I BUILT A ROCK ISLAND in my AQUARIUM!

I've used my famous DIY dry rock mixture to build the overhanging rock waterline in my 4000 Litre Palau-inspired coral reef paludarium!
Learn how to do it, as well installing an overflow weir box in a plywood aquarium.
Thanks to the project sponsor, Boatcraft Pacific, for their support and supply of the BoteCote Epoxy and Filler Powder used in this video. Visit their website below, to purchase epoxies, polyurethane sealers and accessories.
www.boatcraft....
Also consider supporting my other sponsor, Frenzy Fish Feeds, for the best Australian made fish food pellets, as well as live and freeze dried fish food.
Use the discount code AUSSIEAQUARIST at checkout, and receive 10% OFF your order.
frenzyfishfeed...
You'll be pleased you bought this food!

[@reefboy21]

Dark blue fading into a light blue towards the top would look amazing. Loving this build series and can’t wait to see the final result. From a fellow Aussie fan in Canberra 😁

[@australianaquarist]

Nice one. Thanks for the support reefboy! Looks like you’d like to see my high school art skills!

[@jamesbryan1285]

Thanks for taking us along with you on this build. It has been pure joy.

[@australianaquarist]

You are very welcome James! I’m pleased to have you along, and hope you get some inspiration and maybe some entertainment from my channel. Feel free to reach out with any questions you have along the way. Adam

[@lvengineerable]

can't wait for the next one!

[@devachapman6315]

I know I am late to the party, but this is fun to wach it come together. best DIY plywood tanks I have ever seen. truly inspiring brother!

[@australianaquarist]

Definitely better late than never , in my mind! Welcome to my plywood Palau Reef build

[@ldr_zuvela4192]

make all the backdrop rock! do make a thin sheet of that rock and glue it up it will look so natural especially when it starts to be covered in corallin algae.

[@australianaquarist]

I’ll have strategic rock work adhered to the island and part of the wall, but I think I still want the effect of “space”. I feel when the backdrop closes in with coralline, the feeling of spaciousness is lost. Love that you’re putting thought into my project….. cheers

[@jamesb5277]

I’m a fan of black, clean and simple. Great video!

[@australianaquarist]

Can’t go wrong with black ! Thanks for your support James

[@BIG-ES-]

I vote for a dark turquoise gradient Great video brother

[@australianaquarist]

Your vote seems to be a very popular one!! Cheers

[@jules2545]

Cobalt blue, interacting with the shimmer from the Sun light.

[@jackspencer63]

definitely Dark Navy blue to give the illusion of deep ocean

[@MW-ut3dk]

Dark blue fading to light blue as you go up to the top water level to mimic those island reefs

[@australianaquarist]

It’s beautiful seeing that when I’m snorkeling or freediving around here. You look up and sometimes when a wave passes, you get the white swirls

[@INJETUK]

From UK to Down Under! Can’t go wrong with Black👌

[@australianaquarist]

Yeah, definitely too true. It works when it’s cleaned, and if left unscrubbed , it still looks fine!!

[@leebroadbent1340]

Dark Green or black 👍🏼👍🏼 Just a thought, maybe lose the music while you’re talking… Cracking build as always 👍🏼👍🏼

[@australianaquarist]

Another dark green vote. Seems pretty popular. Sorry if it was difficult to understand my narrative at times. I try pretty hard to get the balance of sound right on the computer, but then it can seem different when the video is played on a phone or tv.

[@leebroadbent1340]

@@australianaquarist yeah was watching on my phone so maybe that’s it.. was hard to hear what you’re saying.. maybe just keep the music for the non explanation parts..

[@ScottyR951]

Love it

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks Scotty!

[@barebottomaquariums1419]

Forest emerald green background would look amazing.

[@australianaquarist]

Wow Never thought of deep green

[@tyuksel76]

Love your enthusiasm. I think navy or any dark blue tone would be a great background. Greetings from Türkiye.

[@australianaquarist]

Greetings from down under!

[@glub9075]

Love your stuff man, im down in new zealand and your 3.6m estuary tank has inspired me to start planning out a small 100 gallon aquarium, please could you do a video on some of the equipment that you use like the wave makers and stuff, Thanks.

[@australianaquarist]

Can do. I plan to do a tank update on both the turtle and the estuary tank, as they are both just over 1 year. Pretty simple stuff though. I’m definitely a nature over technology guy.

[@Vroomy1986]

Mate always a good day when you post, getting so much inspiration for my fish room. Black at the bottom into a navy going into a light blue at the surface? I can see how big the tanks going to be when you were standing behind it, the eel is going to love it buddy. Keep up the great content!!!

[@australianaquarist]

Looks like your idea would really need my high school art skills!!

[@Messier87_M87]

I’m really torn on what color would look best. Maybe a navy blue, or black? But I think maybe a green would look more natural? I absolutely love this project, thanks for posting up! Appreciate you brother!

[@australianaquarist]

You just voted for blue, black and green!!!!!!!!!

[@Messier87_M87]

@@australianaquarist 🤣🤣🤣🤙👍

[@ezwaters5847]

Black or indigo. Something that'll give the scape alot of contrast.

