My 3d background on an old 70 gallon with small crack

[cichlid_81]

So ive decided to make a 3d background out of real stones.. should turn out good.. how ever i had a small crack on the side from it having water in it in the garage.. winters up here in canada get a lil chilly.. anyways heres the start..

Started by covering the crack with silicone

 

[cichlid_81]

Then i got a sheet of glass and plastered it with silicone.. i know some of you have a better idea like replace it.. funny thing is i do have 2 pieces of glass the exact dimensions but hey.. i dont really care. And im covering it anyways.. ive done this before.

Then i took a blade and smeared it even..

Followed by placing it in the clean tank..

Next i went around all the edges and sealed them..

And next i glued one stone...

More to come tomorrow or the next day.. i run out of silicone 1 and my other tubes i have have that mildew resistant chemicals in it so.. ill let it be for now.. it has to dry for a day or so anyways..

 

[cichlid_81]

That last photo above is of how i placed the stones to make them all fit and how i wanted to position them.. i did that first because i didnt want to make a mess and look really bad..

And since i had to fix the glass i placed them on the floor in the correct order so i didnt forget the way they were..

 

[krichardson]

Interesting,looking forward to seeing more photos.

 

[S4Detroit]

Damn that thing will be heavy when your done.

 

[krichardson]

Damn that thing will be heavy when your done.

I was thinking about the weight issue as well.

 

[cichlid_81]

I was thinking about the weight issue as well.

The stones arent that heavy.. and the tank was constructed with 10 mil glass.. were gonna find out in a few days.. the tank is really heavy as it is.. i should of weighed it somehow first. And after..

When i fill it with water im gonna watch the front and back glass for any deflection.. or bowing.. this was an old tank that would of never seen water again.. it was in garage.. i piled stuff on it.. stood on it to get stuff out of the rafters etc.. n it took that pretty dry lol..

But if there is a deflection i will just ad a brace... about 6 inches wide on both sides.. should solve that..

 

[krichardson]

....not sure what you mean by deflection but I was merely thinking in terms of overall weight once it is completed and filled....I don't think any issues should arise.

 

[cichlid_81]

Also im a framing carpenter. And will make an over kill stand and canopy for it.. i built one for my 150 gallon one already. Ill see if i have a few photos of the stand being put together.. i never put the canopy together yet but its coming... the plywood sheets are in the garage and 1x4s.. im also getting new lights for it so i am kinda holding of some till i get them. Lol and another project i have on the go is i got a bunch of granite to make some different caves and what not

 

[cichlid_81]

I mean like the glass bowing out by deflection... another thing i have is styrofoam sheets to put under it aswell 2'×4' sheets..