Simple DIY Aquarium Background

A tutorial about making a Simple DIY Aquarium background made using Great Stuff foam, sand and MInwax clear spray.
NativeFishKe...
Supply List:
Great Stuff Foam www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Minwax Clear Spray-www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...{{linkCode}}&tag=natfiskee-20&linkId={{link_id}}
DAP 100% Silicone- www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...{{linkCode}}&tag=natfiskee-20&linkId={{link_id}}
Foam Board-www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...{{linkCode}}&tag=natfiskee-20&linkId={{link_id}}

[@velnlynilic7530]

Oh man, saw this after watching others making backgrounds, cement this, cut that, stack....whew. Fantastic!! I used Native fishkeppers idea and used plastic leftover containers( dollar store) for cave in foreground of tank, siliconed large on bottom and stacked smallar on top. Did this foam and sand thing for a rock formation around it, silicone sprayed it.. AWESOME!!! You rock and it looks like rock. Fish are happy. Thank you.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

That sounds pretty cool! I am happy it worked out for you. I would love to see it, you can share a link or maybe share on the Native Fish Keepers facebook page.

[@bmx214racer]

That turned out great! I've been wanting to make my own and don't really want to use the concrete that most people use. I'll give it a try!! Thanks for the video!

[@ericmcginnis9413]

I really like the way it turned out! I brought a bunch of styrofoam home from work tonight and at first I tgmtgt I would carve it up and paint with cement but after watching this I now think I will go this route! Thanks for the idea bud!!!

[@Arbear64]

Holy Crap! I love it. I am doing this tomorrow for my 75 gal. I am going to use less sand like you did though all over because I love those caverns and bumps. I needed this video I have been wondering and worrying over my tank on what to do with the back ground. It is to big to use cement and I hate a fake wood back ground and this will be great for a larger tank for not a lot of money. Thanks for posting this dude.

[@deborahjeanne2141]

I wish I’d seen this video before I spent $150 on a 3D background. And it just arrived today. Yours looks better than mine and it wasn’t all that difficult to make!

[@smalliebiggs971]

That's absolutely neat! Love this one. Looks so natural!

[@santhavaraja3373]

This would be perfect for mbuna cichlids. Thank you for this video. I'm going to do it for my 75g mbuna tank. I would be using less sand. I love the small hiding spots for the fishes. Thanks again man. This is awesome 👌

[@sschario60]

Very creative!.Thanks for sharing, man. Going to play with this technique for my 75 gal mbuna tank.

[@MTEXX]

looks almost like an inside-out reef. truly unique

[@Aedony]

This would be awesome for a rainforest terrarium, all these caverns are ideal to put moss in!

[@jamisonrayned.7052]

Setting up my first tank and so excited to try this. Thank you for such a creative and unique tutorial!!!!

[@BradfordAquatics]

That's awesome! I'll have to try it sometime!

[@pauly600k5]

this weekends project! thank you its awesome and looks Great. job well done

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Paul Marler Thanks!

[@gabe3366]

This is a really cool method. I like how it does the work for you and you don't have to carve out all the rocks.

[@michellecook3340]

Seriously i cant stop watching this video.Clever isnt the word this has left me speechless.Great Work absolutley fantastic xx

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Michelle Cook Thank you!

[@SUPERMAN-pn7dm]

WOW, YOU SHOULD GET A LIFE HUN,,

[@whitetrashandhellbound6905]

3 things I would like to say... 1: Love the phone ringing lol classic 2: If you use the spray foam, but but the "Low Expansion" interior window/door foam you may be able to control your foam a little better. Also, after 10 - 15 minutes the foam will dry enough to form somewhat of a crust on the outer layer. You can manipulate the foam at this stage. You can press it in for custom cave, stretch it slightly for ledges. Just some food for thought. 3: I would like to see your finish product. I think it would look nice all set up in your tank. Great video... Cool idea, I am going to try it out. Thanks!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thanks for the tips and here is the finished product kzbin.info/www/bejne/e33XoIKAgMyZga8

[@thatoneguy2800]

vgvgggvggg vgggvgvgvgggvgvgvvgg

[@apo1980]

great video thank you made some for my tanks they look great

[@lindseyfrost8347]

Great video!!! Thank you so much for thanking the time to film this for us. I've been looking for days at different ideas for my new 75, this is perfect!

