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

[JK47]

ah, carbon and clean water should work, especially if it isn't something that can continue to leech. That said, if it's leeching at all, I would worry that somehow the presence of water is making it so it can't cure 100% (fwiw I have no idea how this stuff works, what is required for it to cure, what curing really even actually means, etc) and that the only final solution will involve removing it from the tank anyway... in which case the fish would have to come out either way.

Are the geos improving? That's great that the severum is back to upright and normal breathing. Upside down is tough to come back from but I've done it, and if any fish can it's a severum. Is he in a QT or in the main tank again? Sorry, was unclear on if he stayed in with the others when they were breathing harder/hiding or if he came out the instant you found him upside down, as would be my instinct (QT and tons of salt).

The OH's are going allot better than the severum and better than they were previously. Looking through the time line (in green on the last page) the GE2 was only cured dry for 72 hours. I give tanks that have been sealed 48 hours so I thought I was giving it an extra day, guess not. The pond foam and GE2 silicone had 6 days to cure. That is why I leaning towards the GE1 being the issue.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I hope your fishes make it Justin. It would be a shame to have such a beautiful tank with no beautiful fishes in it

 

[Muni]

Good news that things are turning around.

How are your temps holding up? This is getting back to the issue a few weeks ago with the cold weather and cold tanks.

 

[Valous]

hmm looked over your time line and that all should have cured in time. i am getting a lost on what could be wrong. I know some say no to using ge2 but if people have had success.

 

[monsterfish2000]

Great job.

 

[JK47]

I hope your fishes make it Justin. It would be a shame to have such a beautiful tank with no beautiful fishes in it

Thank you Ryan. I can do it.

Good news that things are turning around.

How are your temps holding up? This is getting back to the issue a few weeks ago with the cold weather and cold tanks.

The tanks are doing great with heating. On the 300g, I found that by moving the heaters under the FX5 intakes (inside towers) it heats more efficiently than when the heaters were on the sides or the middle of the tank so I can use less total watts. 500 watts on the 300 gallon and 250 watts on the 125 gallon. It's 40 degrees outside and both tanks are over 80 degrees.

hmm looked over your time line and that all should have cured in time. i am getting a lost on what could be wrong. I know some say no to using ge2 but if people have had success.

The time line seemed appropriate to me as well. Something Clockwork and I were talking about is with that maybe the GE1 needs to cure longer dry and wet. Curing it wet similar to sealing concrete type thing with 100% WC multiple times. Unfortunatly he is having the same issue with his 125 gallon. He moved all of his fish out a few days ago. I feel terrible since I installed his BG with the same products on his tank as I did on mine.

 

[Muni]

The time line seemed appropriate to me as well. Something Clockwork and I were talking about is with that maybe the GE1 needs to cure longer dry and wet. Curing it wet similar to sealing concrete type thing with 100% WC multiple times. Unfortunatly he is having the same issue with his 125 gallon. He moved all of his fish out a few days ago. I feel terrible since I installed his BG with the same products on his tank as I did on mine.

Well thats good and bad.

It's bad that his fish are having issues. It's good that your tank is not an isolated case. So ONE of those products or a combination is causing issues. I honestly don't suspect the silicone at all as long as it was cured. What I'm curious about is the pond foam stuff. When you made the thicker pieces it was still wet in the middle when you cut it. You think it still may be like that?

 

[JK47]

Well thats good and bad.

It's bad that his fish are having issues. It's good that your tank is not an isolated case. So ONE of those products or a combination is causing issues. I honestly don't suspect the silicone at all as long as it was cured. What I'm curious about is the pond foam stuff. When you made the thicker pieces it was still wet in the middle when you cut it. You think it still may be like that?

That is a very good point. When working with pond foam it has to constantly be shaken etc.. Something as simple as the can being upsidedown may have caused it not to mix properly resulting in a curing that differs from the intended mixture. None the less it happened so I have nothing but water changes ahead of me. Hopefuully if future MFK'ers try this, they take more time than I did and avoid it. It kind of sucks being the "test monkey" but someone has to do it..

Lets keep on truckin on a positive note, it's the holiday season. I needed a pick me up so I went and bought more Java wood and came up with a very unique idea for DIY vines. hopefully this works and gets a few more wins back in my court than the fails lol..





This is how the wood is mounted currently. I will drill the final holes once I make up my mind on how I want them laid out. I still have 4 more pieces coming so I don't want it finalized yet.









I tracked down a "green" packaging company that makes a 100% organic paper "vine" for green basket weeving etc.. They say there is no chemicals or dye's so I feel safe at least trying this. It's very hard and thick.





I am giving it a 24 hour soak to see how it reacts sumberged since it was not intended for aquatic use.



After 24 hours, it loosened up and turned much darker. This is a good thing because the imperfections actually make it look more realistic like a real vine would IMO. I am going to give it another couple of days and see if it breaks down. I have a feeling it won't though. Then I will start wrapping it around the wood for a vine/mangrove swamp affect.



$4 for 10' seems worth a try. Good idea or am I losing it?

 

[Muni]

Looking good. the bird perches are a great idea. Whatever you put in there. Rinse the hell out of it. To avoid any future issues. Hope we can pinpoint the other issue though.

 

[joecoulson]

Vine looks pretty awesome after a soak, I can see that your vision for this tank is looking pretty awesome. I have always loved the shots in nature shows that go through flooded aqautic environments like amazonia during he wet season. That to me is the most beautiful fish environments in the world.

Here is what I imagine the surface would look like in the wild: