si_sphinx Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 I thought everyone would like to see some pics of the background i have started to make from polystyrene... I know i like seeing other peoples DIY jobs I used a bread knife to cut the general shape out and then used a spoon :lol: The spoon seemed to work well to give the rock texture i was after. Now i just need to decide if i'm going to concrete it or paint it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 oh wow. awesome!!!!! :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 wow that's mean! 8) I can see u put a lot of time into it lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Is this background going underwater or in a terrarium? Also what type of paint are you using? We're looking at making one ourselves for our terrarium now since Rockworks are too busy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 WOW Looks great keep up the great work Cant wait to see it finished Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Its for a 1200x600x600 cichlid aquarium. Ive used a combination of purple and white polystyrene, the purple seems to be harder than the white stuff and took ages to shape. Ive read that other people have used acrylic paint so i would probably use that and final coat of resin or similar to seal it all. But I'm kind of leaning more towards concrete to make it look more like rock but still find some way of sealing it so i dont have the concrete leaching chemicals into the water. which is also an advantage of paint,no chemical leaching after a few tanks of water to wash it out....? difficult decision i say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 cool thanks for that looking forward to see more on your progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 does it fully cover the back of the tank and is the back pice glued to the side peice? very nice, cant wait to see some more pics as it goes along Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Yes it is all glued together at the moment but will be cut to fit in the tank when it comes time to fitting. and it will cover full length of back and one side of tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted June 7, 2009 Report Share Posted June 7, 2009 Ah, you people are so talented, great looking...can't wait to see finished product :bounce: :bounce: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Yes it is all glued together at the moment but will be cut to fit in the tank when it comes time to fitting. and it will cover full length of back and one side of tank. Im thinking i might make one for my new tank thats goin in the corner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 You should give it a go, its been quite easy so far once you get into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Im going to do a real thin one though Mainly for the colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 Wow! Very nice. Any particular place you're getting instructions off? Would like to make one and need a step by step guide. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkles Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 will it be siliconed in place? I'd love to make one but can just imagine it pinging off and floating away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 will it be siliconed in place? I'd love to make one but can just imagine it pinging off and floating away... Yes it will be when i get around to covering it and putting it in the tank i spent another hour on it after work today and put 2 hidey holes and another cave Hard to see in pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 it looks fantastic! keep us updated as to how you get on, I'd be interested to see what paint you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 nice background would be a good one to make a mould off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I found it pretty easy to do and could easily make another if i had the poly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted June 8, 2009 Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 polys easy to get. you just got to buy the bigger pices, you can cut up poly boxes and use them, theyre easy enough to get. i got a lot of poly boxes from my partners work, a hotel with a resturant. I find it a bit hard to believe that you made that texture useing a spoon. its looks so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2009 I guess it was the bluntness of it that gave the ripping at it technique. scraping and digging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Wow! Very nice. Any particular place you're getting instructions off? Would like to make one and need a step by step guide. Thanks I'm not following any instructions, ive just done research on the net about it and just gone from there with my own ideas. Its easier to start off with heaps of different tools to find out which works best for you to give the effect you want. Ive started using a fork now to do finer details of rock shapes to get a more natural look. When ive finished i will try to get step by step instructions put together including pictures if any one is interested...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEKA Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I coated mine with a product called Cemix patch. It is like concrete but very fine texture. I made a really runny mix and poured it all over and into the caves. Gave it several coats and then cut out the back to reduce the bouyancy. I saw the Cemix Patch in Bunnings the other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 I coated mine with a product called Cemix patch. It is like concrete but very fine texture. I made a really runny mix and poured it all over and into the caves. Gave it several coats and then cut out the back to reduce the bouyancy. I saw the Cemix Patch in Bunnings the other day. Yes thats what im going to use as well, but im thinking about painting a little on it too. I know you can get colour oxides to mix in with the concrete but i feel i can control paint a bit better. WEKA, im interested to know how long it took to clean it before it was fish safe and how you went about it? Im still detailing it a bit better before i start covering it. I always have to have things perfect and every time i look at it i find something else wrong with it Im trying for as natural look as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.