How I Created My Faux Rock Wall Aquarium Background

[@jasper777777]

You should get the top award on youtube for having the most realistic wall!!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much for the awesome compliment! My reward is that I get to enjoy it in my tank, and have the ability to share it with kind people like you.

[@JK-sy3tt]

🏅

[@MrF1ex25]

@@coachkevinwilson19584 years later and still rocking on!

[@mrsbelangerr2616]

Finallyyy a video that SHOWS what sealant/materials to use

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you !

[@sawyerthestarling]

This is beautiful. We should remember when doing natural scapes that nature abhors a straight line and just go for it. Great tutorial! Thanks so much 😊

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Sawyer!

[@terryburwell8241]

This is phenomenal. Just angling the Styrofoam how you do increases the realistic factor 10 X.! thank you for sharing. This is a really interesting technique and the results are phenomenal.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Terry!

[@violetbyers6818]

there are a ton of background videos on youtube, and yours is definitely the best one i’ve found!! this looks so good and all your tips are very helpful, thank you !!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Vi!

[@frankbullitt4556]

Great looking mountain and rocks.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Frank!

[@danalaniz7314]

Very, Very talented work! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Dan! Much appreciated!

[@shanamoon7012]

The look you have created on your wall is exactly what I want to create but I have never seen your method before it's brilliant thankyou for sharing ❤

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Shana! I am working on a more detailed video. I hope to finish and publish it soon.

[@ronlafond5288]

Well Kevin, this is probably the best video I've seen on making faux rock backgrounds! Thanks for sharing.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Ron!

[@cherokeedream1313]

Most natural, artistic one Ive seen! Im mindblown!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!!!😊

[@Kill_OrB_eats]

Awesome!! I've been searching for ideas for a faux rock background for a 4x2x2 uromastyx enclosure, and I've seen countless videos that just aren't quite good enough. But THIS one is damn near perfect. Excellent job, and thank you for sharing!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Espiayzi!

[@MeetJackBlack]

You, sir, are the hero I know that I needed. I've been searching for hours for a method that looks as realistic as possible. Thank you!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Jack! I wish you well with your project!

[@tocafish]

Best 3d diy background I’ve seen. Thank you for the video, looks awesome!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Tocafish!

[@ryanoneill1614]

Brilliant video Kevin the background looks amazing! Very nice safety tip with the glove. I hope your background looks great in your aquarium

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Ryan. There are later videos showing the background fully painted, installed, later with the aquarium up and running. The wall is holding up great and there is a lot of fish and plant life in the river tank today.

[@poot-poot]

This is actually the best tank wall I've seen, and I've been binging KZbin vivarium DIY backgrounds for days in preparation of making my own. This is actually amazing, the only one I've seen that looks 100% real BEFORE any painting or scaping.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment, Sangunaris! You can see the wall set up in my river tank in later videos.

[@poot-poot]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 you should seriously consider doing terrarium DIY builds, you could make some crazy reptile tanks!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@poot-poot Thank you so much! Maybe someday. I used to have a terrarium with salamanders that was pretty cool, but knowing what I've learned from building the river tank, I could have made it much better and also much safer for the salamanders. Maybe I'll do that again, but instead, make it a true paludarium. I don't have time to do this for a living because I work full time. Maybe when I retire LOL.

[@poot-poot]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 You should check out Cam's Custom Backgrounds on KZbin. He started making videos of him making backgrounds 11 months ago and he just reached 1000 subscribers. If you filmed yourself making your backgrounds like that I'm sure you're channel would get really popular, people really love watching those kinds of tank set up videos and you're obviously very good at making backgrounds. You should also check out SerpaDesign

[@cleversoar]

This is the only video that 100% got what I have in mind

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@mammawombwomb]

Respect and awe are two immediate things that come to mind. Allow me be the King of the Obvious here: Your background is the most geologically correct I have seen to date (including most of the highest $ commercially available pieces) not to mention inclusion of fossils. On top of that You combined innovation, dedication, creativity, attention to detail; on and on I could go. I also much appreciate taking the passion to the next level and focusing on Your local biotopes. I live in SE Texas and have bodies of water all around me. Local aquatic plants are a passion to me. The longer I keep tanks, the more I want to recreate a local biotope and one day I will. Please accept my sincere thanks for sharing Your creativity and education You provide through The KZbin University. There are relatively few people out there, who are at Your level.

[@mammawombwomb]

I forgot to ask: what paint did You use for the “rocks”?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Ow wow! Thank you so much! I’m blushing! I’m so happy that you liked it and have explored my biotopes. I wish you the best in your adventure of creating your own Biotope. I’m fascinated with the blenny species caught in the Galveston beaches. If I lived near there I definitely would do that!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@mammawombwomb I used Drylok mixed with various cement dyes and/or acrylic paint. I read that mixing yellow or green acrylic paint also gives a more lifelike appearance to real rock, so I did that with a couple layers. I’m putting together a new more comprehensive video of how I created the whole thing.

