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3D background


Adzzy

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Hi All

I have decided to install a Universal Rocks 3D background in an established 6x2 tank.

Any advise on do's and don'ts or tips on how to do this with minimal disruption and effort would be appreciated.

Is silacone required?

Has anyone had any issues with stagnant water being traped behind it? should i install an air curtain for water movement?

Cheers Adzzy

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You're going to have fun trying to get it in and secured in an established tank.

I put one into an empty tank a few years back with a 4 x 2 background. All of your questions were discussed in this thread - http://www.aceforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=23967

The major mistake I made was trying to get the background in without protecting the glass. As a result I ended up with some scratches which was disappointing, but they don't take away too much from the tank in the end.

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I will be keeping an eye on this thread as I have been wanting to do the same!

I also have a 6x2 and wanting to put in the Olgas Universal Rock. Which one are you planning putting in?

With the Olgas, it has a "bulge" on the one side which I was thinking on putting a small powerhead for water movement behind the background

I was thinking of using some sort of clips to hold the top of the background in place and have rocks holding the bottom in place.

But I am unsure if this will work, so hopefully there is someone on here which have put it into an established tank

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Thanks Spedwards i will take a look

Spiesie yes it is the olgas style and i have decided to

1) remove all fish

2) remove as much water as possible

3) move substrate to front of tank

4) place an air curtain behind BG for water movement

5) protect as much glass as possible from scratches

6) place BG in tank and hope it is a tight fit on all edges so fish can not get behind - after leaving in the sun for a while to soften making it easier to manouver

7) place substrate and other decorations against base to hold in place

8) use stainless clips and or silicon to hold top in place, if using silicon on the top section i will be sure not to fill water to that line to allow for cure time and not kill the fish

this is the plan and i imagine it will be an all day event, will post back and let you know how i go and what i would do differant

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  • 4 weeks later...

Finished the install of 3D background over the weekend and it was pretty easy here are the steps i took

Bridged the caps with silicone where it would not sit flush against glass to stop fish getting behind and let silicone cure for 5 days

tank%201_zpslnams2up.jpg

Emptied 50% of water

Moved substrate to front of tank

Installed air curtain for water circulation behind BG

Slide BG in tank top up requires 2 people so you dont scratch glass

placed in position and held there by a few rocks which are now covered with substrate

and thats it, it was a snug fit and has not moved at all in nearly a week so fingers crossed it stays that way

Tank still a little cloudy and more decorating to still do but coming along nicely and the BG makes the tank look deeper

tank2_zps5nzeuvkw.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

Just wondering if you cut any vents so all the water can circulate from behind the background to the front of the tank ? does the air curtain circulate the water behind only ?

I have the Olga's also which has two cutouts up top / vents. I added gutter guard with silicone and I wanted flow from the bottom half of the bg - so I drilled about 50 holes up into the overhang - my bg is the other way around -

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Just wondering if you cut any vents so all the water can circulate from behind the background to the front of the tank ? does the air curtain circulate the water behind only ?

I have the Olga's also which has two cutouts up top / vents. I added gutter guard with silicone and I wanted flow from the bottom half of the bg - so I drilled about 50 holes up into the overhang - my bg is the other way around -

Hi Kamz

No i did not cut vents in and have no issues with the water behind the bg after 4 weeks, checked last night and looks crystal clear so fingers crossed

I did a little experiment last night also and put a little natural food dye at the base of the bg which was drawn behind the bg and back out the sides at the top of the tank so it looks like the set up works similar to a sponge filter and is circulating the water from behind.

The gaps on the edges would be between 3 and 5mm tops so there is no way my fish are getting behind it due to their size

Did you choose to put it upside down or done by mistake? i was unsure at first which way it was meant to go until speaking with the supplier who stated the base was flared more than the top to give it more support to stand on its own. Either way im sure it looks good!!

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  • 2 weeks later...

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