7b2a27_zpsxusbfsjv.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/0836d32e-62a0-4b68-be20-e7412f7b2a27_zpsxusbfsjv.jpg.html)
That looks real impressive Scott. Great job. ;D ;D ;D
Looks great!
Can't say I understand what the waterfall is doing underwater, maybe its Bikini Bottom (where Sponge Bob lives - normal physics does not apply).
How did you finish it?
Looks spectacular, Scott...great job !!.....how much weight did the cement coating add to it..??
Thanks guy's, I finished it with cement, I colored the cement as I went along the way. I just added diffrent amount of coloring when I refilled the cement container. The cement added a lot of weight. I used about 10 pounds of cement. I know it won't float anymore.
Bill It's more accurate to call it a sandfall. I seen it on Facebook and wanted to try it. I have been thinking of making a 3d background for sometime. and figured why not put a waterfall in it. if it doesn't work out I can always take it off the background and put another rock wall in.
That's nice. Super nice. Wish I had that talent. My background is still in the garage as slabs of styrofoam.
Very nice Scott.
Dennis
Thanks guy's, it really wasn't hard to carve it. The cement was a little tricky. I made a lot of small spots that i had to use my hands to get the cement in. I had cement everywhere. I'm a little surprised how the cement color turned out. I wasn't sure how it would look. I'm going to let it cure for a long time before i put it in the tank.
A talented man you are! That is so cool. Can't wait to see it up and running.
Scott, that looks great! What sort of fish go in there later on? Interesting thread going here!
Barb
Thanks barb, I have been thinking of doing dragon blood cichlids. Some of them have incredible markings. And a higher ph isn't a problem for them.
Goliad Farms is working with Dragon Blood's.....
http://goliadfarms.com/dragon-blood-peacock/ (http://goliadfarms.com/dragon-blood-peacock/)
Dennis
I know a guy that is breeding them that lives near me. he actually breeds a lot of African cichlids, http://www.boesterscichlids.com/
I have heard if you want to make money selling African's around here the trick is to breed something that Rick doesn't have. My personal opinion is he's another GCCA breeder that is full of him self, But he does have some nice fish.
Quote from: b125killer on April 08, 2015, 07:33:08 PM
I know a guy that is breeding them that lives near me. he actually breeds a lot of African cichlids, http://www.boesterscichlids.com/
I have heard if you want to make money selling African's around here the trick is to breed something that Rick doesn't have. My personal opinion is he's another GCCA breeder that is full of him self, But he does have some nice fish.
LOL...Rick is just Rick...and he's one of the few that are actually willing to share all they have learned too....a little aloft...??....well, maybe.... ;D and yep, he does have good fish too...
I need to find a return pump for the filter. I think I might have a problem. I should of been thinking about the size of a pump. I have 2.25" of clearance between the background and the back of the tank. If needed I can modify the background but that's going to mean redoing the cement. I could probably get another 1/2 to 3/4 of a inch out of it. I'm just not sure what to do about it.
Quote from: b125killer on April 08, 2015, 08:01:03 PM
I need to find a return pump for the filter. I think I might have a problem. I should of been thinking about the size of a pump. I have 2.25" of clearance between the background and the back of the tank. If needed I can modify the background but that's going to mean redoing the cement. I could probably get another 1/2 to 3/4 of a inch out of it. I'm just not sure what to do about it.
Small power head?.....I may have one here someplace, if you want to try it..??
That could work, I don't think I would need much just something to move the water, and fit the spot I have for it. I will still have a small sponge filter in it too.
I've got a bucket 'O Powerheads.
Come on over and grab one.
Very nice Scott
..got it in water yet?... ???
Thanks JR, Nope I still need to take it outside and wash the loose cement off. Also need to stop by your home and pick up a power head. ;D
Thanks For the offer Bill. I would love to take a trip to get a power head from you but it's a long drive for a power head.
