Free-standing aquarium backgrounds

juraj · Nov 23, 2007

I saw this idea on aquarium web portal. The backgroung wall has two characteristics: it looks nice when is made perfectly and is HEAVY. It consist from four pieces of glass and flat rocks. All fixed by silicone. The first one is from limestone. I made a few years ago and it still needs some patches. The second one is sand stone. Looks slightly better I hope. Maybe someone else here could try this. Enjoy.

Daniel · Nov 23, 2007

That's a nice construction, juraj, very impressive!
And you did not fix it at the back side? I would be a little afraid that it might tumble over and crash into the front.

juraj · Nov 23, 2007

No problem it won`t happen. The bottom avoids it. The construction tends tumble into the back not into the front.

Mark · Nov 23, 2007

Nice idea Juraj! I quite like the idea of those fake plastic backgrounds too. Some look very realistic.

Whilst searching for backgrounds I stumbled across this:

It’s an awful aquarium concept but I secretly want to see some newts living in a space station

.

Jennewt · Nov 23, 2007

Very nice! Why not silicone the rocks directly onto the rear glass of the aquarium itself? Is there a big advantage to creating the background on a separate piece of glass?

caudataman · Nov 23, 2007

removal and cleaning, I would think Jen. The spare sheet of glass means you've only ruined a single sheet rather than a whole tank should you change your mind. These ideas intrigue me but I wonder about how some honest traction would contribute to already escape prone caudates. Maybe for heavy bodied adult animals like Tylos, Salamandra and Ambystomids, but I would think that many smaller and lighter species would be up to the screens/lids and looking for a way out in no time...

I'd also be concerned about bacterial buildup in the water that would get trapped behing the glass with little circulation...

freves · Nov 23, 2007

Both the idea presented in the thread and the fake ones in Mark's link really are nice but bacterial builup entered my mind as well. I used to rack my brain trying to come up with realistic looking backgrounds for both aquaria and vivariums. Years ago a friend suggested just painting the back glass black and that is what I have been doing ever since (I also paint the sides as well).
Chip

ziggypie · Nov 23, 2007

Instead of painting it black, I just line the back of the tank with black construction paper. I like the look of the tunnels/plants (not to mention my albinos, haha) against the dark background. Also, this way the filters blend in and the bubbles stand out more. The axies act calmer with the dark atmosphere, too, which is the reason I started to do it in the first place.

jewett · Nov 23, 2007

This is great, Juraj. My cities zoo has backgrounds just like this for some of their fish and aquatic turtles, and I have been wanting to make one for my Pachy's tank. I may have to start experimenting...

Free-standing aquarium backgrounds

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