[@australianaquarist]

Yeah I’m leaning toward a deep indigo myself

[@Reaper-sz6tz]

Just love you energy and excitement, personally I would go black or navy blue with that said unless you putting alot of maintenance time in it does not matter as the growth that happens should overpower it.

[@australianaquarist]

Too true My estuary tank has a black background that I’ve never cleaned, and you’d never know!

[@dougieGTRVspec]

Awesome work! I’m hooked on this series. I think black mate always a winner, corals & fish pop so well against the black background.

[@australianaquarist]

It’s a safe colour for sure. Most of my tanks are black- keep them clean and plants or corals pop, and if you don’t clean the back, it doesn’t really matter!

[@janrstenskar6190]

I think you should make a fake rockwall on the background. It looks great, and you never have to clean it. It will be covered in purple coralline algae and look natural. I do know a dark blue will look great, but then you have to keep it clean.

[@australianaquarist]

I’ve got stacks more rock work to do in the aquarium before I install the glass panes, but I’m not keen on completely obscuring the rear wall, because the sense of depth is lost. Ultimately only a 1 square metre area of the back wall will be visible once the rock and coral grow in. That should be manageable!

[@wes8539]

Deep green

[@australianaquarist]

Another vote for deep green! I must admit to never thinking of green

[@oneofwethepeople1161]

Dark blue fading to black. The island is Looking so cool already.

[@australianaquarist]

That’s a cool idea. Also pretty safe long term

[@Hasans01]

Insane ❤👌 Fingers crossed 👍

[@christiannicoll]

Nice work man!!!

[@australianaquarist]

Put some thought into my tanks background colour! Give me some ideas!

[@Aaron-sx6en]

Awesome content mate! I'm really enjoying the channel..

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks for your support Aaron. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos

[@australianaquarist]

But what colour!!?

[@davidmendlovits6854]

❤

[@BazSouthern]

Liked 👍 and already subscribed. Really like your energy. It's gonna look fantastic. Watching in England.

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks Baz! Any ideas on the colour background? Seems deep green is popular, but I’m not sure….

[@BazSouthern]

@@australianaquarist I'd vote for light blue fading to dark blue, but use a real stunning blue

[@australianaquarist]

Time for a comment from me! Thanks for your thoughts everyone ! I must admit to never really considering a green colour! I think it could either look amazing, or like pea soup! I guess that would come down to the artist……

[@HeftyReefs]

Midnight blue

[@MrCites1]

I worked at Sydney aquarium in t He 90’s and early 2000’s and when we built the large coral oceanarium we used flow coat and bags and bags of popcorn and it looks as good now as then

[@australianaquarist]

So it became a bumpy surface? What colour is flowcoat? I’m assuming it’s a polyurethane

[@johnmaude5065]

Starting to look good 👍

[@australianaquarist]

Greens pretty popular here John… but I’m not so sure. Thoughts? Have you ever seen a green background

[@johnmaude5065]

@@australianaquarist nope lol 😜

[@jtaus7041]

Awesome mate. Love ya work. Cheers from wollongong.

[@australianaquarist]

Come say gday when you head north through Coffs Harbour some day!

[@Gilsfishroom]

Looking awesome Adam. I reckon an algae coloured background. Problem solved.

[@australianaquarist]

Just like my turtle and estuary tanks! Trying to get a little fancy here Gil

[@dazsboxofwater]

Aqua or maybe aqua into a royal blue lower down , never thought of a dark/ green colour as others have commented, could be really nice also, either way you’ll do a great job im sure , see you on the next video fella 👍🏻.

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks for your confidence! I just don’t want to mess this bit up! Funny…. It’s not the fact I’m building a wooden giant aquarium that worries me… it’s the colour !

[@jonathankool1997]

Black mate, always black!

[@carlholmberg7303]

How about indigo or dark blue, but have a light that gives a lot of shimmer (like a Kessil Tuna Sun) only illuminating the back wall.

[@australianaquarist]

Now that’s an interesting idea!

[@Ian-qw1zb]

Indigo

[@teamstevensonGenEric]

Amalfi Blue

[@australianaquarist]

Had to google that one! Do you mean the blue with a hint of muted green ? Or similar to the two tone Amalfi Bleu perfume box!!?

[@teamstevensonGenEric]

@@australianaquarist either one - I have the blue with a hint of muted green on the wall behind my tank - however the fade of light blue to dark like the perfume box is very cool.

[@truckinlow1]

Black bottom to a blue fade

[@australianaquarist]

That’s the second time black up to blue has been suggested!

[@poseidonblacksea9506]

black

[@dustintinsley3899]

Black or Dark blue. Black is proven to be best for fish.

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks Dustin I’d be very interested in reading up on the fish welfare effects of our aquariums, and backgrounds. Do you have any links or can direct me to the articles Cheers

[@squidarcherb9707]

I think that transition in colors would be greay

[@australianaquarist]

My high school art needs to be on point…..!

[@Shane-dy7ct]

Coralline algae colour

[@australianaquarist]

Many tanks do end up that way! I do find the sense of depth is lost with coralline growth however, though it really suits the Rockpool style aquarium

[@jimb6117]

I'm going to be no help what so ever dark blue or black I thought about a fade in blue's or black to blue but unless your a bit of a brush artist the correct fade would be very hard to pull off.

[@australianaquarist]

Yeah My art skills have potential to fall in a heap!