My Diy Background-- Having Second Thoughts....

[julielynn47]

I went from this - 
 
To this - 
 
And now I am having second thoughts on it.  I like the background. I love to build/create things myself. ( I built the aquarium stand you see in this picture ).  But as much as I like it, I not sure I am going to use it.
 
I have got to thinking about that darn black algae and what if I get it in that tank?  How in the world would I ever clean it off cement background?  The thought staggers me!  I am thinking I just need to stick with plants and drift wood and not do anything that "permanent" .  I know I could always take it out later, but omg...the work involved, not mention worrying about the fish and plants, substrate and my biological filter.... starting all over... whew... I just don't know.
 
 
Have any of you who have made a DIY background had issues such as this? And if so, how did you deal with it?
 
As I said before, the thought just staggers me...

 

[Chad]

You really hit on why I just paint the back of my tank or leave it alone. A display like that will collect detritus and when algae grows on it you won't be able to scrape it off. 
 
It seems like a lot of work to go through to not use it though. Perhaps don't glue it in place so you can remove it for cleaning?

 

[julielynn47]

It will float if it is not siliconed down.  So that won't work.   I wish it would though
 
You paint the back of it?  I never thought of that. I have only used the background that you apply.  I have a mirrored one on my 55 gallon and I love it. Makes it look deeper and adds dimension.  But it is hard to get now and I really want something different.  I thought about a black background. But, thinking about it, black paint would be a lot cheaper.  It is a thought

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> just paint the back of my tank
 
What I do also.

 

[Chad]

It will float if it is not siliconed down.  So that won't work.  

 
Magnets.

You can embed them in the back so it sits flush. They sell encased magnets that are water proof. I have several of them I use for various purposes in my tank. They can handle the salt water no problem because they are entirely enclosed in plastic. 

 

[Ch4rlie]

 

It will float if it is not siliconed down.  So that won't work.  

 
Magnets.

You can embed them in the back so it sits flush. They sell encased magnets that are water proof. I have several of them I use for various purposes in my tank. They can handle the salt water no problem because they are entirely enclosed in plastic. 
 

 
Oh now, thats a decent idea actually, would make life a lot easier to remove the background for maintenance or for a change of scenery.
 
I know the hassle of removing siliconed backgrounds and can be messy to do this. Also scraping off silicone off glass is a bit annoying to do as well

 

[julielynn47]

The hassle of all of it is what is now worrying me.  Even with magnets, which sound like a good idea, it would still a hard thing I think to keep it clean.  I am still considering it, but honestly leaning towards just throwing it all out and forgetting it.

 

[Chad]

There's no doubt at all that it would be hard to maintain. No doubt at all. But you might want to give it a try and maybe if you keep the flow pointed at it then you might not have as much of an issue as you think. 

 

[BettaBettas]

really pretty but as many have said in other comments, hard to clean and maintain. like the stand btw

 

[NickAu]

I like it, You might want to talk to Alasse shes right into that sort of stuff some of the 3D backgrounds she has created are amazing.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/user/49714-alasse/

 

[julielynn47]

Thanks on the stand, I enjoyed making it. I built that in 2007 specifically for that  75 gallon tank. Didn't think I would ever get it to be honest.
 
I have slept on it and pretty much think I will just chuck it.  I hate doing it, and I really like the ledges, I can see my pictus catfish laying around on them ( probably would never happen anyway, lol ) But I just keep thinking about the mess I would have if, even years from now, algae struck. I just don't want to deal with looking at a mess I can't clean up. Or having to dissemble everything to do it.  It was a great thought and I love what I created. And if I had never had black algae I would not give it a second thought. Green algae does not bother me in the least. But that black stuff....ugh....I can't imagine how hard it would be to go through an episode of that stuff in that tank with it all over that background.
 
I am just going to take a different route.  I have a massive chunk of mopani driftwood and then a smaller piece. I might try to create something kinda branchy and use it instead of the complete background.  I have been looking at spider wood, but the cost of some of the bigger pieces is putting me off a little. Not the cost itself, but the fact that I won't really know what I am getting until it gets here.  Some people get good pieces but some are getting nothing more than sticks and are very unhappy.   My large piece of driftwood is not at all what I expected, but I can work with it. But if I were to get a broken stick, as some have claimed, I would not be a happy camper. LOL
 
Those backgrounds Alasse makes are really nice.  I probably should have tried that instead of all the ledges and nooks and crannys.  But I am was not out much to build this as I already had the styrofoam. I don't really think I will buy any and try anything different with that.

 

[**sarahp**]

How did you make it? My polka dot loaches would love something like that to lie around in after they've finished chasing each other round the tank!

 

[julielynn47]

I used a sheet of styrofoam insulation. The 4 x 8 sheet.  I just cut it out, some by hand, some with my saw.  Then I used silicone to attach the front pieces to the back panels. I then mixed quick crete cement thinly and painted it on. I only did 2 coats.    The little roundish looking things at the front ends were going to hold plants.    It wasn't hard to make at all. And I enjoyed making it.

 

[Aquarian58]

...you might want to give it a try and maybe if you keep the flow pointed at it then you might not have as much of an issue as you think. 

 
I love the look of this too and as suggested, there must be ways you can mitigate the algae problem you're concerned about.
 
My understanding is that algae generally becomes a problem when there is too much light and/or too many nutrients in the tank to prevent it from flourishing.
 
There may also be a "fish-friendly' but algae resistant coating you can paint it with to assist with that problem.
 
Otherwise, as Chad suggests, why not give it a go and see what happens?

 

[julielynn47]

I really just don't want to have to worry about having to break it all down once I stock it and the fish are happy, then bamm! I have to break the whole thing down and redo it.  Just not worth it too me. I know that algae has to have certain conditions to grow , and obviously, I must be really good at providing those conditions