[@lindseyfrost8347]

Taking*

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Lindsey Frost Thank you and you're welcome

[@maryannbrown9964]

I love this! Thanks so much for a great, easy to follow video. My 9 yr old daughter and I are building a Paludarium using this technique. We did decide to use pond foam so it would be gray/black under the tan play sand. So far we have built our underwater columns and our raised land area using this technique in several various applications. So far we love how it's turning out and the caverns and intricate way the foam forms under the sand is crazy cool. Easiest way to make the rock formations I've seen. Thanks again!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Mary Ann Brown Thanks and you're welcome! I would love to see how your project turns out! Maybe you could share it with us when you are finished?

[@maryannbrown9964]

+Native Fish Keepers I'm super new to using KZbin, but I will definitely try. Our project is an occasional weekend project, so it will take us quite a while. I have a couple of pics I can share now if I can figure out out.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I will be looking forward to seeing it!

[@maryannbrown9964]

+Native Fish Keepers Here is the link to our first weekend of pics. I haven't uploaded any pics of our progress from this weekend just yet. We have a 65 gal tall tank. The plan is to have the raised land area for a transfer of our already established small vivarium which currently houses a tree frog. facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10206609467260892.1073741863.1398462663&type=1&l=b74acc7a4d

[@NativeFishKeepers]

It's looking good so far! Can't wait to see it finished

[@erikprice3271]

They make great stuff foam for ponds and tanks. It's brownish black.

[@PatriotCoinRings]

I've actually built several of these but you definitly taught me something here. I use to design reptile tanks using expanding foam but I use to let it fully expand and I'd hand carve all my rock sculptures. Once I had a really good form, I would layer it over with cement, sand, rocks and wood. My problem was no matter how much silicone I used on the back when doing this for aquariums, if I didn't have a ton of rock in place it would be so darned bouyant I had a heck of a time keeping the background to stay in place. What I learned here and very interested in is how you put your sand down while the foam was still setting up and how nice those caves and crevecis were. That would be awesome for a reef aquarium because coral would eventually grow over it all. I'm just wondering if it worked for you because it was only 12" tall and 48" long so there was very little water especially with the step and lots of fill sand to the right of the tank and whether it would stay submerged in a normal sized tank like an 80g that is typically around 27"-32" tall? Oh well you definitly gave me something new to work with.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I haven't had a problem keeping any of the ones I have made. But then again I haven't made any for a very tall tank. I would think that adding rocks to the background would help keep it down.

[@maxextz]

Excellent idea. Thanks

[@delvalle298]

Very good I'm impressed. Good job.😎🐠🐡

[@toycarfoushboy]

Looks great, awesome tutorial.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thanks!

[@farukgungor8294]

Great idea and work, thanks for sharing. Good man

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+FARUK GÜNGÖR Thank you!

[@merchpublicschool9331]

Great job! thus the best I've seen so far on youtube! the cavities are really what makes it stand out from the rest and look so realistic. Could you please post a video of the finished product with the fish inside the tank thank you

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Samir Farsane Already have one up kzbin.info/www/bejne/enq2qZ6Nf8yVb9E

[@robinhansler4976]

As soon as I watched this I subscribed, great job

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thank you

[@joseloalvez9174]

Awesome, i just did my 110 gallon following these steps, came out incredible, letting the tank cycle now before i move my oscar, blue texas, and jack dempsey into it. came out great though!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Joselo Alvez Cool, would love to see how it came out! Maybe you could share on the Native Fish Keepers Facebook page?

[@victorjimenez6098]

really cool and Great idea, i Will try it. thanks for share. 👍

[@TheBSideDJ]

the result is very good !!!

[@estikakon3743]

Greetings I really liked the video and made a background like you explained .. The problem is that I do not have the sprite you put in the end. The question is, what can I put on the sand so that it does not come down when I get into the aquarium? Thanks in advance

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

Very nice, thanks! I used to keep trout up to 3 pounds in aquariums. It was very educational for trout behavior.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Natural Ponds Lakes & Streams by Spring Creek Aquatic Concepts 3 lbs! Sweet!

