Epic Overhaul/Builds: 3D Backgrounds 300g-125g-120g

[JK47]

I have filled and drained the tank 4 times now. Each time laying on it's face so I can tighten the BH fittings easily. These AGA bulkheads that came with the Aqueon "mega flow" tank are hands down the most worthless product I have ever seen produced, ever flimsy and cheap... The plastic is thin, and they warp when tightended down and just plain leak.... I should have went with my gut and bought the BH fittings I always do. If any members get yor hands on these do yourself a favor and toss them.

Aqueon and AGA just lost a customer for life and if they guys read this, please feel free to drill a nice fat hole in the side of your boat and plug it with one of your bulkhead fittings........ ps - bring a raft..

 

[Natalie]

Dang, sorry about the bulkheads. I'd be pissed too.

How long will it take you to get the good ones?

 

[JK47]

Dang, sorry about the bulkheads. I'd be pissed too.

How long will it take you to get the good ones?

Thanks girl about a week. I am at a loss for words on why a company would make a decision like that?? Rant over I'll out. I need to focus on something else for a while.

These are the ones I am talking about, stay away from them MFK You can even see the seam running down the sides. Normal or decent BH fittings don't have this. This was them before being installed, perfect condition.

 

[yikesjason]

Aqueon and AGA just lost a customer for life and if they guys read this, please feel free to drill a nice fat hole in the side of your boat and plug it with one of your bulkhead fittings........ ps - bring a raft..

That is hilarious.

 

[makoshoemaker]

That bulkhead looks like its made out of the same plastic that those flimsy plastic cans are made out of. They should at least make it out of something rigid to give us the idea that it may work. Sorry to hear about that.

 

[Dan F]

I have filled and drained the tank 4 times now. Each time laying on it's face so I can tighten the BH fittings easily. These AGA bulkheads that came with the Aqueon "mega flow" tank are hands down the most worthless product I have ever seen produced, ever flimsy and cheap... The plastic is thin, and they warp when tightended down and just plain leak.... I should have went with my gut and bought the BH fittings I always do. If any members get yor hands on these do yourself a favor and toss them.

Aqueon and AGA just lost a customer for life and if they guys read this, please feel free to drill a nice fat hole in the side of your boat and plug it with one of your bulkhead fittings........ ps - bring a raft..

Wow, that has got to be infuriating. I thought they looked pretty crummy, I'm glad I didn't use them when I set up the 210 - I used 1" slip x slip bulkheads.

I've got six of those bulkheads (three with each "Megaflow" kit) that I won't be using for anything critical. I will probably keep them around, maybe for a DIY filter application where it doesn't need to be watertight...

Too bad about this delay, but your whole overhaul seems to be moving right along on track. Great thread, I've been on MFK for a while now and few can compare!

 

[JK47]

That bulkhead looks like its made out of the same plastic that those flimsy plastic cans are made out of. They should at least make it out of something rigid to give us the idea that it may work. Sorry to hear about that.

Thanks bro lesson learned. They are hollow, that's what the seam is. Normal bulkhead fittings are solid. I will say in their defense that combining the fitting with hose barbs is a pretty neat idea.. Still mad at them though so it's not "that" neat. I went back to working with the pond foam instead. This stuff is REALLY growing on me.

The seams I patched together came out nice IMO. I can see the line but would have to be looking for it to notice.







You can see where the foam that was in back seperated a little from expanding. I only had a pump on top of it for weight though. I think I will have no issues patching the panels inside the 300g.



Went back to the strips to see what carving a little off would look like.



Fat bubble sticking out here is what I wanted to cut off.



Bubble cut off.



Last I wanted to cut a slice off of the extra to see if the color was even close on the 300 BG.



Next two pics are the outside of the cutting and the inside. Inside is almost a dead on match. That's encouraging.





Pics on the tupe-blob-bottom of background thingy in a sec.

 

[JK47]

I needed some good news today.. Matt I can't thank you enough for recommending this stuff bro. Even if it didn't work at all it was fun to play with haha! Le'blob!!! This stuff expanded allot. When it dries it's the same color as when first sprayed/wet. It has a gloss shine to it. Keep in mind my flash is on though.



This is the "open" end of the PVC I tried to make. I am not going to try to leave the PVC open anymore. I think it will look like crap so I'l fill the pipe with rocks to weight it down and close off each end.



I was really suprised when I cut the top off of the blob it was all wet inside. I let it sit for maybe 6 hours or so? From when I posted pics of it last at least.



It's gross but I couldn't stop playing with it lol..



I ruined a perfectly good knife but it was totally worth it. Now I know how to cut this stuff the right way and make my BG taller for the 30" it needs.



I will be building this wood "mold" when I do the full 96" length. Probably in two 48" sections. The vertical piece is on it's edge. Todays 2"x6" are actually 1.5"x5.5". This mold has exactly 4" of vertical height and 5.5" front to back. 4" on top of the 24" height of the BG brings me to 28" of the 29" inside hieght of the tank. In this pic it's cut exactly along the top of the wood.





Everything cut out of the mold. It made a perfect 90 degree angle so I am REALLY happy with this idea. Mold + foam = whatever I want. I like it! I cut right along the wood top and back and it makes a perfect shape for the back/bottom of the tank.



In front of the background and ready for shaping to it's contours.



It's exactly 4" tall with a flat back and now I only have to buy a few new cans, build the 48" mold and start carving.

 

[JK47]

Wow, that has got to be infuriating. I thought they looked pretty crummy, I'm glad I didn't use them when I set up the 210 - I used 1" slip x slip bulkheads.

I've got six of those bulkheads (three with each "Megaflow" kit) that I won't be using for anything critical. I will probably keep them around, maybe for a DIY filter application where it doesn't need to be watertight...

Too bad about this delay, but your whole overhaul seems to be moving right along on track. Great thread, I've been on MFK for a while now and few can compare!

Thanks Dan. I appreciate a little encoragement.. I was really hoping to have the 120g humming along last night. Yeah these bulkheads suck. Not the end of the world though. I may just deal with the leak and change out the buckets every night and get my 300g finished anyway. I haven't decided yet.

 

[shyro77]

Justin, one more trick to try. Take a scrap piece and instead of cutting it just score the back about half way or as much as you can and then just snap it in half like drywall. You you won't be removing any BG (like a saw) and the break isn't in a perfect line, takes a bit of nerves but it works everytime, fits back perfect like a puzzle. I always do it this way when I'm gonna have to put it back together even with full size 6' pieces. But I would recommend black silicone as adhesive for this instead of the foam, since u want the thinest layer in-between the pieces.