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Thread: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

  1. #1
    100+ Post Member Sarosaurus's Avatar
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    Default Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    It is getting to be that time where I am looking to beautify my frog tank.

    The last time I did something with it, I ended up with a lot of gravel in the bottom of the tank for a drainage layer. By the time I was done, it was nearly impossible to move the tank around when I wanted it somewhere else in my room. Eventually I dug all of the gravel out of the bottom of my tank and now I am back to square one. It's pretty bare in there. By bare, I mean all the branches are in the middle of the tank and along the back wall. I would like to have something on the sides of the tank as well...

    So, browsing through some of the topics in this lovely section...A light bulb clicked on and now I have an idea. I am just wondering how lame/cheesy/stupid this is going to sound and look. I figured that I would run it by the lovely members of FF to see what everyone's opinions were, so here it goes...

    I love the look of the GreatStuff foam, but I am not sure if I want to mess with it. I currently have a can of it sitting on my TV stand in my bedroom that I ended up getting from a co-worker. I am kind of intimidated to use it. Just yeah...

    SO, this is my idea. Really, I am getting to the point here, I promise.

    I was thinking about going to Michael's and purchasing some of their Styrofoam sheets and carving my own background out of them (the one big back piece and two smaller pieces to go along the sides). I suck with painting and making things too realistic, however, I would love to throw some ledges in there somewhere and siliconing a coconut substrate to the foam (maybe create my own planters?)...

    Do you guys think it would look horrible? Tacky? Do you think it would actually work? If you think it will work, do you have any suggestions on how to make it look better overall?

    This is just in the brainstorming stage..Any help at this point would help me greatly.















    (Or does someone just want to come take care of my tank and make it look pretty for me? )

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  3. #2

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    It could end up looking terrific, that's really up to you and your carving abilities. I would consider covering it with a titebond + peat/coco fiber mixture instead of using silicone though, it's much nicer to work with.

    Covering the foam with cement or tile grout is another option if you want to go for a rocky look.

    If you're worried about it looking tacky, take heart that live vining plants will go a long way towards covering it up and naturalizing even the shoddiest looking background.

    Since you already have a can of it, you could always pick up a cheapo tank from kijiji/craigslist and give the greatstuff a try on a smaller test build.

  4. #3

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    I'm with brian on this. It can loom awesome or it can look tacky. All depends on the time you want to spend on it. I'm also a big fan of titebond/coco mix. And like brian said, practicing with that found can of gs would be a plus. You don't even need a spare tank to try it out, you can use a piece of cardboard if you want. Try making a big rock out of a big blob of the stuff. Remember, gs is about $3/can at walmart, so it's not like you are throwing a bunch of cash down the drain. I'd build ya one, but shipping would kill ya.......lol
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  5. #4
    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    Hi Sarah,
    This is a great question. Not so random ........at all!!!
    Plus you have two really great answers to start with!
    There lots of FF 'build threads'.
    There are 100's of u tube demonstration videos too !
    Practice -makes-perfect sense!
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    100+ Post Member Sarosaurus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    Thanks for the input guys! I think I am going to try working with the foam and making it look good. I have all the time in the world to get it done...and I want to do it properly so I don't end up changing it again.

    Should I secure the foam pieces together or to the back of the tank? And how well will plants root themselves in the Styrofoam?

    I am getting ready to purchase an exacto knife...one thing down!

  7. #6

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    The plants won't root at all in the foam. You would need to surround some planting pots with it. Take a look at my weekend warrior thread and you'll see what i mean. It's not very difficult at all.
    As far as securing it to the glass, you have options. You can spray it directly onto the glass, you can lay down a layer of silicone on the glass and spray foam onto it, or you can silicone egg crate to the glass, let it cure and then spray the foam onto the eggcrate. All of them work well, but my preferred method is the latter.
    Just take your time, plan ahead and read as many of the build threads on here that you can. Almost any question you have will probably have been.answered at one point or another, if not, feel free to ask away
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  8. #7
    100+ Post Member Sarosaurus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    I decided to not go with the Styrofoam idea. I am going to try my hand with the GS and see how that works out for me. I was searching online and managed to find a look that I really liked and that seemed simple enough for a starting out project. I am going to go for the look of the background here: New England Herpetoculture LLC - Custom Backgrounds! It seems like it will be pretty simple.. I honestly don't see how I can possibly screw up making roots/vines out of the foam.

    I found a piece of nifty looking Malaysian Driftwood while I was at work today, so I bought that and brought it home. I am going to either use it to make a little cave for my frogs (believe it or not, I have a planter that looks like a rock tipped on its side and Artemis hangs out in there occasionally) or figure out how to turn it to make a little planter out of it. Not quite sure just yet...

    I am slowly purchasing everything I want/need to make this tank awesome. Just need to get some silicone... And I have a question about that..

    When it comes to the black silicone, does it matter if I use the All Glass brand or the stuff made by ZooMed? Is it the same thing or not?

  9. #8

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    You want to use a silicone that is 100% silicone. Ge silicone 1 or 2 will work just fine and will be cheaper thank those tubes of aquarium sealant. Unless of course you absolutely must have black silicone. As far as i know, the darkest silicone ge makes is brown.
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  10. #9
    100+ Post Member Sarosaurus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    I was thinking about the black silicone because I like the look of it. I don't want to paint the outside of the tank to hide the foam and everything.

    I'm being picky, I know. :P

    I don't necessarily need the black silicone though. Just trying to eliminate some cost.

  11. #10

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    Black contact paper will do the same trick. And it is easily removable. And you can also trim it to cover up anything you want to hide
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  12. #11
    100+ Post Member Sarosaurus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    ...Why did I not think of contact paper?!? That is a genius idea!

  13. #12

    Default Re: Random Question Regarding Background for WTF Tank

    I use it on the back of all my fish tanks. Beats painting them. Doesn't smell as bad either.....lol
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
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    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
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    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
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    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
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