[@firstnlast6502]

+Natural Ponds Lakes & Streams by Spring Creek Aquatic Concepts what kind of trout and how large of aquariums? and are these fish for your consumption or simply viewing pleasure?

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

cory Blundell I have had trout to 18 inches in a 4 foot long aquarium, but that was a simple system where the fish were being fed. What we are working on currently is a ten foot long system where most of the forage will be produced naturally. These fish were all pets. You could never afford this to grow fish to eat. Most species of trout will work, but rainbow trout might be the easiest.

[@robingagan6288]

That looks amazing. I used thick styrofoam and carved rocks but I like yours better

[@MarKDoesKeto]

Simply the best fake background DIY that I've seen. Awesome, been looking for something similar. Instead of a styrofoam backing I'll use eggcrate neon light protector, I don't want the background to be boyant. Plenty of small river rocks along the bottom.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thank you, I am happy you liked it! Good luck on your build!

[@GreenNGoldFever]

Mark Derail, did you make that fish tank background with the egg crate light protector? Did the foam stick ok? Did the top have a tendency to tip or water and substrate hold it in place?

[@SynchronisedMinds]

Thanks for a great idea.

[@miroslavivanov7220]

I think it a great Background. great job

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thank you!

[@kajju1976]

very much thanks for this video. i def try it out.

[@forgebynature2782]

I just want to add a little FYI for people going to do it. Great stuff foam is an open cell foam so once its applied. do not cut it because then it is open and water will travel throughout and could damage it. It would be optimal to use a 2lb foam but they dont sell small cans of the stuff

[@larrymarkham7166]

Sir Charles , The great id use great stuff pond foam it is a closed cell foam and is safe for fish or other animals

[@danilocentonze9092]

Sir Charles ,great

[@hemendrasingh4546]

Sir Charles , The great Great information

[@polpolazi]

i dont understand, how water will damage the foam? the foam meant to be in aquatic conditions. so what will go wrong then?

[@GumCow]

You're supposed to trim it if you'll end up coating it with silicone, and then your substrate. It makes it adhere better.

[@PatriotCoinRings]

Question: When you removed the excess sand after the expanding foam dried up, did you just sit it up on its side and shake it off or did you rinse it off to remove all loose sand?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Just shake it off...the poly spray will adhere anything else that isn't that secure.

[@lowekorth8101]

Not a big fan of homemade aquarium backgrounds, but this came out great! Simple and amazing, perfect for my malawies!

[@BobyUdrea]

Tried this method, it's not as easy as you make it out to be! :)) You need the right foam.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Great Stuff Foam Gaps and Cracks

[@trevorholland7]

😂

[@angies6329]

How long did yours last? I just did mine & you are right,it was a process for sure ..I used it but still leary about The polyurethane is ok to use in aquariums?

[@morrisfalker2773]

I tried to use whip cream but my brother said the dog ate it.

[@djjones6531]

liked your video, gonna try it out one day thanks

[@clayhlong126]

great job made one for my 36g tank this week,i just siliconed it to the tank.was wondering how long before the silicone needs to sit before its good to go.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+C Long I give it 2 to 3 days just to be sure it is completely dry and cured.

[@Neilecc]

Great video. Just made my own in the same way. Looks fantastic. Thanks for posting video.

[@ferst5937]

Can you tell me how you made it waterproof and how you kept it from floating?

[@johngutierrez9242]

Is the minwax polyurethane fast drying clear gloss oil based or water based because all I can find is oil based

[@DavidJHarrisonEssex]

As I'd like mine a light or medium grey do you have any idea what I can use? I suppose standard sand sprayed grey can't be used as the spray would have a bad effect on the water. Thanks

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I would look for grey colored sand or coat it in a watered-down cement mix.

[@danmo43]

Cool video! Thank you! Oh, btw, you would be amazed how much easier and more foam when you hold the can upside down and pull the trigger up like the instructions tell you to.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thanks, I hold the can upright to try to control the amount of foam easier.

[@danmo43]

Ah, I see.

