DIY Aquarium Background

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

the tank is over a year and a half old and no problems so far... very satisfied still with the tank!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

there is a tutorial on Dramaticaquascapes (dot) com

[fishguy0703]

tutorial please!!!!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@fishguy0703 Dramaticaquascapes (dot) com... for a tutorial

[roybettyn6]

wow !!! good job !!!!!!!!!!

[gregorymalone71]

Wow this is very nice. I love fish tanks and have a 55 but about to upgrade to something bigger. How did you make this Because i am about to try this myself. once again nice job

[llnnssccify]

Very clean. Good work.  Just curios if it held up? Mine starting falling apart...

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@llnnssccify its held up just fine its been a year and a half and no problems with anything.... should last quite awhile.

[llnnssccify]

@RYANLAVIGNE1 Thanks for the response it's good to know. You should put a vid update of the tank...

[WhitzEnd00]

@ryanlavigne1 This is incredible. You wouldnt have pics of the build would you?

[piercing13]

your backround is my favorite!!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@piercing13 thank you very much if you have any questions let me know.. i should have a new video up soon!!! thanks for your time and kind words

[StraightFlint]

WOW THAT BACKGROUNG IS REALLY NICE, HOW DID YOU MAKE IT?

[CCichlids]

Hey in a few months i will have a 55 gallon with no more than 15 cichlids. What filter would recommend? Thanks love the tank (especially the background!)

[Kennnny77]

Cichlids from the mysterious land of Pancakes right? Very rare and elusive species! Now I'm hungry...tthx..gotta go

[Coyote6183]

@Kennnny77 this made me lol so hard.

[TheFishingLuke]

I tryed making one the styrofoam shot out the back and broke my aquarium. Next time I made a half terrarium half aquarium and had it float.

[mdfazal]

Looks Really Really GREAT!! :) Man Good job

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@mdfazal thank you very much!

[John94098]

@RYANLAVIGNE1, holy shit you are good,... i mean it looks absolutely beautiful and stunning, and it's so nice to see your beautiful fish looking so happy, calm and content... they really appreciate what you have done for them... i can see it.

[John94098]

@RYANLAVIGNE1 , your fish are also very, very cute by the way.

[newyorksteelo]

That background is looking sock man. Absolutely awesome!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@newyorksteelo thank you!

[xdamember10]

Where on earth do you find quikwall? Home depot and Lowes don't seem to carry it?

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@xdamember10 i had to order it at a local hardware store.

[xdamember10]

How do you clean the back glass when it gets dirty? I followed your guide on the web site you link in the older comment and saw that you didn't use a backing. Also what brand of concrete did you use and did you use a waterproof sealer?

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@xdamember10 well its almost a year old and no algae on the back glass, it forms on the rocks mostly and on the front glass i think because of the black background (where its dark) the algae doesnt grow ( no light) so algae hasnt been a prob, i did not seal my background the concrete is quik wall personally i wouldnt use anything else!

[GRRjammm]

how did you do yours? did you put it together in the tank or out, did you cement it in the tank or out ?

looks great!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@GRRjammm i made it in several pieces outside the tank, about 11 pieces total and then siliconed them in after.

[WhiteWolf047]

I wonder if I can do it with real rocks. I would love for my 120 gallon to look like this. Good job

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@WhiteWolf047 id be worried about the weight of the rocks on the glass & the stand. with the styrofoam your tank actually ends up weighing a lot less because of the room it takes up and the water displacement my tank actually holds around about 46?/47? (maybe more, maybe less just a guess but i know its way under 55 when full) gallons. but then again no decorations are necessary after you do this. i have 19 medium cichlids in there right now and they have plenty of room!

[WhiteWolf047]

I dont have the artistic capabilities to do this. :) I might try it though @RYANLAVIGNE1

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@WhiteWolf047 its mostly time consuming , not very difficult, just a little imagination and time.

supplies only cost me around $60 US dollars. a little patience helps too...lol

[hockeycrazy165]

how did you make it. sand paper??



[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@hockeycrazy165 used a razor blade

[eoinfffp]

a real beauty and a joy forever.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@eoinfffp thank you

[aircrewsar]

what type of sand or substrate do you have there?

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@aircrewsar its called tihaitian moon sand. spelling? if you google it you'll get the real spelling.

[vp6979]

Best craft work I ever seen this....... Please can u upload thevideo how do U have prepare this one.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@vp6979 thanx a lot glad u like it .....if you go to dramaticaquascapes (dot) com there is a DIY section.

[yuoranasswipe]

really nice job dude well done

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@yuoranasswipe thanx a lot appreciate the positive feedback!!

[HelionRain]

Who is the performer of that version of the song?