[@mammawombwomb]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 thank You. I will look for the video.

[@donwells9494]

Kevin by far your tutorial is the best on so many levels. Ive made many foam backdrops that were great but now you have shed a whole new reality on this technique. Really appreciate you revealing so much.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Don!

[@razvanduta3563]

Excellent workmanship.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Razvan!

[@cassidyconroy4308]

I love this technique, can’t wait to try it on my upcoming build! Thanks for sharing!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Cassidy! You’re quite welcome! Good luck with your project!

[@MrT-dn5hm]

Watching this guy using the knife, absolutely terrifying and anxiety producing....seeing the results, absolute perfection! Amazing work thanks for sharing your expertise/tips!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you very much. I learned the hard way to wear a filet glove after having to get a few stitches on my thumb. After that, I never came close to an issue. There are some good comments below that could improve on the safety aspect of cutting foam like this. One was to find a way to clamp the foam boards together so that you wouldn't need to use the other hand. If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably go that route in addition to using the filet glove.

[@dianaconner4469]

Absolutely LOVE this! I bought a 38 gal aquarium before I knew the apartment only allows 10 gallons. So I’ve bee looking for way to make a palidarium out of it. Fish and plants. I think I finally found the technique. Thank you!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Good luck with your new hardscape! So far so good with mine, no problems at all. Post a link to a forum thread or YT vid of your new tank here when you're done. I'd love to check it out and follow your build!

[@jkoblivion4175]

Well done Kevin. Thx for the tutorial. Your carving is amazing.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

You are very welcome. Thank you for the wonderful compliment JK!

[@redbarnz]

This is a great technique for model train layouts as well!!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you, that's a great point!

[@redbarnz]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 I honestly thought you were modeling the Southwest for your train layout. Then I read something about fish aquariums and I was totally confused (not hard to be if you're me...)

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@redbarnz When I was doing my research on carving rock formations, painting, etc., I watched a lot of videos about doing these carvings for trains. Such a similar event for 2 completely different hobbies 🙂

[@inklion]

Good job! 👍 Thanks for sharing it

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@inklion Thank you so much Leo!

[@jenniecogs7214]

This is great! I had a vision in mind and this is exactly what I needed to see.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Jennie!

[@mariasokura]

Your artists skills are out of this world! I can't thank you enough for sharing this! I was going crazy trying to find realistic enough background for my desert terrarium project and this is perfect. Now I just need to find corresponding materials that they sell here in Europe.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you for the very kind words Reetta! Good luck with your project!

[@paulmartin3946]

Awesome work buddy!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Paul!

[@aidan2356]

Definitely the most straight forward and easy tutorial on KZbin Thank you for uploading 😁

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Gopnik!

[@AdventureIndiana]

I have done this. The hardest part, I found, was to make something that looks like you did not layer up foam boards and try to make it look like rock. You did a great job, it looks natural and has enough randomness in it that you “lost” the uniformity of the boards you started with. Very well done

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Adventure Indiana!

[@emdueck6250]

I wish I had seen this before doing my faux-slate wall! Yours is gorgeous

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Emily! You can always start a new tank! :)

[@peterschwenke1248]

Good job,quiet realistic.I did mine with a soldering iron and drew the rocks and then aged it with a blow torch

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Peter. I did some work with a heat gun and soldering iron as well, but on the roots, not the wall. I experimented with both on some of the wall pieces first, but chose a different route with them. There are so many ways to get a result, the key is to find one that is consistent with your end product. Do you have a link to your work?

[@oriondriscoll3516]

Excellent work great technique

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Orion!

[@oriondriscoll3516]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 I could use some Pointers and advice if you’re still on here LOL

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@oriondriscoll3516 Sure Orion, no problem. I have a build thread on the NANFA forum that details just about how I did everything from start to finish, and updates after. I can give you the link to that if you're interested. In addition, you can contact me there with questions, or here, however you wish. But, that build thread has a lot of pics and details. Here's the link: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/#entry140297

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

scroll about halfway down the first page and that's where the fun really begins :)

[@undersurfacechannel]

This is by far the most amazing DIY 3d background I have ever seen :) Thank you for sharing !!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Pat!

[@undersurfacechannel]

No thank you 😊 keep up the good work inspiring people. Gonna try to do this background by myself soon. Looks absolutely stunning 👌🏻

[@brunuhuu]

You are pretty smart, awesome idea. Thanks from brazil!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Bruno!

[@shammaideen6628]

Very useful and straight forward video. Please keep up the excellent work.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@lifeoftony2361]

Dude, this is friggin awesome!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Tony

[@b1azegarcia]

This is very helpful. Thanks for making this video. DIY baby!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Blaze! My pleasure :)

[@pocketpj2722]

My future reptiles will thank you for this tutorial.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you!!!!