[@scorpyo8104]

this is pretty cool :-) (y) How did you fix the sand? What kind of spray is it? my english is not so good, sorry

[@NativeFishKeepers]

the sand adheres to the foam because the foam is tacky. the spray I used to seal the background with is Minwax polyurethane spray

[@patriciaselenechandler6542]

Hi! I’m in love with the way your project turned out. I can haedly wait to do mine. I got all the supplies, and I am ready to try and make background following your video. I went to your channel but couldn't find a video update on how the background is doing. I would appreciate it if you could tell me how long I should expect to enjoy this background before I have to redo it. Thank you.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I removed it after 4.5 years and it was still holding up perfectly. I know a guy that made one like this and is still in his tank and is 6 years old.

[@patriciaselenechandler6542]

@@NativeFishKeepers Awesome! Thank you so much for the quick response! I really appreciate it.

[@EverythingFish]

That's an awesome design! Would it be possible to stick in something like half of a small tree stump in the background without the foam covering the roots?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Yes, The more sand put on it the less the foam expands. So if you put something into it just add more sand on top to keep it from expanding all the way. If you check out my 20 long stream tank. I have a piece of driftwood in that background.

[@EverythingFish]

Awesome! Also, is there any way to detach it from the tank after you silicone it on if you wanted to use the tank for something different down the road?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

If you silicone it in place.It will be extremely if not impossible to remove without breaking it. But if you and some decent size rocks into the bottom of the background and cut it to fit tightly. You could use the background without siliconing it into place.

[@shanegaddis3523]

Hi wanted to say that I think this background looks awesome! I want to do the same thing but was wondering how thick the background gets with that crevice look?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Shane Gaddis Thanks,it's to be about 3 inches thick at most.

[@beck7394]

What can you say about durability of this Minwax clear spray and is it long lasting undrwater? You did very, very good titorial. Thanks

[@dcraigslist5243]

Do you have a video of the finished product? Do you still see some of the foam through the sand? Thanks, it looks great.

[@mrclean3178]

D Craigslist this dosent work

[@afterburnerboyz]

This is really cool! I'm going to try this on a 20 gallon long in a few weeks. Can you tell me what kind of sand it is that you used?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+afterburnerboyz It is sand I collected from a local river.

[@beastmode7225]

wow nice what kind of spray do you used for it? and can I use aquarium sand from the shop for background ?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Minwax Clear Spray and yes you can use sand from the shop.

[@lukeg5410]

Hi there, what polyurethane spray are you using (water or oil based)? I have called minwax and they do not recommend ANY of their polyurethane products to be submarged and they all leach out chemicals once they absorb water. They also warned that the product will discolor and peal, hence it's not recommended even for outdoor applications. Please advise, Luke.

[@pbiffy1535]

This looks awesome ! I have been searching for a background to diy & this one is the best I have viewed. Any chance you can show an update on this background ?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I no longer have this tank. I tore it down after 3 years and it was still in great shape.

[@laurenmiller9389]

Very interested, after putting this in your aquarium did you have any

[@patrickthoen1]

Awesome work Native Fish Keepers Can i create this and add it later the tank? Cuz mine is full of water already but still without fishes.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I would say yes, as long as you drain the tank so that you can silicone it to the back. And leave it like that until the silicone dries( a couple days) then refill the tank and enjoy.

[@cubefan681]

Thx so much for this. I just tired this and it came out really cool. Wish i could attach a pic.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

you could share on our Facebook page

[@HungryHungryShoggoth]

So I made one of these and for the most part it worked great, I did have one problem though. I'm not sure if it was the temperature where I'm at or if I was just too slow with the sand but I've got quite a few large bare spots of foam. Do you have any idea what kind of adhesive I could use to attach more sand that would be safe? Or will the poly spray for the final step make any adhesives a non-issue?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I did have a bare spot on one of the ones I built. I used a spray glue , can't remember the brand though, and then made sure I used plenty of the clear coat over the area. And I didn't have any issues with it.

[@HungryHungryShoggoth]

Native Fish Keepers awesome, thanks for the quick reply!

[@carlblackwell1849]

Hi just seen this looks brill but can I ask instead of spraying it can you place coats of cement on it to seal it as you would do with polystyrene ones ? Thansk

[@NativeFishKeepers]

You probably could but might be kinda hard to get to some spots.

