Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => DIY => Topic started by: Steve on November 19, 2013, 01:52:25 AM
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Gonna start this as the MCA 3D BACKGROUND. I'm gonna build and start this as a thank you to the past 6-8 months of guys here. The fact I have got to know guys like Blair, Marty, Jon, Wayne, Rich....just been so damn helpful, just because I don't make meetings like I want too. dosen't mean I don't want to be a part of MCA.... Anyway I have been thinking how I could be helpful, so thought this would be a way.
One thing I am decent at is 3D backgrounds. So I'll start this post as a build up of a 3D BG for a 55G(48"x12") back ground which will be donated/auctioned off at the next MCA auction (January) I believe Marty said.
So keep posted here for the build of it. And if your at the next MCA auction in JAN...then bid on it ;)
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First pic. Lets call this the "before" ;)
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Don't look big, but thats 48 x 20 foam.
Week or so of work, some carving, some drylok and it'll look good ;) Trust me
(http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4757/ueyo.jpg)
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Awesome Steve, Thank you. I'm sure it'll be a masterpiece once you're through.
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Excellent!!!
What a guy!
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Awesome!
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Steve, will you post a materials list? I think I'm going to try those for the short ends of my show tank. Want to try to work along with you. Maybe show how to hide the canister filter hoses behind. ;)
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Sure I can post a list soon as I get started which should be in a day or two. The main thing to start with is the closed cell foam so pick that up first, I like the dense closed cell piece like in the picture for my backgrounds. Since it's so dense it really is able to hold a lot of detail much better than the lighter white non closed cell foam.
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I'm picking up the closed cell foam sheets today. What do you use to "sandwich" the sheets together for depth? I'd like to get that too. :D
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GE Silicone I* is what you use to build up thicness. You can also buy sheets that are 2-3" thick to start with rather than the 1" thick sheets. Costs a bit more, 1" sheets are about $15 for a 4x8 where as the 2"-3" ones are around $34.
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I'm making "sandwiches" tonight. Plus picked up several stains. What drylok do you use? I saw several different types.
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I use the one that is Latex base. I know they do make a different one, not sure if that other one is latex based or not, but make sure to get the latex one because that one is for sure fish safe. The other "might" be as well, but I haven't used it so don't take the chance on it.
It also comes in grey and white. If you want a natural grey rock tone like some of the ones I do then get the grey and you can then just shade colors on it once done. If you want to do some other color other than natural grey rock, like say a tank rock or darker rock, then they also make it in white and then you can buy concrete pigments and mix the color you want.
Again, make sure you use GE silicone I* not GE silicone II*, the II* has mildew inhibitors added and is not fish safe. the GE I* (Window/door/attic/basement) is safe.
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Right, I got pure silicone (no mildew resistant stuff). Then let it cure til no vinegar smell.
When you start the drylokhow long do you let it dry between coats? Do you drylock the back surface(facing the glass). How long before you can put fish in the tank/does it have to cure so it doesn't mess up the water parameters?
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I usually let it dry overnight (12-14hrs), I also like to do 3 coats that way it builds up where it lasts a long time. I don;t know how much you want to spend on this, but what I just did on my 7ft 265 background was when I was done I coated the whole thing with Pond Armor Pond Shield. Its a two part clear epoxy coating that makes the background last 10+ years at least. I know people that don't use the pond armor and they still have the BG going strong 5-6 years later, but if you want to get a real long time 10 years 15yrs? or more then the pond armor is a good investment. It's not cheap though, the cheapest place is ebay and it's $74 for the 1.5 quart size. if you want the link let me know.
Nope don't do the back surface. You want it to be clean foam for the silicone to adhere to the background and the glass. And when you put it in the tank, use A LOT of silicone. Obviously foam is very buoyant so you want to use a lot of silicone. To give you an idea of how much...I used 5 full tubes just to adhere my background in my 7ft by 30" tall tank.
Time to wait- Once it is all installed you want to wait at least 4-5 days. I like to wait at least a week myself just to be sure. Then after a week fill it with water and immediately drain it. That will get any left over foam pieces out of the tank (and there will be some no matter what). Then fill it back up and let it sit for a full day. Drain 100% again then fill and start your cycle. After it's cycled your ready for fish. So if you seed the filter, your looking maybe 6-9 days max from install till fish.
If you have any issues/questions feel free to PM me and I'll give ya my # and be happy to help ya out.
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Steve your backgrounds are awesome! I can't wait to see this one.
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Been a bit...but will have pics soon. Marty dropped a 55v here last week so will have this 55g with 3D BG ready in a bit at the auction. Pics soon....
Sorry for the delay, should have pics soon....
And those you.....if you make the auction. Support MCa and bid on the 55g tank
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Actually.... this 55gal & background are going to be our premier raffle item & will end up being a complete 55setup including: lights/lids from Over The Edge, Cobalt heater & sponge filter from Deep Blue.
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Well here we are, all that is left is to seal it with Pond Armor Pond Sealer this afternoon, then in the morning I'll mount it permanently to the back of the tank and it'll be all set for the auction raffle on Saturday. Biggest hurdle with a 55g 3D background is that you only have 12" front to back depth so you don't want to cut that room down much more than you have too. So I got around that issue by making this one as thin as I could and just cut deeper into the foam as well as doing a bit darker shading in the crevices to give it the illusion of even more depth than it actually is. Worked out well as it has a nice 3D look to it yet 75% of it only takes 1" depth and the other 25% only takes 2" of tank depth.
I also wanted to make it so the winner was not stuck with only being able to use a certain type of filter, such as a canister, because not everyone uses canisters. So the upper right 15" or so is rounded and thinner depth than the the rest so that a HOB filter such as a bio-wheel style can fit right over the background without any headaches.
I hope whoever walks away winning it enjoys it for years to come.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/36/6p2d.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/827/knby.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/21/jgt9.jpg)
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Looks badass! Thanks again Steve!
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Looks great!!!!!
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Going to be a great raffle item!
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I'm going to win this so everyone else save your money to buy fish. Just sayin'.
Very well crafted.
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Looks great, got my raffle money all set aside!
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You need to build these for a living lol. WOWWW 8)
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With all that you are going through right now, I have to give you some major props for completing this on time.
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With all that you are going through right now, I have to give you some major props for completing this on time.
Thanks everyone, looking forward to seeing who wins it. Whoever does will have to post up some pics when it is fully set up, would like to see it when its stocked :) Just siliconed it in for good this morning so it's off-gassing right now. Whoever wins it will just have to fill it once and let it sit overnight, then drain and refill and it should be good to go then.
Maize-n-Blue-D My father who passed away years ago taught me one thing, if you say you are gonna do something then you do it. So I always try to make sure I hold to my word no matter what ;)
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I'm going to win this so everyone else save your money to buy fish. Just sayin'.
Very well crafted.
Well, now I'm going to buy a ticket just so I can win it instead of you ;D
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I'm going to win this so everyone else save your money to buy fish. Just sayin'.
Very well crafted.
Well, now I'm going to buy a ticket just so I can win it instead of you ;D
Not gonna happen, Marty. Save your ticket money for fish. <')>>><
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I'm going to win this so everyone else save your money to buy fish. Just sayin'.
Very well crafted.
Well, now I'm going to buy a ticket just so I can win it instead of you ;D
Not gonna happen, Marty. Save your ticket money for fish. <')>>><
Really? It's rigged, I am buying 1 tix and ...oh wait, what?? ;D
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I'm going to win this so everyone else save your money to buy fish. Just sayin'.
Very well crafted.
Well, now I'm going to buy a ticket just so I can win it instead of you ;D
Not gonna happen, Marty. Save your ticket money for fish. <')>>><
Really? It's rigged, I am buying 1 tix and ...oh wait, what?? ;D
I suspect there will be many tickets sold as this is a great raffle prize, but I'm still winning. LOL
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It was rigged one of the volunteers won!!! Lucky Guy!!!
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That's cool, who won it Pete? I was going to try to come back near the end just to see who won but got tied up with some truck repair on my Mom's truck today for her and took longer than I expected. Good thing I didn't stay for the actual auction though, I think I blew enough money before the auction to drain my "fish money account" for the next 2 months :o Well worth it though, I got some excellent fish from a lot of the guys today!
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Looked great Steve. I took a pic of the whole setup to show my wife.
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It was gorgeous.
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That's cool, who won it Pete? I was going to try to come back near the end just to see who won but got tied up with some truck repair on my Mom's truck today for her and took longer than I expected. Good thing I didn't stay for the actual auction though, I think I blew enough money before the auction to drain my "fish money account" for the next 2 months :o Well worth it though, I got some excellent fish from a lot of the guys today!
Steve, I won it!!!
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Oh LOL no way, that's too friggin cool man 8). Enjoy it Pete.
Just fill it up and let it sit overnight then drain it the next day before you get ready to add anything. Then it'll be all set to go.
Hope you enjoy it!
And Marty & Blair you guys can put me down for doing one to raffle off each year for the club.
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Very nice background Steve. Had a chance to see it at the meeting.
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Yep, that tank looked awesome man. Was really hoping for it to set up in the living room and be a new home for all the Angel fish the wife bought :o :o.