[@moonlibersat]

This looks amazing!! Thank you for the example too, will try on my small 10 gallons to start with!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Manon! Have fun and enjoy the result!

[@peterzurowski2086]

Wow! Probably the best and most realistic piece I’ve seen. Awesome job! You should sell these. I’m sure there’s a great market for it!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Peter! Maybe someday.

[@habitatnatural5661]

Kevin this is amazing, 6 years later and im here learning so I can apply on my Rhino Iguana enclosure. Do you have a website to sell these kind of backgrounds ? Thanks for sharing your skills

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much. I don't make or sell backgrounds, as this was just a DIY project for my personal aquarium. I'm so flattered though, thanks again!

[@Edward..de..lanndo]

Very sedimentary...Great work...

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Edward!

[@Edward..de..lanndo]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 my pleasure🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@asiriasiri20]

Great work. What glue is suitable for gluing foam together? And also what glue is suitable for gluing foam with glass.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Asiri! I used a LOT of silicone to glue the back, sides and bottom to the glass, like maybe 7 or 8 tubes, I think. This project was a lot of foam and I wanted to make sure that it didn't break away and float. I also imbedded river rocks inside the structure. It was done in 3 pieces, and was a very tight fit in the aquarium frame, which also helps.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Sorry, I missed answering the first part of your question. I used Gorilla Glue to glue the foam to foam and it works great. You will break the foam board before breaking that glued bond. Also, spray insulation foam will work well, but it's messy IMHO.

[@asiriasiri20]

Thank you so much.

[@protathlitis7]

Fantastic work..dry loc is not dangerous for the fishes?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much! Not at all, Drylok is completely inert once dried. I also wound up using an epoxy clear coat commonly used in the museums and public aquariums made by Polygem, not to contain toxins, but rather, to protect the Drylok from being rubbed off by fish, or worse, by from me being clumbsy while working in the tank. I've had no issues as the tank has been up and running for several years now. I've had many successful spawns in the tank with some of my native fish. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

[@wacens1]

A tonne of work but the outcome is absolutely fantastic! Outstanding level of details creating the real feel. You could actually work for a film studio building props.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment!

[@kishorekumar5832]

Really nice work Sir

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Kishore.

[@Zaku186]

I bookmarked this vid but couldn't find it for a long time. Im so glad i randomly found this again. Really outstanding work. Your wall really does look amazing. Can we get an update? How has it held up?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Casval! I'm making a new video from start to finish that has an update at the end. In a nutshell, it's solidly in there and held up great. The big difference was using Polygem epoxy clear coat after I finished painting it. The clear coat is invisible under water and really keeps me (or fish) from chipping off paint or foam, and makes the structure very solid. Polygem is one of the brands that museums, public aquariums and zoos use. I explain all of this in my next video, coming out soon. Stay tuned!

[@stefanvanderwals8918]

Realy nice. Clear video and good tips thank you

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Stefan!

[@therapium3dbackgrounds]

i really like your layers! really looks a amazing!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you very much for the wonderful compliment!

[@coloradochet]

Thank you for sharing and thanks for the tip on the gloves! Saved my hands more than once!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

You're quite welcome. I'm glad that the gloves kept your hands safe! Even with the gloves, you have to be really careful, as you well know. It's very easy to get excite as you make progress during carving. It's much better to take it slow and be as safe as possible.

[@ravenbeaudine7281]

Awesome! Thank you for going into detail about how to carve the styrofoam. This video was very helpful for me. I was wondering how the carving was done to make the realistic looking rock breaks and formations.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Raven. I used a butcher knife to chip pieces off of the edge for each foam board, then glued them together. Once I had several sections glued together, I used wood cooking skewers to poke and chip out small pieces to make the cracks. After that, I sometimes went back to the knife to carve out a little more along the edges of the cracks to make it look like the crack caused erosion. You can use anything sharp to make the cracks, such as an ice pick, for example. I used a picture off of the internet of a rock formation that I liked, and tried to imitate that as much as I could. Does that answer your question?

[@ravenbeaudine7281]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 yes it did! Thank you so much. You are so talented. Keep up the good work! ❤

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Raven!

[@TheBuffaluffalo]

This looks like such a fun method and the results are amazing! I"ll have to try this out in a vivarium some day!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Tthank you Ash!

[@robnewhampshire1481]

You sir are nothing short of amazing! How many hours do you have in that piece?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I stretched work out a long time on this project, starting a couple years ago and am now almost finished. However, the actual time working on it took far less. I had to figure out how to make it work, and I spent a lot of time "thinking" about those things. I'm kind of a perfectionist, I guess, and I kept fiddling with it to get the look that I wanted. Once I made decisions on the direction that I'd go, I jumped in and got each step done pretty quickly. Waiting for the glue to dry after gluing the each of the boards together with Gorilla glue took about two hours for each layer before I'd move on to the next, so that is probably the most time consuming part. I've since painted and installed the piece in my tank. I painted it with Drylok mixed with cement dye, and that took some time for each layer to dry. So yeah, maybe I could do it again in a couple weeks or less, knowing what I know now, If I spent all of my free time working on it, and had to do it again. The bigger problem is that I spend a lot of time in the outdoors, fishing and looking for fossils, so another reason this wasn't done quickly, LOL Anyway, thank you for the compliment!