[@zeusvedetutto]

straordinario :)

[@deano72]

nice gonna try this

[@rjspidell3291]

This is by far the coolest background I've seen I plan on giving it a shot this weekend for a 40 gallon I'm curious tho dies it affect the heater at all I didn't see where you had yours at

[@NativeFishKeepers]

You would have to create an area for it near your filter intake. I keep North American natives so I don't use a heater.

[@rjspidell3291]

Thanks so much for the feedback I realized that after watching your video a few more times I just have one more question how did you color the back of your styrofoam so so you can't tell it's styrofoam from the outside of the tank?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

@@rjspidell3291 I didn"t color it. If done right you shouldn't be able to see the styrofoam except from the sides and back of tank.

[@theseusc1]

I have a few questions please. First off, the build looked fantastic! Thank you for the tutorial. I've been skimming here and there on the best way to try this and I keep coming up with conflicting information. The aquarium I'm hoping to work with is 48x24x18 (90g) and it's for my piranha. They prefer acidic water and I've heard from other sources that builds like this can raise the pH significantly, like as much as 14. (1) Have you noted such levels, and if so, what have you done to make it safe? (2) As far as anchoring the pieces, some use straight silicone, some use magnets with egg crate, and you're saying basically to silicone it to the back of the tank and add weight to counter the buoyancy with rock, correct? (3) I noted in the video you had mentioned adding stone but then decided against it. Will the Big Stuff foam act as an adhesive to hold the stone in place or do you need to use silicone as well? Also, does the weight of the stone matter in the placement so it does not pull away or break the foam? (4) Would you suggest play sand (kid safe) over industrial? I don't have any natural collection areas to harvest sand from like you do. (5) How long have your builds lasted in their fully submerged aquatic environments? Have you noticed any fading or material degrading over time? (6) Lastly, how does cleaning the rock walls work for you since the foam is probably highly susceptible to breakage? Thank you so much, I appreciate your time!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Theseus Crabb Thanks and your welcome. 1). Depending on what sand you use will depend on whether or not you will have a ph increase. The sand I used has a lot of limestone so yes I did see an increase. But I'm not sure if the minimal amount of sand from the background would cause such a large increase. As I used the same sand for my substrate. To be safe for you application. I would use something that inert. 2.) I used silicone in my 20 long. And in the new stream tank I didn't use anything. As the substrate and the rocks are holding it in place. It helped out tremendously that the background is L-shaped. As it kept it in place much easier. 3)Yes, the foam will act as an adhesive and hold it in place. If you look at the short end of the background In the stream tank. There is a rock near the bottom. I would try to keep heavier stones near the bottom. As they may cause the background to pull away from or may fall out if not secured properly. I have not tried this myself so not really sure. 4) I know play sand is safe for aquarium use. Not sure on the industrial sand. Whatever you decide on just make sure it is aquarium safe. Also use only dry sand. As any dampness will not allow in to adhere correctly. 5) My background in my 20 long is now over 3 years old. And it is still holding strong with only a slight change in the color of the foam. But I'm not sure if it's the foam itself or just because of bacteria growth on it. I have noticed some slight degrading of the white styrofoam near the top of the background. Nothing that has caused any alarm. I just noticed it has some degrading after 3 years. It s very minimal. 6) I usually don't clean the background off. As I like the look of the growth on it. I did get some green slime algae (cyanobacteria) growing on it and was able to siphon it off with minimal contact. I hope this helps you out. Please feel free to ask anymore question. I will answer them the best I can. Thank you for watching.

[@theseusc1]

I will definitely refer others to your video. Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate it!

[@muhammadyoussry4625]

This is really the smartest way ever but can you mention the name of foam spray used

[@Piercey79]

Hi, thanks for the video... really amazing. Minwax seems impossible to get in the UK unless you're willing to spend a fortune. Do you know what to look for in other polyurethane sprays to make sure that when cured they are fish safe? Thanks.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Piercey79 DO you have Krylon products in the UK. Krylon Crystal Clear spray should be okay.

[@Piercey79]

+Native Fish Keepers We do but it's Acrylic not polyurethane. Should be OK? thanks so much for the reply and support on this build.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

My bad. It is Krylon Clear Polyurethane not the Crystal clear. Polyurethane becomes inert once cured.

[@NYCityCichlids]

Nice job.

