djay Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi Again do i need to wash it of after its painted and dryed, i thought i might sprinkle sand over it after the paint when still wet. thanks djay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 yep that would be a good idea also if u are using silicone to glue it in you will need to flush the tank a few times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djay Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Hi i'm going to paint the background for newts What is wetasil is there another name for it thanks. Djay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 dont worry about wettasil you wont need it , it was me experimenting(btw its a surfectant ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elusive_fish Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Hi, I thought others might find this interesting. When I was setting up my new aquarium Phoenix posted a link to this amazing looking tank: http://www.aquahobby.com/tanks/e_tank0902.php Many DIY backgrounds I've seen I havent liked that much, as they really just look like concrete. From what Ive researched the ones that really appeal to my eye have been made by coating in epoxy resin (like youve been talking about on here) then covering in sand. His link is bound ot provide plenty of inspirational to all us budding DIY backgrounders I emailed the creator of the above background to confirm a couple of things and here is his reply: Hello Ben, the rock shapes are cut with ordinary knife. The send I used is brown and white as soft as you can find or buy. Yes, the algae is real. This background was my first one. Nowadays I made and sell my backgrounds according to the anybody wishes. http://www.akvamalawi.com/phpBB/album_personal.php?user_id=57 BR Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted March 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 those pictures are pretty amazing he has had some real practise since the first 1 he made. i find using paint easier and cheaper than epoxy now but the sand doesnt stick to the paint anewhere near as well as it does to epoxy and the epoxy is a lot stronger (a must if its for turtles or lizards with claws) i used a waterbased epoxy in previous backgrounds i made its called equis epistixx clear (eqquis is on fiztgerald ave) its slighty cheaper than other epoxies and you can mix in paint(acrylic artist or house) to colour it so this would save using different coloured sands while also giving you a wider range of colours (see the red and black background in my old goldfish tank). i recently made a background for a friends frog tank that didnt use ane sand and has a reasonable rock effect too riversand ($6 a big sack at oderings) has fine particles all the way up to small bits of gravel and can be used to great effect on its own another method is to use expanding foam instead of polystyrene i have more information about that if you would like just let me know all in all if you have patience and with careful planning you can get the results you are after . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 like this 1? http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2007/10/cre ... water.html that is amazing looks like its not even under water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 ive got a really good idea i plan to get some thick Polystyrene and carve it up with mountains and valleys and paint it etc and silicon it to the bottom of the tank adn cover parts with different types of sand/gravel. and make up some walls and attach plants to it, so they are growing up in caves etc. once i get it sorted i will post some pics. prob put java fern in the caves. can anyone suggest another plant that attaches it self really well?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I always thought that paint was toxic to fish? I was really keen on making one of these backgrounds but I was put off when I read that no paint is suitable for fish. Where do you get non-toxic paint from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted May 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 its more a matter of what you can get away with i used low voc acrylic house paint last time no problems and plenty other people have if ur still really unsure about it , epoxy coat it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted April 8, 2012 Report Share Posted April 8, 2012 Any tips on how to use the back ground to hide the heater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 have you seen this thread? http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=39179&hilit=DIY+background+si+sphinx it's a goodie :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 What about water based enamel? Harmful ? My concern is when heat is applied ie the water temp. So many opinions on it. Thoughts on using without resin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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