[@jieruio]

You are an artist! Wow! Looks amazing! Thank you for showing us your techniques! :)

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Jared! You're quite welcome.

[@kotimoto]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge .

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Keyrun!

[@zanehaselden5573]

Best and one of the most detailed videos out there. Earned a sub here. But I really want to see this wall in the tank!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Zane. Check out my latest video of the roots. It shows the wall installed in the tank. No water in it yet, but that will be coming soon once I finish the roots. After that, I'll be out collecting rocks, gravel and sand, then on to filling the tank and cycling it. Thanks for subscribing!

[@zanehaselden5573]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 yes sir. I'll check it out. And you're welcome.

[@VC_27]

Great tutorial!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@VC_27]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 - You are welcome!

[@sebediah7206]

Hello Kevin! I just found your channel and I'm so happy I did! Been thinking about keeping some local fish here in Sweden in an aquarium and your content on the subject has been very inspiring! Now to my question in regards to this video... I've been working on some backgrounds and also faux rocks for various setups, both aquariums but also indoor mini fountains. I've seen a few people recommend Drylok for these things just as you have, but then followed by a recommendation of still adding another type of epoxy or rubber based coat on top of it. Would you say the main reason for doing that is because the Drylok might crack under pressure since it's applied on a soft surface such as styrofoam? If I were to use it on a very hard surface such as concrete or stone plaster, do you think it could last by itself without adding some other type of coating? Thanks for all the great content and sharing your expertise!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Sebediah. Yes, I think it's a really good product as it's meant to seal basement cinder block walls. It's very durable. If you tried to peel some of, or scrape it off, you probably could, but it would take some effort. Also, there could be some fish species with raspy teeth that eat algae that could peck if off. That might be a good reason to use an epoxy clear coat. But, I did it so that I could clean it with a brush easily without damaging or breaking the foam as well as protecting the paint. Also, if I do other maintenance in the tank, I wanted that extra protection so that I wouldn't accidentally damage my hard work. I used a product made by Polygem that is used by museums and public aquariums, it's a clear coat eposy. It is very strong and you can barely tell it's there.

[@sebediah7206]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 Thanks for the reply! I'll keep these notes in mind when I get the Drylok and start experimenting. I guess at the end of the day I'll just have to try this myself and see how it all holds up, I could see an extra coating being very useful for my aquarium but perhaps not as necessary for the fountains as they don't really get algae nor do they currently host any animals. You don't happen to know the exact name of the product by Polygem? I might not be able to get it here in Sweden anyway, but I've seen some other similar products that will probably get the job done. Have a nice day!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@sebediah7206 Thank you! I used Polygem 1319 but if you decide that you can buy from them, contact the owner and ask him what to use, because I think the version I used was an older type, and the other one in that family of products is a newer improved version. The biggest factor is that my work is protected from myself, LOL. I can't accidentally damage it. I used several coats of Drylok too, mainly to get the colors that i liked by mixing different cement dyes in them, and also to cover up every tiny bit of pink foam that I could see. I didn't want any trace of the foam showing, not because I care about leaching stuff or anything, but instead just having it look the best I could make it. It's good stuff, you can't go wrong. But without the polygem, it could accidetnally chip away exposing the pink. You could just repaint it though, I guess. In my case, I'd have to break down the tank to repair it so it was safer to apply the clear coat epoxy to protect it. I've read about other people just using the Drylok and it worked well for them. Good luck on your project! If you want to ready more about what I did and why, check out my build thread on this native fish forum, lots of pics and info there: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/page-11 this page is where to the Polygem, the pages leading up to it show applying the Drylok.

[@sebediah7206]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 haha I get it, makes sense that you would not want to worry about potential repair work considering the size and complexity of your background! Doesn't look like I'll be able to get this particular brand here very easily, but we've got a couple alternatives that seem good enough so I will give that a try for the background. For the fountain rocks I will probably try just using Drylok and see how it goes. Thanks for all the feedback and advice you've given! Really appreciate it.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@sebediah7206 Thank you so much! BTW, I'm making a video from start to finish on how I made the wall and what it looks like today...stay tuned!

[@feartheus4724]

That's actually so beautiful

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@868_av8r]

Wow! Amazing!!! I am gonna try something like that. Not sure I will find the material in my country though

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much. You can use any closed cell foam board insulation material if you can find it there. There are several brands available in the US. They come in pink, blue or green. If you can't find it there, you can use any kind of styrofoam. The open cell styrofoam works OK, but I like the closed cell better, because you can carve more detail into it. Good luck!

