36x24x48 Protean Construction

[ndame88]

While the enclosure is being constructed, I decided to start the background, the design idea is from Josh's 29 gal build. Used a "hot knife" to cut the styro, much easier then using a utility knife, the wood is just a form to make sure I am staying within the dimensions of the enclosure. The large PVC is for the intake for the filter, the smaller PVC is for the return which will become the waterfall. Very time consuming to cut each piece, if it turns out like Joshs, I think it will be worth it. Spent 5 hours today on it, still need to cut the remaining pieces, then glue them together.

This is going to be a long slow build, I have no plans to add plants and frogs until August when our house is done being constructed.

[J Teezy]

before you go any further, are you going to be able to get it inside the enclosure. Since my tank is an aquarium and the background had to enter through the top i couldn't make the background cover the whole back of the tank, i had to make it a little shorter because i had to put the background in at an angle because of the lip on the top of the tank

[ndame88]

Josh,
If my measurements are correct yes, the background will be 36 inches, which leave 11 1/2 inches for the false bottom, the door is 36 inches, may have to tilt it a little, more concerned about staying within the dimensions side to side. If this does not work out, I plan to use the same design idea, but use GS and just carve it all with the hot knife, that thing works great for shaping and cutting without making a big mess.

[J Teezy]

yes thats what i'm referring to is the side to side. Since you made the background to not only cover the back but to wrap around to the sides, i'm worried it's not going to fit how you want since you don't have the tank there with you to test fit. The one thing i recommend when building a background outside of a tank is to have the tank on hand to make sure the background is going to fit / that you can get it into the tank. With having sides to your background like that you will almost have to be able to put it straight in, to put it in at an angle you would have to have the background a little shorter because the sides of the background make it an akward structure I may not be making sense here to you but you'll understand what I mean when you have the tank there and go to test fit the background. If you don't have the tank available to you at the moment i would suggest that you DO NOT start the covering of the background with grout or w/e you plan to use until you test fit it in the tank. And remember if you are using grout, that your background is going to grow a bit, so if you background fits snug without grout on it, then it won't fit once you grout it, paint it, seal it, etc. I hate to say it but i think you are really going to have an issue fitting a background with sides on it into the tank if you don't actually have the tank there with you while you are constructing the background

I had originally planned to make my background like yours with sides as well but there was really no way to make it outside of the tank with sides on it and then get it back inside the tank with the plastic lip on the top of the tank. Only way i could have done it was to make the background in two pieces or i could have removed the top plastic framing. I just decided on doing the one side and making the background about an inch shorter in length so that i could get it into the tank

[ndame88]

Thanks Josh for the help, I took your advice and stopped until I get the enclosure.

[ndame88]

Jason from Protean made a special trip out of his way to deliver my enclosure, great guy, great service. Next is to see if the background will fit I didnt have time tonight, I think Josh was right, the black edging for the sliding doors will make me come up about a 1/4 inch short of being able to fit it in. May have to scratch my original design and up with a new idea, what that is, I am not sure, maybe cut the sides off and piece it together.