aquadog Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Well, after months of slowly putting this together, it's finally done For a first attempt I think it worked ok.. this will be for some Lake Tang cichlids, probably julies. Going to try something different for the next tank - a 6x2x2 which is going to be American cichlids. I started out with a gap behind the background for the filters etc, but it was going to take up too much space... so I brought part of the background forward and made it freestanding.. now behind that piece are the filters, heater plus some terracotta and PVC caves. The back and sides of the tank are painted black so that back corner is very dark. It's a bit of an awkward fix.. with the next tank I think I'll just leave it in one piece, but with 2 ft wide I've got more room to play with The rocks in front don't match but I'm hoping once the tank ages a bit there might be some algae growth... Anyway.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattnshez Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Looks good mate, I always wanted to have a go at something like this, Maybe nows the time.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyr Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 looking great what fish are you going to have in the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart74 Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Nice Got any Pic's during construction, What did you use to build it Etc,Etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Very nice job. You are correct the colours will match better as they age/algae-up. But what won't match so well is the difference in texture, and I think the general shape of the rocks you choose is not sympathetic to the great design you gave the background as well. I think a mistake a lot of people make who go to the effort to make such a background, is they shape it to look like a whole bunch of smaller rocks, when as you did you made it look like a slice of much larger rocks. Good job. If I were you I’d go to greater effort to find more sympathetic rocks, get a closer colour match if you can, but I think the texture and general shape need to match the background of greater importance. I like the extra depth the right end has given the tank. What you lost in space, you made up for with perspective. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robdog013 Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I think its fantastic high five hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquadog Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 Thanks everyone, Yeah, the rocks in front have been annoying me Thanks Craig, I'm going to change them before I add the fish. I didn't take pics during construction, until I got to the fully painted stage.. it's the same technique as others have used here - carved foam (melted a bit to smooth the edges), then fish safe pond sealant. I melted it a bit too much so the pieces of foam don't match up, but with the black paint on the back of the tank it doesn't matter, it makes it look like the crevices are deeper This is my first African cichlid tank, I've got some Americans already. Planning to get some J. marlieri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobcas Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Congrats aquadog it's looks like a job well done by all appearances, I like the depth of field you have created by projecting the side out further forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antz Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 really really nice work there.. i like the style and also the angles of the rocks on the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 I love the look. I also have a 3 footer but was concerned with the loss of swimming space. What are your views on this issue??? KimO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 With the rocks your choosing for the foreground, you could try what the local landscape yards call "Lucky Stones". They are generally grey and brown rounded large river stones. They stack well and don't pose a threat to the fish in terms of getting scraped and scratched. I have these in my tank and i think they look great. Have fun choosing. I think this is the best part of setting up a new tank. KimO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquadog Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 I've changed the rocks to some river stones I had here will get a new pic. Colour's a bit off, but the shape is better I'll have a pair of julies in the tank, and they can get into the back section, which is basically a big cave.. I would think that this would be a big enough tank for them? (however this is my first African cichlid tank, so happy to be told otherwise). The background isn't too deep, about 5cm at the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Sounds good. We do what we can with what we have. I started and still have a 3 foot and i love it. The fish do too. Post pics with the new rocks and fish added if u can. Good on you for doing D.I.Y. KimO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquadog Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 OK, new rocks... colours off... and the water's all cloudy now that I've stirred it up but.. Showing the whole tank Tried to make some good sized caves.. I laid silicon on the bottom of the tank, so the rocks are sitting on that, and are nice and steady Shows the back corner, there's a terracotta pot plus PVC, filter and heater. The current filter is a powerhead running through a container of coral/shells, will be adding a canister filter as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 The rounded rocks match the backgound alot better than the original selection. Don't worry too much about colour as this will change as the tank ages. Good Work!!! I wanna see fish. KimO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Here are some photos of the rocks i used.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Here is one more... Hope this gives you ideas. KimO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquadog Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Finally got some fish for this tank! The julies like the fake rockwork a little too much , I think I've got a pair and I'm trying to get an extra fish out, and he hides in the crevices. I don't want to freak them out too much, so think I'll have to get in there with a torch tonight? There's a pair that are using the back corner, and the extra fella is hanging around out front (I guess I at least get to see some movement in the tank! ) Have to get some pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyr Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Nice work mate looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquadog Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 More baaaad pics, but here they are - the pair spend most of their time in the big 'cave', but have been doing some excavating around the rocks out front as well. And the biggest one again: **wanders away muttering about getting a new camera** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIMO Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Nice work. Keep us updated with the background. Is there any algae growing on it yet?? Good to see some nice fish enjoying your great handy work. Thumbs up from me, KimO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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