[@868_av8r]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 definitely will be looking, I did some rock formations out of foam in a can and cement. Hopefully sink lol.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Rishi, anything you can do to reduce the foam inside your structure will help. In my case, the structure fit tightly and perfectly inside the tank, so the molding of the tank helped to keep it in place. In addition, I used 8 tubes of silicone to glue it in place. That's a lot of silicone! I glued it on both sides, the back glass, and the bottom. Also, when building it, I stuffed as many river rocks into the structure that I could and then filled the gaps with spray foam. There are all kinds of things that you can do, but don't underestimate the ability of this stuff to float. Spray foam is a great media to produce natural looking lava rock. It's pretty amazing stuff. After you finish, please post a link here, I'd love to see your work!

[@blairm3504]

Love the video, I only wish there was a Part 2 where you went over the finishing aspect. 🙂

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much! I think that I can do something like that! It would be a narrative with pics. Would that be OK?

[@blairm3504]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 that would be awesome!!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@blairm3504 It might take me a little while to pull everything together, but I will do a follow up. If you are in a hurry to know, I have a thread on the NANFA forum that covers everything: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/

[@afifahzulkefli]

The last step is to paint the foam with drylok and cement pigment? Did i get this right? And how long normally to leave it until it fully dries up?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Yes, I painted several coats of Drylok mixed with various colors of cement dye (you can also mix them) to get the colors to match rocks found in my area. I guess each coat took a couple hours to dry. I used paint brush for the first coat without dye (was already gray in the can), and a sponge to dab it on after that for each subsequent coat. After I installed it in the tank, I wound up using a clear coat epoxy to add strength to it that I got from Polygem and it turned out great. I did that because after doing all that work, I didn't want to damage it when doing cleaning and tank maintenance. The Drylok is a good sealant, but, that on foam can chip off accidentally by moving rocks or using cleaning tools. Now, it's as strong as real rocks. Here's my build thread, starting with the Drylok painting of the rock wall: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/?p=149813 The posts after this show all of the paint layers and colors that I used, a couple pages later is the finished rock wall.

[@afifahzulkefli]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 this is really helpful! I appreciate you explaining it in detail. Thanks! 😃

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@afifahzulkefli You're quite welcome Afifah!

[@stovepipe671]

do u have to put any sealer on it so it will be safe for the fish

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

James, I painted it with Drylok which is safe and seals it in. The foam itself is safe, no need to seal it in, but the pink doesn't look natural, hence, the need for paint. Some people use Cement, which can cause pH issues, and sealing that in with Drylok works. For my wall, the Drylok shows the detail that you put into it, and cement tends to cover up detail, so I chose the Drylok method. Also, to glue the layers, I used Gorilla Glue, and once cured, is inert and safe for fish too.

[@Stephen-jw8ci]

This is super impressive, definitely a technique I’ll be attempting to replicate.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Stephen!

[@pabitramohangayen6338]

O master...you are master of masters. Salutes from India.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Pabitra for the wonderful compliment. I'm just a regular guy that obsesses about realism in my fish tanks, LOL.

[@pabitramohangayen6338]

Sir, I am in enchantment to see how patient you are in your work. Once again I am watching you doing in obsession. I am interested in such deeds but no scope by me. I must thank you again for giving me lots of inspiration s. I am happy you respond me. My obeisance to you master.

[@sheheryarjavaid3567]

brilliant mate, thanks for sharing

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much stepone!

[@spoolheads]

Great technique! Thanks for sharing.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much! My pleasure.

[@leohanson1331]

Thank you!! This is awesome!!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Leo!

[@lorenzostephens7015]

Love it question how would you add like small holes in it like if u wanted to put caves into it. I have a 90 gallon I would love try it in my tank

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Lorenzo, I appreciate the compliment. There are a couple ways that you could do it. One way is to carve 2 sections and overlay one over the other with a spacer toward the back between the upper and lower section, to create a gap or crevice between the layers.. Another way would be to have a solid unit and carve out the cave, deep into it. Both would work, but I think the first option would be easier. My entire wall was 3 sections, and the "crevice" between them when glued into the tank looks like a natural crack in the rock. You can do something similar like that too, with a wider crevice. Study natural rock formations and try to duplicate one that you like. I looked at a lot of rock formation pictures on the net until I found one that I liked. Carving foam allows you to create anything you want. Don't worry about being exact with your model, just similar. Rock layers and formations are random anyway. Good luck. Post a link to a pic when you are done.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Also Lorenzo, check out this link to a build that inspired me. He did great work and had a great approach trying to duplicate something that he found in nature. www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/diy-styrofoam-background-rocks.452727/

[@nileshvernekar3927]

❤....excellent idea

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Nilesh!

