Envirobro's Paludarium- DIY 3D Background

Discussion in 'Anything DIY related' started by EnvironmentalBro, Jun 16, 2015.

  1. EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Hi TASA,

    I have finally decided to make a 3D background for my 600l aquarium/paludarium. My last Paludarium was looking really good and was so easy to maintain but the amount of rock I had to use significantly reduced the volume of the tank thus limiting my choices for inhabitants. So I decided it was time to do something I have been wanting to try for years, a 3D background. The benefits of doing a background like this are the increased volume, easy to hide equipment and being completely customizable which means you can create anything that you can imagine.

    I have not photographed every part of the process but I'll post a few pics from the last couple of days so that you can see where I am at.

    Paludarium before I broke it down:
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    Get your general design layout. I used cocktail sticks to hold the pieces together.
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    Use a marker to draw designs onto Poly to start getting an idea of your designs.
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    Make sure it fits in the tank and see if you like the results.

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    I realised that my terrestrial area was a little too big and I wanted more water volume so I changed the design.
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    Now it's time to cut out space for your equipment. I initially wanted my equipment to go behind the background but when I tested it it did not work so I changed to to the front of the background.

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    I have a waterfall in middle of my background so I had to cut a hole to make room for the pump. This will be covered up by a cave later.

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    You can create some really cool structures very easily but just remember that at some stage you may need to catch your fish so don't go too crazy with the caves :)
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  3. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    This is where I am currently. I just made sure that all the equipment fits correctly while in the tank. Now that I am happy that everything fits I can go crazy with my designs :)

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  4. guillaume

    guillaume

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    very nice !
     
  5. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Thanks @guillaume.

    I forgot to mention that I am currently thinking that this may be a Tang setup. I spoke to @Jack Stone about getting tangs ages ago I now I can finally do it :) I am still a couple of weeks (atleast) away from being done with the scape but I have already started researching species.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  6. guillaume

    guillaume

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    hahahahah cant wait to see it with fish in it plz keep us updated
     
  7. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    I will try to post at every significant stage. Hoping to start with cementing by this weekend but we'll see how it goes.
     
  8. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    @EnvironmentalBro,

    Will the polystyrene take the weight of what you put on it?
    Plants I am assuming?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  9. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Hi Reedfish, yes it will, a thin layer of soil and lots of ferns is the plan.
     
  10. Broder

    Broder

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    Nice to see you back on TASA dude! I'm following with interest, although at this point I only see very buoyant, very brittle polystyrene:). I have total faith in your ingenuity though.
     
    Greenbean32 likes this.
  11. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Hehe yeah that's all I see at the moment as well but if all goes well then it should end up looking more like this:

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    and eventually this:

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  12. Broder

    Broder

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    Wow.. Very cool! Its going to be great to watch this develop, as you're well experienced both with African cichlids and palundariums. Very inspirational!
     
  13. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Ah schucks thanks @Broder :)

    I spent a couple hours today making 'rocks' and I also used a can of expanding foam on some of the corners to see how it looks. I'm going to make a couple more large 'rocks' and then it's silicone time.

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    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
  14. Lizid

    Lizid

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    This looks very very cool, I want to do something like that for the tropical tank, I am just not 100% on what would be water safe paint
     
  15. Broder

    Broder

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    Looking forward to seeing those rocks not float:). But seriously.. How you gonna keep those gravitationally accurate?
     
  16. Broder

    Broder

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    Ah... They going on terrestrial level eh?
     
  17. Tetra

    Tetra

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    I've seen video clips on YouTube where guys building a background like this and it looks real. Looking forward to see your final design!
     
  18. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    The rocks are getting siliconed to the background and then everything gets covered in a few layers of cement. Then the background is siliconed to the tank which should hold everything in place.
     
  19. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    After several hours of planning and placing I have finally completed the aquatic section of the right hand corner piece. It is difficult to see in the photos but it is looking great and once I have done final touch-ups and painted it will look amazing :) Hard work though...

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  20. OP
    EnvironmentalBro

    EnvironmentalBro

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    Finally completed the 'carving' stage of the background! I'm very happy with the result and now I can begin with the 'painting' phase with cement.

    This is the final dry fit before cementing. All the equipment can be easily added or removed.

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    Here is me standing next to the tank to give you and idea of the size of my tank.
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  21. Broder

    Broder

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    I don't want to sound critical(you don't choon Hulk), but it looks very symmetrical to me. I suppose the rocks are going to break it up a bit when you add them?
     

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