Thanks Jon, The power head I got from Jon will work nicely. I did find another problem, as I was washing the background some of the weaker spots in the cement started to wash off. That's ok I can build it up with more cement. It's better to find these things out now not when the tanks full of water and fish.
Great.... ;D I was hoping that it wasn't too big, or powerful....??
even if it's too powerful the way I have the return it shouldn't be a problem.
Quote from: b125killer on April 12, 2015, 08:50:09 PM
even if it's too powerful the way I have the return it shouldn't be a problem.
that's good then... 8)
Soooooooooooo....how's this going Scott?....
I had to put this project on hold. I needed the tank for a Q.T. Tank. one of my discus wasn't eating right. I think he was a little to small to be put in with the bigger guys. He will pick at blood worms but doesn't want anything to do with other food offerings. He looks emaciated, but his poop looks fine.
Quote from: b125killer on April 27, 2015, 06:25:29 PM
I had to put this project on hold. I needed the tank for a Q.T. Tank. one of my discus wasn't eating right. I think he was a little to small to be put in with the bigger guys. He will pick at blood worms but doesn't want anything to do with other food offerings. He looks emaciated, but his poop looks fine.
Try cutting the blood worms in smaller pieces....will he eat eenie weenie teenie greenie..??...
hopefully he's just being a but head. I can give him more water changes then I can with the big tank. well it's the same just different volumes it the tank lol. once hes nice and fat I'll get him back in to the big tank. I just want to make sure he's just being picked on and not sick.
I suppose you'll need a couple new tanks now, with the new discus, etal.......the new discus would look nice with the background wall too, ya know..??
A 3d back ground would look cool with the new discus. But for now I just want them to be healthy and grow strong like bull. So they get a bare bottom tank with nothing but a sponge filter and huge daily water changes. I have been thinking of redoing the 155 bow for there Permanent home. I need to do a fish shuffle. Before the discus can go in there. A few fish will be finding new homes.
I'm having difficulties keeping the cement where it needs to be. It keeps turning into sand and washes away. I was thinking about using clear Plasti Dip and sealing it. Then i wouldn't have to worry about the ph spike that is going to happen. I was reading that people are using Krylon Fusion. But the company said that it's not aquarium safe. As far as i know Plasti Dip is just plastic. Other say any thing that is acrylic will work.
I have use plasti-dip (and a related product) for things. It has some intense solvents I would have doubts about putting in contact with fish. Additionally, I used to test rubbers and plastics for fish toxicity and found many soft pliable rubber or plastic materials to be toxic to zebrafish embryos.
I am not sure what the problem your dealing is but as an alternative (if flexible or removal is not required) I would suggest using some epoxy. Large amounts of epoxy can be gotten from a fiberglass supplier. People use this stuff all the time to make fish tanks.
When i was building r.c. planes i would mix 30 min epoxy with denatured alcohol and paint it on fiberglass. Do you think something like that would work?
..urathane....
http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Rubber-an/c6/index.html (http://www.smooth-on.com/Urethane-Rubber-an/c6/index.html)
I'm impressed, too. that was a lot of work and the sand waterfall is way cool. I watched the video that you linked to and I needed to watch a bunch more. The guy is good I had to watch a bunch more of his videos. In several he had band aids all over his fingers like he'd almost cut them off and was wearing a wrist brace. I wonder what he did.
King of diy(UrauJoey) he has a lot of diy videos on youtube. He is good at what he does. I also know that he cut his hand bad when a sheet of glass he was cutting broke. He's making a 300 gallon plywood aquarium now. I haven't seen them videos yet. But I did watch someone making a plywood tank before.
I got the background urethaned. There we're some thin spots of cement and the urethane eat the Styrofoam a little. If I panted it up no one will notice. It will look like part of the "rock". It needs a few more coats anyway.
I'm going to drain the tank and get that ready tomorrow. My new plants haven't been shipped yet. Not sure what the hold up is. By the time i get them the tank will be ready. Should have it running soon. I'm still going to get things set up and running, then test the water make sure nothing is funny with it before I put fish in it. I have a few left over cull fish that will work nicely for test subjects.
