Aquarium backgrounds | Boneblogger: Science and the outdoors
Make your own background There is another alternative if you are on a budget but are a bit handy, and that is to make your own aquarium background. Perhaps you have already looked over the essential advice page and the others, and now we want to look at aquarium backgrounds. A really simple aquarium background could be an attractive piece of cloth attached to the back of the tank. A simple, or complex, background can give the aquarium set up a more finished look. Finally, for a full three-dimensional background that give true depth and interest to your aquarium, you could by pre-fabricated backdrops made out of Styrofoam. Cut the foam to fit the back of the tank, and then layer several pieces, like blocks, to the background to create depth and basic texture. If you want something that looks a bit more finished, consider a pre-printed adhesive background. You may want to make sure the bottom of the design is wide enough that the final background is stable. Being inexpensive, you can change the background easily from time to time, and keep things fresh. However, these pre-made backgrounds are not inexpensive, generally starting at $200 and quickly going up in price. These are really only suitable for large fish tanks, but they really give your display that museum or professional aquarium look. A word of caution—be sure to measure the amounts of resin and hardener and follow the directions for the ratios, AND be sure to really mix the hardener into the resin before applying. Start with a basic plan for your aquarium set up. Consider up front where you will put hoses, pumps, and heaters so you can leave room in your design. You can get natural looking rock walls, Amazon tree roots, and individual rocks to make your own patterns. So, you are looking at setting up an aquarium. Try the tips of a paint brush, a sponge, a paper towel with paint, a rag—anything you can think of, just have fun. For example, one side might be a tropic reef scene, and the other might be a land scene for a terrarium, like this one offered by Amazon. Use ready mix Quickrete from your local hardware store, mix it up and cover your form. The last step is to seal the whole thing with an epoxy resin to seal in the paint and protect it from water corrosion. You can use a paint brush to dab texture into the concrete as well. You can get unusual printed patterns, even mimicking natural textures, or go wild with colorful designs. After you have a rough form, begin to shape the Styrofoam to remove the edges and give it a natural look. Make sure you use 100% latex paint. Gently brush it with a steel wire brush to rough it up, giving it a pitted surface all over. How can you add some pizzazz to your set up, really making it attractive. There is a wide variety of images you can select from, including solid colors, reef scenes and even cartoon characters like Sponge Bob. The biggest source of failure for the epoxy to set up is the incorrect amount of hardener or it not being mixed evenly. If you have some really interesting tree branches, you may want to incorporate that into the design. Overhangs in the water, and caves and crevasses provide a lot of depth as well as places for the fish in your tank to hide. Use paints in earth tone, or whatever you like....