[@latinfly100]

Really nice

[@jaredkassouf1017]

The Spray foam doesn’t need to be sealed in any way? No toxins to worry about?

[@richardsees3177]

My thought is to add short PVC pipe to make tunnels nothing long or big just big enough for them to swim in or hide if they want

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Richard Sees Yep, that would work wonderfully. I plan on doing that when I build one for a larger tank.

[@justinabernethy5330]

This is a great idea. I was thinking about doing a Cichlid tank and thought this would be a great alternative to something like holey rock. It would give the fish a lot of hiding options. Any thoughts on whether you think this would work for that?

[@justinabernethy5330]

Also wanted to know if the Styrofoam you are using ever gets soft and releases the Styrofoam little white beads in the tank?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Justin Abernethy It should work just fine. And I have not had the styrofoam get soft even in the 20 long that I built a background for 3 years ago.

[@briananderson4032]

nice video...good job sir.

[@Calbreos]

This is great! Instead of silicone do you think you'd be able to suction cup this to the back or would it just be too buoyant?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

You may be able to use suction cups. It is pretty buoyant. You could offset that by adding rocks near the bottom of the background.

[@Calbreos]

Sweet! Thanks for the reply!

[@bradcarter4677]

Hi, im wondering what type of sand you used for this project or could you tell me what type of sand can be used. Im looking for a dark look like yours so play sand and pool sand wouldnt be what im interested in. Thanks

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Brad Carter It is sand I collected from a local river. Just about any sand could be used as long as it is aqaurium safe.

[@mattcero1]

Do those materials off-gas and expel toxins into the water? I'm just curious as I'm about to do something like this. Thanks for the video. Matt

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Matt Cero From what I gathered no. Once they are completely cured they are inert. I have been using this type of background for over three years. And I have yet to have any issues with it. And I keep some sensitive fish such as darters.

[@kristyoverman3689]

Have you had any problems like some say you’ll (I will) have? With floating, peeling, separating, breaking away etc...

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I haven't had any issues what so ever. These backgrounds have been 100%perfect for me.

[@daddycritt]

Can I use the black diamond instead of sand. I know people use it for substrate so I know it safe just wondering if it will stick

[@NativeFishKeepers]

It should, if I remember right one of my viewers used it and said it turned out nice.

[@andersonleoni5336]

Ficou top muito bonito

[@TheCsntennessee]

Hey there! Thanks for this tutorial. I actually just finished mine and was wondering did you do anything to it after it was all dried? I've soaked mine in water but it still smells so strongly of paint fumes. Just wondering what prep you might have done prior to actually putting it in the tank and will the smell even be an issue for the fish. Thanks!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thanks, I installed in empty tank and let it soak for a few day changing the water daily. I have never had any issues doing it this way out of the four backgrounds I have made.

[@TheCsntennessee]

@@NativeFishKeepers thanks so much!

[@raniaravind242]

a

[@willparsons32]

3D backgrounds are spectacular however in order to have one - one must have located his or her aquarium heater(s) in a sump.. I do not have a sump so my heaters are positioned against the lower back glass pane of the aquarium. Any suggestions on how one can install a 3D background with the heaters in this location?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

You could form a space behind the background and have the filter intake near it. That way the water that is being warmed is also being circulated throughout the tank.

[@willparsons32]

hmm... Or have some real good water circulation going through the backdrop which I think you would want to have in order to keep "Dead spots" of Ammonia or Nitrates building up (hiding!)

[@nickvb5062]

Hey this is looking awesome but what is that stuff you spray on ;p? im dutch so i couldnt figure out hahaha !

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+nick vb Thanks, it is Minwax Polyurethane spray

[@KyleDaniels477]

awesome video

[@abrahamnutrition]

Do you just silicon it to the back? You know I see Vivariums/paludariums being made and they will foam directly onto the glass. I wonder if this technique would hold up?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I just silicone it to the back of the tank. I tried making mounds once that I foamed directly to the bottom but they didn't hold very long( a few months).

[@abrahamnutrition]

Thanks for the videos!