[HelionRain]

Nice tank. I'll have to make one soon. By the way, what song are you using for this video?

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@HelionRain thanx for your comment! the song is the instrumental for Airplanes by B.o.B.

[BabyTumbler]

Brilliant! Is it hard to craft?

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@BabyTumbler not really, but it is very time consuming. thanx a lot for the comment!

=]

[MELVENWONG89]

really nice look .. I plan to copy your design in my 8g tank will it disturb the fish .. as in will it take up space .. ..

Polystyrene right ??

the same 1 used as a based for fish tank ??

won't that tend to float and come apart into smaller pallets shape ??

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@MELVENWONG89 it does take up some space, but you wont be adding any decorations either that also take up space. my rocks have hidden paths behind some of the formations so the fish can hide behind them. when i turn on my light in the morning i cant even see any fish! so theres plenty of room for them just dont over crowd your fish. also the pH will be very high at first so make sure you do a good 10 day rinse cycle if you have more questions check out dramaticaquascapes (dot ) com

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@MELVENWONG89 also, i used "SeaChems" Acid Buffer to bring the pH down after the 10 day rinse cycle. it is safe for live plants which is good cause some acid buffers contain phosphates, but this doesnt!! my pH is much more stable now its been over 2 months and the tank still looks great.... actually looks better cause now there is green & reddish brown algae growing on the formations and it gives it a much more natural apperance.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@MELVENWONG89 def would love to see it when your done!! yes its insulating foam the white stuff. and you silicone the back of the pieces to the back of the tank

my suggestion is build it in multiple pieces (like 5-6 rocks siliconed together) and not one big piece. start from the bottom and work your way up. leave the back of the pieces flat so they can be siliconed to the back of the tank.

my whole tank was about 10 pieces.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider just keep a good eye on your pH i was checking it at least 2-3 times daily in the first couple weeks....it has mellowed out and i only need to add the buffer once in awhile now. if u have any more questions about the ph or anything feel free to ask.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider glad to hear your projects coming along. yea the quikwall is much easier to work with ....the only reason id use the sealer is b-cuz of pH issues .....your Ph will tend to be a little on the high side and some fish may not adapt. i used sodium bi-phosphate (powder form of ph down/not safe for plants) during my rinse cycle to help bring the pH down quicker then after the rinse cycle ive been using SeaChems Acid Buffer (which is plant safe) which will keep the pH from spiking too quick

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider ...also ive heard of Dry-Lock (just google it) which is getting popular in the DIY background world. it is also a type of sealerthat many people have had success with.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider or u could try a "pond sealer" or a "concrete selaer" which would go on clear and won't have a gloss to it, as long as you use the "clear" and not a "gloss"

and would prob hold it togther better (sand flaking off) i ddint use a selaer but i def will next time. it will help the ph issues too, helping the concrete from leaching. when i do another one i am def gonna use a sealer....prob pond sealer.

check green houses they usually carry stuff for ponds.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider did u use Quikwall? or just regular QuikCrete concrete? i used Quikwall

which i s also made by Quikcrete. but it is less sandy & is a lot smoother. the longer u let it dry before putting it in water may help cause as it sits and cure the concrete becomes a lot harder so maybe just give the concrete a few more days to dry especially of its been hot & humid like its been here. you may also want to try misting the concrete with water a couple times a day which also helps the crete cure.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider no problem.... just give a holla if u have any questions...and u should def register on dramaticaquascapes....glenn is reallly cool.

are u cementing it, in the tank? 

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@bayrider thats exactly what i used just make sure its for windows. but yea i used like 4 tubes of it in the making of mine. my best advice is let it dry 4-5 days or until you cant smell the vinegar smell i waited 5 days to make sure. somwe people say let it dry 24 hours, but that is not long enough.

but if you let it dry & cure correctly it should be fine.

[1992pattrow]

Really cool dude.

I plan to make a background like this for a 55gallon. It will also have Cichlids including my Fire Mouth and Alligator Gar.

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@1992pattrow nice id like to see it when you do.

[1992pattrow]

@RYANLAVIGNE1

ya me too, lol. it will be a while.

[MightyEvilOne]

Hey! Very nice man, I think it would look killer with real plants. I like the black sand too. Good job!

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

@MightyEvilOne thanks!! this is my first attempt at a background. the tanks only about 3 weeks old so once the cycle is complete i will add more plants. ive had the cichlids in there a week (guppies for first 2 weeks)

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

the fake plants will be re-placed with real ones in time.

[MightyEvilOne]

@RYANLAVIGNE1 Sorry I didn't notice this...ha ha ha

[RYANLAVIGNE1]

DramaticAquascapesdot com