Habitat - Indoor :: DIY 3D background almost done!

[AQUATiC]

been working on a background/basking area for a 40g breeder for that past week or so. i used styrofoam to shape and model it and carved it down to what i wanted, glued it all together with marineland aquarium silicon, and painted it with drylock paint with quikrete dye for coloring. here's some pictures, going to add some more grays on the final coat to give it a more realistic rocky look.

[Listen97]

looking good

[AQUATiC]

looking good

thanks! just a few more base coats, maybe 2 more, and then the gray for texture to really make it pop and i'll be finished! really looking forward to getting this new tank set up.

also, just wondering if anybody who has done this before or who has knowledge of this process would be able to tell me how many coats of paint they would recommend? so far i have done 3 coats, and i was thinking maybe 2 more full coats and then a coat of gray that wont cover up everything, do you think that will be fine?

[Listen97]

http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload ... ylock&st=0 has a good write up. The forum also has a few users doing it now http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload ... mMainBar=1

[Rubicon]

Looks very cool! Drill a hole in it, get a small pump, and make a mini waterfall! Also could you integrate a small pot in it for plants?

[darla1699]

Hi aquatic. What material did you use? I want to build a basking area for my turt. Thanks

[AQUATiC]

Looks very cool! Drill a hole in it, get a small pump, and make a mini waterfall! Also could you integrate a small pot in it for plants?

thanks! ive thought about doing a waterfall type thing but im not really sure what kind of pump to use. any suggestions? and as far as plants i will have lots of room for a sand substrate, and i plan to root some plants into that.

[AQUATiC]

Hi aquatic. What material did you use? I want to build a basking area for my turt. Thanks

hi darla, i used styrofoam to shape and model it and carved it down to what i wanted, glued it all together with marineland aquarium silicon, and painted it with drylock paint with quikrete dye for coloring.

[sweety10189110]

That looks AWESOME!!! I just picked up a 40 gallon breeder tank from the Petco sale and that is definitely something to try to spruce up the tank.

[AQUATiC]

That looks AWESOME!!! I just picked up a 40 gallon breeder tank from the Petco sale and that is definitely something to try to spruce up the tank.

thanks! yeah its actually pretty fun to make too, you can be as creative as you want. and its not too difficult either. actually pretty easy, but i think its going to look awesome when its actually in the tank.

[cutepanda86]

7 turtles! Goodness! How'd you get an albino one?

Awesome job on the background. I bet they will enjoy it.

[darla1699]

@aquatic - sorry wasnt very specific. Was trying to ask about material of the 3d background itself. Is it some form of clay, plaster of paris or cement? thanks

[AQUATiC]

@aquatic - sorry wasnt very specific. Was trying to ask about material of the 3d background itself. Is it some form of clay, plaster of paris or cement? thanks

its styrofoam, covered in drylok paint

[AQUATiC]

7 turtles! Goodness! How'd you get an albino one?

Awesome job on the background. I bet they will enjoy it.

well, 6 turtles really, one belongs to my girlfriends little brother but we are housing it temporarily until he has the proper setup. also we are considering letting a friend have one of the painters, so 5 turtles. they will not all be in the tank with this background, we have other tanks. and i got the albino about a week or two ago from a breeder friend, i posted pictures in another thread ill post the link if you'd like to check him out

[AQUATiC]

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=32814