DIY 3D Background

**Ritchie** · 02-22-2017, 10:28 PM

Have any of you made your own background? I did out of styrofoam board and colored mortar. I was happy with it until one day I had to scrub an algae buildup off it. While I was doing it, the water turned a brownish color. I couldn't tell if that was from the algae or background. To be cautious, I decided to shut down the tank and remove the background.

Have you used a sealer on your background? I've read that some do and some don't.

**RiversGirl** · 02-23-2017, 12:01 AM

A few members here have done so -- with fabulous results.
Off the top of my head:

Member Boundava made one, it is now in her 75 gallon tank, if you wish to search the journal (be warned it is long)
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...11#post1271411

If you go to her profile, she has posted photos of her background-making process:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...er.php?u=56118

Also
WhistlingBadger (in one of his tanks -- I think it is a 55 gallon, but might be miss-remembering)
journal:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...24#post1340524
profile:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...er.php?u=38656

(hopefully these links all work now)

**Ritchie** · 02-23-2017, 02:46 PM

Thank you for that

**RiversGirl** · 02-23-2017, 10:15 PM

You are most welcome. Please do let us know what you decide on, for your tank.

**Ritchie** · 02-23-2017, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by RiversGirl

You are most welcome. Please do let us know what you decide on, for your tank.

I'm most likely going to put that background away and do another one for a future tank. I have learned a lot since I did that one.

**Boundava** · 03-27-2017, 07:57 PM

Sorry Ritchie, I just saw this thread. I am planing on building a bunch of them for my future tanks. I used extruded styro (home insulation), silicon for adhesive, a masonry sealer called Drylok (latex version in white), hot knife and some other tools for carving, and acrylic paint for the finishing pigment or you can use cement pigments. Benefit with the Drylok is that its pH neutral once fully cured, and it is waterproof. You can do a light scrubbing on it and it is very durable-but I use nerite snails to clean the algae off it.