Step by step how to make a 3D background

[Steve]

This step will be addressing the issue of an overflow in the tank. I've seen most people just leave the overflow as is without doing anything to try to hide it, to me that is just taking the easy way out and ending up with an unfinished look in my opinion. Yes it is easier, but if you take the time to incorporate the overflow into the background you will end up with a MUCH nicer looking tank that looks complete.

The best way to do it is to take each individual rock that you carve and use a heat gun to  to form the rocks to fit around the curves of the overflow. It takes some time to get it formed and not melt it with using too much heat from the heat gun, but once you do a couple pieces you will get a feel for how much heat is too much.



A few pieces installed to the overflow



Make sure you dry fit the rest of the background in place first so you can see where to mount the pieces on the overflow so they don't interfere with fitting the other pieces later.

[Steve]

Just have to touch up a few spots on the overflow, then do the dark and white shading and the back pieces of this will be done. Then just have to finish the side panels and cover the whole thing with pond armor sealer and that will then conclude this step by step project. Should have the final steps posted by the weekend then if there are any questions after that feel free to ask away.

[Steve]

I just want to show a quick pic of the side panels to show one key step in doing these. Side panels are not needed but they do make for a very finished looking tank so if you choose to do side panels such as I am doing on this tank then make sure to not forget to do this step. When you make the side panels make sure to shave down/knife edge the leading edge of the panel. That will be the edge that butts up against the front pane of glass. Reason for doing this is since you are butting up against the viewing panel of glass you certainly don't want 3/4" of green foam to be visible from the front of the tank. So rather than painting 3/4" of each edge of the front panel black to hide it, simply make a knife edge trim on the front edge of the foam side panels such as in the picture.

[Ron]

Side panels?! Going all out! Looks really nice.

One question on the overflow  - might it have been easier to build a flat piece and then use a heat gun to curve it into the final shape rather than build it piece by piece against the actual overflow inside of the tank?

[Steve]

The problem with doing a cover like that Ron is the overflow already sticks out about 4" or so into the swim space of the tank. So by building a complete panel over it then you'd be cutting down another 3/4"-1'+ of swim space. Plus it's not too hard to curve small individual pieces of foam with heat, but when you try to curve larger pieces you just can't really heat the whole full size all at the same time, so it'd be almost impossible to get a nice smooth curve to a large piece like that.

[Steve]

With the side panels in place you can see what I was talking about better now where the edges taper down and give a nicer look from the front that just butting them up to the front glass. All that is left do do now is a bit of touch up on the overflow were a few spots of drylok are need a heavier coat, then we'll be sealing it and calling it done.

[jcunningham0295]

Awesome Steve as always.  Wow, looks really nice!!!!

[Steve]

Thanks Josh. Since all that's left is the sealing ( I will cover that in the final step in a day or two) just to let anyone know if you have any questions, or thinking about starting your own and want to ask anything then feel free to do so now or anytime. I'd be glad to help out anyway I can.

[Steve]

Final steps here now. First I will post a pic of the pieces of the background with the sealer on them. I didn't take any pics while I was doing the sealer mainly because the Pond Armor pond sealer starts to cure so fast that you have t work VERY quickly or you risk wasting some very expensive product. So no pics of the process of applying it. I will give this tip on it though. The Pond Armor is a 2:1 ratio mix but I like to add about 1 full table spoon of denatured alcohol to each mix which helps to thin the sealer and make it go further.



In this picture I am siliconing the background into the tank. You can use clamps, pieces of foam wedged in place, barbells, anything you can safely use because you want the silicone pressed in as best you can.



Finally pic in this step by step will be the background done and ready to pick up. Should have that one posted in a few hours.

[Steve]

All installed and complete. Just needs to sit for 3-4 days, then filled and drained, then filled and filters ran for a couple days and then drained. Then ready to cycle like any normal tank after that.

[danotaylor]

Any pics of the customers tank with the tropheus group enjoying their new home?

[Steve]

Danny this one was one I did for Jon Keeler, so I bet when he sees this he'll share a pic or two.

[danotaylor]

Cool, that'd be amazing...bring it on John 

[jkeeler]

Here is picture

[danotaylor]

Holy cow John! Those red bishops are amazing...such vibrant colors and a wonderful contrast with the background Steve made for you.
That is a beautiful set up. Are they producing yet?
Thanks for sharing mate!