Quote from: b125killer on June 26, 2015, 04:10:23 PM
I got the background urethaned. There we're some thin spots of cement and the urethane eat the Styrofoam a little. If I panted it up no one will notice. It will look like part of the "rock". It needs a few more coats anyway.
I'm going to drain the tank and get that ready tomorrow. My new plants haven't been shipped yet. Not sure what the hold up is. By the time i get them the tank will be ready. Should have it running soon. I'm still going to get things set up and running, then test the water make sure nothing is funny with it before I put fish in it. I have a few left over cull fish that will work nicely for test subjects.
....progress is a good thing 8) 'git 'er done'..................
Before urethane
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/Z_zpszkvx6fkd.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/Z_zpszkvx6fkd.jpg.html)
After urethane
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/9k_zpsgixiubzj.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/9k_zpsgixiubzj.jpg.html)
Quote from: b125killer on June 26, 2015, 04:49:47 PM
Before urethane
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/Z_zpszkvx6fkd.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/Z_zpszkvx6fkd.jpg.html)
After urethane
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/9k_zpsgixiubzj.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/9k_zpsgixiubzj.jpg.html)
Wow.....that's sweeeeeeet, Scott.......very nice ;D
That is sure one nice background Scott. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks Jon and Willie.
Looks real nice.
Thanks Bill
Things didn't go as planed with the background! It seemed to be a bit bigger with all the cement I put on it. It was also brittle. chunks of it was falling off. When I was forcing it into place it snapped. I think next time I might go with fiberglass. it will be some time before I try another one. Now I have a mess to clean up! :-[
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/945k_zpsovjz3xab.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/945k_zpsovjz3xab.jpg.html)
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y461/b125killer/9k_zpseanf3z89.jpg) (http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/b125killer/media/9k_zpseanf3z89.jpg.html)
What a shame. All that hard work for nothing :(
Patch it up and make it fit......grow moss over any flaws.... ;D
It was a good learning experience. I think i used the wrong cement or didn't mix it right. It should of been a lot harder then it was. Next time I have extra Styrofoam laying around I'll try it again. I might rethink the waterfall. Try and make it smaller and flow between the rock face. I'll make one and get it right. Sometimes I have to fail to learn.
I could of tried and patch it back together. But I really didn't like the way the cement was. It wouldn't of held up very long in a full tank. Next time I'll make it one flat sheet. I think i got carried awaywith the angles. It was hard to fit into the tank. And pieces where already falling off. I think fiberglass would work better.
Quote from: b125killer on June 27, 2015, 12:37:31 PM
It was a good learning experience. I think i used the wrong cement or didn't mix it right. It should of been a lot harder then it was. Next time I have extra Styrofoam laying around I'll try it again. I might rethink the waterfall. Try and make it smaller and flow between the rock face. I'll make one and get it right. Sometimes I have to fail to learn.
Don't feel bad. I most often learn by failing.
I never look at my projects in that way. If you go on to create a fantastic background, this was all just a part of the learning curve.
Sorry this one didn't pan out as you had envisioned, but it was a great thread to follow. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Dennis
It was a good learning curve. I don't usually post my falure on line. I think that stings more then it not working. I'm happy that you enjoyed the thread. I was tempted to just use the "rock" and glue it to the glass. But it was just crumbling in my hand.
I guess I just have a different way of looking at things..... To me, you didn't fail, this one just didn't work out the way you wanted.
Dennis
Scott, this thread was the first place that I looked every morn'n......I'm with Dennis.....this time it just didn't pan out...
Now start again, and keep the posts coming too.......bowl of Wheaties, and Scott's progress report... ;D.....what a great way to start my morning... ;D
It was a great project Scott. I was loving this thread. Now you have a bit more experience and a better idea of what you need to do. I look forward to your next attempt. Keep up the great work. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D