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

[JK47]

Awesome bro! Now the question is to start my own thread or hijack yours for my 20 gallon... Hmm!

I'll probably post a couple pics here and do my own thread... Maybe on the loach forum since it's a hillstream loach biotope... Of course, no one besides me and a couple other people even go on the loach forum!

Why not do both? This thread is about taking our hobby to the next level, tank size doesn't mean crap... I've put just as much thought/effort into my 10 gallon as my 300 gallon. Your pics are welcome in here bro..

(I'll get you started, no going back now that's your BG)

Yay, glad you're back! That's a nice little 55g, and a good find. I'd devote that to my convict in a second.

Thanks girlie glad to be home! If you were closer I would give you that 55 gallon free.. I like how you understock your tanks and care so much about your fish, I respect that allot. I'm so lucky to keep the species I have. I want them to feel lucky to have me in charge of their tanks/habitat as well. Tanks aren't furniture or bragging rights, it's where my fish call home. Corny I know, but you and Nyvar are probably the only two that would make sense to.

Remember these from last night (pics above)? 24 hour soak and they look brand new. Know one would guess I only spent $5 lol..



I researched this stuff allot including the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and cannot find anything that would cause a problem. Considering the small amount being used in the tank and the volume of water for dilution, if it did leach anything it would be minimal at best and removed via regular WC's.





I decided to mount the overflow towers upside down for better mechanical pickup. The gutter guard will keep any smaller fish from hiding out inside the towers and the sand thickness won't impact mech efficiency. I will silicone it in place when I finally get around to ordering some black silicone from Glasscages.com









I snapped a qiuck pic of the 10 gallon this morning. The light in the corner comes on from 6pm-9pm. The plants are growing excellent and it's only due to natural sunlight from the window. Me and my boys are having allot of fun experimenting with this tank. It's on week 2 now.



BTW there isn't an ounce of biological media in this tank. Only a mechanical pad and small HOB. 0 ppm ammo, 0 ppm nitrite, heven't tested nitrate yet.

 

[MonsterMinis]

Amazing Thread.. Beautiful Fish... If I even take scaping my tanks for more then just necessities seriousely, Those 3d backgrounds look awesome.

 

[Natalie]

Thanks girlie glad to be home! If you were closer I would give you that 55 gallon free.. I like how you understock your tanks and care so much about your fish, I respect that allot. I'm so lucky to keep the species I have. I want them to feel lucky to have me in charge of their tanks/habitat as well. Tanks aren't furniture or bragging rights, it's where my fish call home. Corny I know, but you and Nyvar are probably the only two that would make sense to.

You're too sweet, and yes you make perfect sense. I'm done with fitting as many fish as I can into each tank. A happy fish makes for a happy fishkeeper.

I started a thread on my 150g. I will be using a lot of your design tips for the plumbing and 3d background on mine, thanks!

 

[joecoulson]

Cool, now i see your setups. I will probably get some of that drift to match the BG from Matt. I should have documented my build, but I just didn't make time. Very cool.

 

[JK47]

Cool, now i see your setups. I will probably get some of that drift to match the BG from Matt. I should have documented my build, but I just didn't make time. Very cool.

Thanks Joe I appreciate the feedback! Speaking of wood, I got the wood I bought last week I bought from DBN.. The second they get the tree stump in I am ordering that too.. Worth every penny IMO.. I wish I had a better camera though, my flash washes out the color. I test fit it in the 120g but it is one of two pieces going in the 300g with a "less is more" approach. Planning on the background, this wood, the tree stump and lots of smooth river stones...





An FX5 quick disconnect for size reference.









More pics in a bit.

 

[JK47]

Like I mentioned above I stole the Loc-Line returns from the 300 gallon and put them on the 120 gallon. Today I got the returns I cleaned up this morning snapped together and back in the 300 gallon. I managed to add a few extra pieces as well. Now they both have an even number of pieces.







I figure now is a nice oportunity to show how I did the return plumbing on the big tank. The Loc-Line is for the returns from the sump. The Dual FX5 returns are between them and cover the upper level of the tank while the sump returns cover the bottom roughly every 24"x24" square footprint.









I am still running the the water level low with just the FX5's for now. I am not sure when I can pick up the sump. Lighting in a sec.

 

[JK47]

I decided to use the two T5's I picked up this weekend on the 300g and got em cleaned up. I will grab four new bulbs when I get down to the LFS. I have heard bad things about the Coralife T5's but I have two other units and have never had an issue. I like them TBH.

The current light I want to move to the 120g are the same fixture only 36" instead.



I got the new ones cleaned up nicely. I got both for $20





I love the lids on this tank. They have 1/2" acrylic strips all the way around top and bottom to keep them from warping and sliding back and fourth.





I am thinking of drilling holes in the lids right here so I can zip-tie down the lights. I'm having a hard time thinking of any other ways to mount them?? Any ideas?





What model of T5 bulb should I be looking for? There are no live plants in this tank, it's 30" tall and I want it somewhat "dark" for lack of a better way to put it..

 

[wadman]

My wife wanted to put our new tank in our bedroom so I wanted to make it look next level and I've always wanted a 3D background. So I bought three for my largest tanks. Hope she doesn't notice lol.. Another member suggested these guys and I'm stoked I looked them up. I ordered my 3D backgrounds from a company called "Designs By Nature". I wish I would have found them sooner TBH because I almost paid allot of $$$ for aquaterra BG's I would have regret. Designs by nature has more designs, come in large sizes, cheaper prices, inexpensive flat BG's that connect to make them longer, driftwood that doesn't stain water etc...

Check for yourself >> http://www.designsbynature.net/

If all goes well I'll do a whittled down "how to" with pics thread on just installing the backgrounds in a few weeks. This thread will cover with pics the build of my 300g, goodbye to my 220g, the overhaul of my 125g and my 120g build from scratch, but most importantly the the upgrading to 3D backgrounds for all three tanks. Pics in a sec..

cool site for backgrounds. thanks for the link even tho you just costed me $60 tonight.

 

[JK47]

cool site for backgrounds. thanks for the link even tho you just costed me $60 tonight.

Welcome to the thread and to MFK!!! Thanks for your first post!


I am still going tonight and the 120g is still leaking. I am going to flip it on it's face again and use silicone around the bulkhead fitting. It's that or scrap the tank and start over with a new tank and buy another background. I should have never installed the BG until I knew the leak was fixed. Rookie move on my part and I know better.. I am just going to deal with it for now and keep trucking..



I got some scrap pieces of the same material the 300g background is made of and I'm going to start carving it tomorrow morning. It's talller than I need so hopefully it's forgiving. This is what I am going to try first to achieve the height on the 300g background I need. If this doesn't work I will use the pond foam as a "plan b". It's good to have options though.





View attachment 546905

I am starting to plan out the early design of the drip system as well as pick up a few pieces. I need to be a few steps ahead on this part so it's well thought out. I need to order a chlorine & chloramine filter from thefilterguys.com. I will be using a hybrid version of Jose's drip and a 50/50 RO mix. I'll get it installed in three phases over a month or so. Once I dial out the sump and get it plumbed I'll dedicate some serious thought into the drip system on this tank. More on that in the next few days.

 

[joecoulson]

]

What model of T5 bulb should I be looking for? There are no live plants in this tank, it's 30" tall and I want it somewhat "dark" for lack of a better way to put it..[/QUOTE]

I have the same fixtures and I put double 10k T5 NO's in them, nice and pulling forward more makes the background even more dramatic. I wanted to find a 6700 to go with one of the 10k's but they are hard to find locally and I don't trust shipping of a single T5.