[@warmwaveforms6451]

Best background on youtube!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much R3ZZ PLAYS!

[@Moontanman]

Did I miss how you get it to stick to the back wall of the aquarium? also do sea urchins chew it up?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

This is in my river tank. How I built it all is in my build thread on NANFA. But, basically, I made it in 3 pieces and used a heckuva lot of silicone to adhere it to the glass. Also, it fit very tight within the frame, so no chance of it coming free. It's all FW, so no critters can mess the wall up. I painted it with many coats of Drylok but after I installed it, I didn't want to ruin the wall via tank maintenance, so I used a museum clear coat called Polygem. Now it's almost indestructible. There are lots of videos on this channel showing it after I installed it and have many tank updates since with fish in it. My build thread should answer any questions. That said, someone commented on here previously that they'd like to see a build video from start to finish, so I may do that some day. It's a lot of work though.

[@stevew6138]

Very cool idea, thanx.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Steve for the compliment!

[@Starbirdie]

Question: how do you keep it submerged? It seems like it would be extremely buoyant.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you for your question Laura, it's a good one, and an issue that, when planning this, made me struggle and worry about how I'd avoid it from just coming apart. The 3 structures are basically hollow and filled with river rocks to help keep it less buoyant, but more importantly, the three sections fit tightly inside the aquarium frame, snug to the top. I also used a ton of silicone glue on the bottom, back and sides. So far, so good. This tank has been up and running since October 2019 and I have not had any issues with the wall. If you wish to learn more about this build, I have a build thread on the NANFA forum: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/

[@Mark-wt7xl]

Beautiful work. Thank you

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Mark!

[@nigelsookdeo6880]

Question : how do you keep the wall from floating up in the aquarium?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

That's a really good question Nigel. After I finished constructing the foam boards, there was a gap between the back frame of the structure and the front of the wall that I stuffed with river rocks. Then, I sealed them in with spray foam. I used 8-9 tubes of silicone applied to the top, bottom, sides and back of the structure as well as the tank...so...tons of glue. In addition, the entire thing fits tightly in the tank under the tank frame and cross brace, which I think is key. I've had the tank up and running for 3 years and it doesn't budge. I am putting together a video that I will have out soon that goes into detail from start to finish and the status of the tank today, so stay tuned!

[@proteuzgaming6206]

Wow what a great technique! I've been researching for doing a small project and this will be really helpful

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@tstoneami]

Great technique...can you tell the name of the foam you used?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you tstoneami! I used styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) foam board. What I used specifically were hobby sized versions of foam board purchased at Home Depot. You can use the pink or blue insulation foam board sold in hardware stores. I used the hobby sized ones because they easily fit into my vehicle. I think the extruded polystyrene foam insulation works best to get the detail carving that you might want. but you can use anything that is inert.

[@tstoneami]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 Thank you for the reply. I thought I recognized it, but wanted to be sure. It's funny, was looking for a source for shale right around the time I ran across this - has a similar look to a wild outcropping of shale!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@tstoneami, thank you. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. I will respond. A good source of info are the forums that I post in. Here is a link to one of the build threads: forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/

[@benshaw3891]

Very awesome 😎 just out of interest, what material is this? It’s xps right?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Ben. Yes. I purchased the hobby sized boards, but the insulation ones would work great. If I had to do another one, I'd buy some of the thicker ones too (less gluing, more carving).

[@benshaw3891]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 You’ve got skills man. Thank you for your help, and also for uploading the video in the first place. 😊👍

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

My pleasure Ben. After you finish your final product, post a link to a pic, forum or YT vid. I'd love to see your work.

[@benshaw3891]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 😄thanks for the encouragement and absolutely, I’ll let you know when I’m finished the build. I’ll post to Reddit or make a KZbin video. I’m not a member of many forums but let me know if you want me to post to anywhere specific.

[@pentatonic7833]

Hey! I tried doing this with drylok hydraulic cement with the same pigment but after it dried the color would just come right off with my finger until it went all the way through to white foam. I see you are using regular drylok correct? Any thoughts

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Yes, I just used several coats of the Drylok waterproofing paint covering pink extruded polystyrene foam insulation board. Here’s a link to what I used. www.homedepot.com/p/DRYLOK-1-gal-Clear-Interior-Exterior-Floor-and-Wall-Basement-and-Masonry-Waterproofer-20913/205079075 Also, don’t get the Drylok with any mold reduction chemicals. After I completed painting, I coated it with Polygem clear coat epoxy to protect it.

[@di3ainlex]

Good day. your wall so realistic. I dount undersand what is Dry lock? what type of glue is it

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Drylok is just waterproofing sealant paint used to paint on basement walls to keep water from seeping from outside the house into the basement. There may be other brands like it where you live.

