3D backgrounds, yay or nay?

[tongolino10]

I've come across some seriously impressive 3d backgrounds online, and if I were to get them, I would be getting those which can be suctioned to the back of my tanks as I already have water and fish in them.

Do they trap dirt and fish easily or grow algae and affect water circulation? Are they a pain to maintain? Looking to hear from those who have experience with these backgrounds in their tanks

 

[phreeflow]

Love the way they look and I’ve tried several times but have always lost plecos and clown loaches behind them. Drove me crazy wondering if they died or were stuck so I’d tear it all out periodically to find them. They find the smallest crevices to enter.

I wouldn’t do it again unless I could silicone it into place. It’s worth the trouble imho

 

[Midwater]

Nay.

 

[RyanScanner]

Make your own with pond foam and mortar. Silicon it in place or it floats and traps debris. But it will deteriorate over time.

 

[tongolino10]

Make your own with pond foam and mortar. Silicon it in place or it floats and traps debris. But it will deteriorate over time.

I wonder how long the commercial ones will last, not sure if they are made of the same material. They are expensive too.

 

[ken31cay]

I got the 3D background for my 750gal from Universal Rocks. They asked for precise interior measurements which I provided and the background fit perfectly. Though in a few places it did not stay pressed against the tank walls on its own so I siliconed the whole background in before filling with water.

The tank has only been running for 4 months so I couldn't tell you much more except that there is literally no room for any fish to get behind it. I personally wouldn't consider having a 3D background unless it was one that fit well and that I could silicone it in.

 

[RyanScanner]

I wonder how long the commercial ones will last, not sure if they are made of the same material. They are expensive too.

I looked into the aquadeco ones for my 300g and it was like $12,000 lol. Obviously it would be better quality but I wanted the ph buffering from real rocks & boulders as my water is fairly soft.

 

[Midwater]

I looked into the aquadeco ones for my 300g and it was like $12,000 lol. Obviously it would be better quality ...

I should hope so.

 

[krichardson]

I also have a Universal Rocks background on one of my tanks,I bought it from another member here quite a few years ago and I love the look of it....it kinda reminds me of the top notch set ups in public aquarium displays.

 

[duanes]

I used one for while, in a few different situations, but determined the space it used up in the tank was problematic, and it did allow fish to escape belind it and disappear.
I tried shaving it down to and that helped a bit

Combined with real sunken wood and rockwork, I liked the look in my 6 ft tanks, but the swim space it took up inside the tank was too significant to justify, for its continued use for my needs.
I suppose if I kept small species in a large tank (6 feet or more) I could afford the loss of water volume.....