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

[JK47]

It's good your not saying anything about what happened, Justin. If you did, ACWO, would be speechless.

Hip-Hip-Hurray for Justin!! Man, that is terrific news coming from you. I am so happy to hear you're doing so great with your health. You need to throw another birthday party for yourself, Justin. Congradulations.

Thanks David. Keep an open eye for a PM tomorrow brother, I appreciate yours allot. There are few of us who know what that means, those who do appreciate EVERYTHING more. This thread probably makes a little more sense now. Yet again, I'll be concise.

On a VERY positive note, you guys will be blown away at the difference of carved pond foam vs the high gloss sprayed version... This stuff is actually fun..!

 

[aclockworkorange]

Buying a new tank and not testing it to hold water, spray painting the back indoors, putting 50 pounds of unwashed sand on a rather not level stand, and putting an over foot long sketchy species of mystery eel in said tank running on one sponge filter? In the space of about an hour?

I definitely did not do any of those things Justin. And said tank is not crystal clear and running perfectly with a happy eel full of krill and bloodworms.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Sketchy mystery eel! His nose was injured before purchase (spiny eels have a tendency to push their nose hard on glass when in a new tank).

90 gallon!



Ok, thread jack over! Thanks again Dan for the tank, and thanks to Justin for the help today.

 

[JK47]

Sketchy mystery eel! His nose was injured before purchase (spiny eels have a tendency to push their nose hard on glass when in a new tank).

90 gallon!



Ok, thread jack over! Thanks again Dan for the tank, and thanks to Justin for the help today.

Your welcome bro it was fun. Swat team tank setup lol! It looks good. Thanks for letting me know on the lapis lustre sand I didn't know they made a finer version hmmm.. I already have 400 lbs of the #1C. How much was it, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Same price.

 

[Dan F]

Sketchy mystery eel! His nose was injured before purchase (spiny eels have a tendency to push their nose hard on glass when in a new tank).

90 gallon!



Ok, thread jack over! Thanks again Dan for the tank, and thanks to Justin for the help today.

Nice. I'm glad that the tank is going to good use, my wife is glad to have eight more square feet of space in the garage. The best part was checking out the Epic Overhaul in person!

 

[JK47]

Last night I did 90% of the top carving. I like the carved look far better than leaving the foam with a glossy finish.. Untouched it doesn't look very good. In fact it looks terrible... Your all thinking it, it's OK I forgive you!



The spot I started cutting looking straight on where the FX5 plumbing come down from the top of the tank. (its the holes shown in the above pic)



This hole is the back wall of the tank where the Loc-Line runs through via bulkhead fitting.



Up close, the carved foam looks far better against the BG. I had to do the top sp no fish could get behind the BG. I really had no choice.





Took about 10 minutes to get the return section opened up.











You guys be the judge but IMO it looks allot better??

 

[aclockworkorange]

Looks awesome once you cut it. That stuff is awesome.

 

[JK47]

Looking for opinions here please. I would like to get this cut up this afternoon so I can silicone tonight.. Obviously the bottom piece is very thick, I had to in order to secure the background from floating.

What would you do? Options:

1. leave it and silicone sand on top.
2. carve along the contours of the BG, cutting straight down. + Silicone on sand.
3. carve down but taper it so sand naturally settles on it. + Silicone on sand.

 

[Conner]

I would think taper it away from the BG. The only thing it would do is take up a little more space that you would just fill with sand anyways. I think it will look more natural, like the background is actually continuing down, instead of something added to the bottom.

I also think that using silicone (or something else fish safe) and sprinkling sand on it will also help to make it look more natural.

I just worry the silicone will end up very globby and unnatural looking, which is why I said "something else fish safe".

Is there a clear Krylon fusion spray paint that you could use, and then sprinkle sand on top of?