[@mrsbelangerr2616]

Wow God bless your patience... I think I'd get a quarter of the way and give up 😅

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you MrsBelanger for the wonderful compliment. Hah! There were many times that I almost did! It took me quite a while between the level of effort, glue drying times, and procrastination. The closer things got to it coming together, the faster I worked. I think that knowing what I know now, I could have done the entire thing and installation in two weeks if I work diligently on such a project.

[@richardgilbert8682]

hiya would these styrene backgrounds pose a fire risk with the heat bulbs

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I don’t think so in my case because it’s entirely submerged in my aquarium, and, I have LED lighting.

[@richardgilbert8682]

sorry i was thinking of vivariums silly me@@coachkevinwilson1958

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

After thinking about this, I think if I was going to do one for reptiles where such a bulb was being used, I'd cover it with a cement solution rather than what I used for an aquarium (Drylok/epoxy clear coat) for that reason. You can get the same colors using cement dyes that I used in my Drylok. You might not get as much detail in some cases, but I've seen some really nice backgrounds using the cement method.

[@closedcourseproductions4832]

Hey Kevin, I know you use this for aquariums typically. But I have plans on using this in a vivarium, does this stuff tend to get super waterlogged? Also would it be porous enough for plants to adhere to it, or does that mainly depend on the type of paint you use? Thanks, and great video.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I think that you could create divots and holes that plants could creep into. It's not porous though for the most part. In my case, I used Drylok mixed with various cement dye colors to paint it, and then covered the exposed surfaces with museum grade epoxy clear coat made by Polygem to protect it from fish or other critters that might pick at it, or more importantly, from me damaging it during cleaning and maintenance. Polystyrene can be damaged easily. It's a strong structure, but easy to chip away at. So far, I haven't had any problems. I don't know how plants would react to it with the clear coat, but, it doesn't stop algae from growing on it! But, even if you decide to use Polygem or not, the great thing about foam is that you can stick things in it to hold mesh or just stick wooden or plastic kabob sticks in it to hold plants. It's a very nice material to work with, completely inert, so you don't have to worry about it hurting your creatures, fish or plants. I used Gorilla Glue to bond the layers, and that works great. Once glued, it won't come apart, and it's inert too once dried and cured.

[@closedcourseproductions4832]

Thanks Kevin! Helps a lot, just staring on the build.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@closedcourseproductions4832 If you do a video or post pics on a forum, please share here if you remember. I'd love to see it!

[@closedcourseproductions4832]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 what forum could I post my finished product on?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@@closedcourseproductions4832 There are lots of good forums out there that you can find on this subject, but some of the aquarium forums have sections for vivariums and other things. One good forum is this one that has a Vivarium section: www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ Also, on many of these forums, aquarists are interested in Vivariums and paludariums and post their builds in DIY sections or other places on the website especially if they are DIY sections. This website has some really good vivarium builds: www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/ Check out this one in particular:paludarium, one of the inspriations of my river tank build: www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/mudskipper-paludarium-an-alternative-solution.410444/

[@markshepherd8378]

Beautifully creative work! I am wanting to make an indoor waterfall using this style of layered 'rock'. Do you think this method/material (styrofoam foam boards coated with Drylok and Polygem) would withstand water constantly cascading down over them and remain 100% waterproof?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Mark. Sorry for the late reply. Yes, absolutely. The Drylok is a great waterproofing paint and could withstand the water running, but the Polygem is really strong, and would protect your work and keep the Drylok from chipping off. It protects against animal claws, accidental damage from cleaning, etc. I highly recommend it. And yes, it would remain waterproof.

[@TheT80209]

Beautiful work, great idea. My only complaint is that you never showed the finished product.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Mike. When I made that video, the wall wasn't finished yet or installed into the tank. The finished product shows up in many of my later videos. Here's a vid from February. The wall has some algae on it, but at least you can see what it looks like after it's been in the tank for a long time. One day, I'll clean it thoroughly and post another vid (soon). kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHabXpukg6hrd9E

[@Aquafinity]

Super cool!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much!

[@Aquafinity]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 You're welcome!

[@gtb_greedy7208]

Great video

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much GTB_Greedy!

[@mrcrawlingstv]

Buddy this is genius! Thank you!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you MrCrawlings!

[@briankelsey4232]

I have watched multiple videos of making these aquarium backgrounds and i like this one very much. one question i have with all the ones i have seen is how do you run your intake and outflow for your filter if you are using a canister filter? just behind the wall and make a hole for each? it seems like you wouldnt get good flow that way but curious, thanks

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Brian, thank you for your comment and your interest in my tank build. I basically built the intake into the left side of the wall, hidden from view behind a removable panel. The outflow is from a spray bar across the top of the left side of the tank, flowing across the tank. Additional current is obtained by the use of a strong powerhead that is hidden behind my DIY roots also on the left side of the tank. I purposely tried to hide the equipment from a normal front view of the tank. Even looking from the front right of the tank, it's tough to see the powerhead. For more details, check out my build thread on the NANFA forum. This link will take you specifically to a post that describes the flow in the tank with details of pictures, forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/16651-75-gallon-native-stream-tank-build/?p=153549. The posts following this one to the end of the thread answer similar questions. I may do a video that explains all this as well. This past weekend, I performed a water change and cleaned out the canister filter. It was quite dirty after just a couple months, so apparently, there is enough flow to clean the water effectively.

