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Unread 05/24/2018, 01:09 PM   #1
DougSupreme
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Artificial background

I am building a plywood tank and I'm thinking of putting an artificial background on the overflow wall and the adjacent wall. I have seen several online tutorials on how to do it and have decided I might want to go the route of expanding pond foam on an eggcrate background, covered in sand for texture.

Any other ideas? I just don't want a big black wall behind my rock. I'm open to ideas, and haven't actually purchased any materials for this project.

Some details on my tank:
48"x42"x26"
Plywood construction
Coast to coast external overflow box
Close to 5000gph of flow distributed between 8 jets
Rubble substrate on exterior of rockwork "atoll", sand inside

Open for suggestions/ideas.


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Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef
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Unread 06/14/2018, 09:52 AM   #2
DougSupreme
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Any opinions? I'd love to hear from anyone who has done it. Also, if you think it's going to look like garbage, I want to hear that too

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk


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Intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad

Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef
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Unread 06/23/2018, 10:17 PM   #3
Michael Hoaster
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Fake walls are great! Here's there thread for mine:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2403722

I put plastic bottles inside mine to make caves for fish. I kept a harem of seven Royal Grammas, and they loved it.


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As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance,
our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey

Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018
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Unread 06/30/2018, 07:43 AM   #4
lapin
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Michael's is well done.
Since I feel my tank is not big enough I use the reflection of the back and side as added depth. You do have to keep it clean to see the effect. I have the outside covered with black cloth. Good reflection, easy to remove to clean


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Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal

Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening
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Unread 07/04/2018, 11:56 PM   #5
Steve175
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I have my sides covered with custom made rock which I really like. When aquascaped in, it looks like a canyon like I often see when diving. For the back, I have sheets of acrylic that I can easily remove and clean (2 min with diluted muriatic acid). I am really happy with the combo. Looks like a canyon that extends indefinitely - esp. with a deeper tank and the lights pushed forward a bit. If you make rock walls, be careful not to use any products that leach phosphates (several related threads on RC). $0.02


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Current Tank Info: 2 separate 250G bowfront rimless ELOS tanks plumbed to 260G sump, 220G refugium, 220G frag, BK DeLuxe 300, 400W MH x4, closed loops, 3/4hp chiller x2, Phos reactor, Kalk reactor, Charcoal reactor, Ca reactor, 60G surge tanks, & a huge elec bill
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