[@briankelsey4232]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 thanks for the reply Kevin, appreciate the quick response and the link. research is on!!

[@snehangshubhattacharjee8072]

Are all of these products safe for aquarium fishes?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Yes, once everything cures, all of the products are inert and safe for all life in the aquarium. This tank has been up and running for over a year now and the fish are doing great. Thank you for your comment!

[@suryamanoharm4782]

What material you used. Is it thermacol?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Yes, thermacol I think is the same thing. In the USA, it's known as Extruded Polystyrene. It is sold as insulation boards for constructions of houses. However, our local hardware store sold hobby versions of this foam board that was about 24"x24"x1" (I think, if I remember correctly).

[@MrGochiefs1]

Which drylok did you use? Just googled it and there are different types at Lowes. Also, non toxic to fish? Amazing work/wall. I've gained several ideas for my leopard gecko's terrarium.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much for the kind compliment MrGochiefs1! I used the original Drylok in the gray color, but I'm sure that the white would work just as well. I mixed it with various shades of liquid cement dye to get the colors that I wanted. I don't know if they make the gray version any more. Don't get the ones with mildew killing formulas or anything like that. Once this stuff dries, it's inert and not toxic to fish or animals. However, shark claws or teeth could tear the Drylok off of the foam. I used Polygem Clear Coat Epoxy (the stuff that they use in museums) to protect my wall. I wasn't worried about fish doing damage, but rather, worried that I might cause damage while cleaning or doing maintenance. The Polygem really helps with the durability. Drylok is a sealant, and so is the Polygem, so if anyone worries about foam causing problems with water quality, these two items solve that issue. And, IMHO, this is an easier way to get detail into your work rather than using concrete. I look forward to seeing your project. If you do videos on it or post in forums, please post the links here and I'll follow. Good luck! Oh yeah, you can get the Drylok Original at Lowe's or HD, or maybe Ace and other hardware stores too. here's the link to what I used: www.lowes.com/pd/UGL-White-Flat-Textured-Waterproofer-Actual-Net-Contents-128-fl-oz/3033249

[@japhetzayas7194]

True! Straight lines don't occur in nature. The strata he creates with a flick of his knife reveals not only his artistry but his knowledge of natures random designs that tell the history of geological time.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you so much Japhet for the wonderful compliment!

[@sfcmmacro]

How much did you carve out on the back side? I heard some people complain that this much foam wants to float too much once you add water... even with it glued to the glass.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I filled the inside with river rocks and secured them with spray foam. It fits very tightly in the tank. The tank frame and the cross brace also hold it in place. I used a ton of silicone to hold it in place. So far, so good. I filled the tank recently to test everything and it passed with flying colors after being submerged for a week. There was no sign of separation from the glass.

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

I thought that I'd follow up 2 years later...the wall still fits tightly and won't budge. It's holding up nicely. So far, so good!

[@sfcmmacro]

@@coachkevinwilson1958 thanks for the follow-up.

[@elizabethmercerstudent838]

What is the foam you are using and do you paint your backgrounds. If so, do you use acrylic paint? Do you coat it in anything to make it aquarium safe?

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Hi Elizabeth. I used hobby foam board that I purchased at Home Depot. It's the same thing as the pink insulation board that you can buy in the construction section of your hardware store. I think that the blue and the pink are the same thing. As far as paint goes, I used Drylok paint, which is a sealant and is waterproof once cured. I used cement dye mixed in to get the colors that I wanted. The paint, when cured, is aquarium safe, as is the foam itself, since it's inert. However, I coated the final structure using Polygem clear coat epoxy to make it stronger. I didn't want to accidentally chip off a piece of a background and have that pink foam show through. The Polygem made it much stronger, almost indestructible, enough that I can clean the wall with an abrasive sponge or brush and not have to worry about breaking off the paint and exposing the pink foam. Why worry about the foam being exposed? It's aquarium safe, so no problem there. I just didn't want the unnatural pink color showing through. The epoxy clear coat protects the hard work that I did. You can see the final product in later videos, including my most recent one. Thanks for the comment and best wishes.

[@Rockmissjess]

Need to put list of materials and links in description

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thanks Jess for the suggestion. Will do!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

@Rockmissjess Done, along with some related subsequent videos showing the completed project.

[@robnewhampshire1481]

Happy 4th of July Kevin!

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

Thank you Rob!

[@brahmaraj]

Nice informative video thank you sir

[@coachkevinwilson1958]

You're quite welcome!