[@GreenNGoldFever]

Ok brother. Watched the video quite a few times, read pretty Much all of the comments and troubleshooting questions. I might have a stumper for you. I am buying a tank with dual overflow in the corner. Any idea how to build the background around (since they are semicircles) to encompass the sides and hide them? Love the videos by the way. Please keep them coming!!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Pretty much the same way you would build around a filter intake. Except don't build all the way to the top of the tank. Just build to the bottom of the lits in the overflow. This way the water flows over the background and down the overflow. I would use a block of foam and cut it to contour the overflows and the shave off the front to thin it down before adding spray foam. I hope this makes since as I can see it in my head.

[@GreenNGoldFever]

Native Fish Keepers I know exactly what you mean brother!! Awesome idea shaving out the block foam to contour. Thanks again, keep the vids coming.

[@elvisoshaughnessy1255]

Hi do I have to use styrofoam for the fish tank or I can use any foam to build background for my fish tank

[@NativeFishKeepers]

You don't have to use the styrofoam. It's was only used to help support the background. You can use the pink or blue foam board. Or you can use something like egg crate(light diffuser panels) to support the background.

[@salmodiespeak9712]

Great idea. I tried your method but my sand didn't stick very good. Any other tips not mentioned in video to help. What type of sand did you use?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Salmodies Peak The sand I used was just stuff I collected from a local river. Tips: make sure sand is 100% dry,apply sand as soon as possible( so if doing a large background do it in sections), and let it dry completely before removing sand.

[@patterdaleman1141]

Looks ...king awesome mate , Just wondering, I want to create an island in my tank , but want it to look natural, Have you ever used this technique to create rocks , an boulders etc , ?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thanks, I have used it to make I guess you call them rocks or maybe more like small mounds in bottom of tank. I created them directly onto the bottom of tank so they were stationary. If you're wanting to make them so you can move them. You will need to make them with some kind of weight in them.

[@patterdaleman1141]

@@NativeFishKeepers , thanks for your reply bud , yes I thought they might be buoyant, So maybe I could stick styrofoam to a piece of flat slate , or an inert piece of material first , Then build my structure off that , then they could be removed if necessary,

[@jordanhenderson3741]

Would the foam make the same rock like shapes if you didn’t use sand? I really like the way this turns out, but wanted to paint the foam with drylok instead. Do you absolutely need the weight of the sand to create the texture you have here?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Yes and no. The sand keeps the expansion of the foam to a minimum. Without the sand the foam would expand several inches and the creation of caves and nooks and stuff would be minimal.

[@jordanhenderson3741]

Thanks for getting back to me! I picked up some pink crayons play sand, I think it’ll make a real nice reef kind of look!

[@jordanhenderson3741]

Crayola*

[@jordanhenderson3741]

Crayola

[@davdev]

What kind of sand do you use? I have never been able to find one a good dark color, most around me is tan or white.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I collect it from a local river.

[@rosalinehannouche2312]

genius

[@jurgenboesgmail2391]

hi, love this build, but I was wondering is this save for salt too?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

+Jurgen Boes I would like to say yes though I have not tested it in salt yet. In theory yes it should be safe. The foam and spray polyurethane become inert once fully cured. Therefore it should be safe. But like I said I have not tested it yet in salt to say for sure.

[@jurgenboesgmail2391]

oke. think i have to do it with koral sand , gues its not doable with normal sands . problem with koral sands is its desolve in time

[@KennedyMedina50]

Can I use silicone instead of the foam? Or would foam be the best option? Amazing video!

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Kennedy Medina foam would be best because it would expand giving you the results in the video. Silicone could be used but it would take an awful lot to get same results. Plus it would need to cure a lot longer considering the depth of silicone.

[@KennedyMedina50]

Native Fish Keepers That makes a heck of a lot of sense! Alrighty, thank you so much. This is gonna be my first reptile and I’m so excited to make his cage. I’m definitely gonna use this video for help!

[@829smith]

Great idea. 4 years later would be interesting to get an update on what it looks like. Durability? issues?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

I pulled it from the tank this past summer and it held up great. No issues what so ever. You can see pics of another one I made that was the same age on Native Fish Keepers Facebook page

[@simplysunny125]

WHAT?! I want to see what it looks like when it's in the tank! Oh my gosh! I can't believe it just ended it like that! UGH! Can you add a link or something to show the picture of the final result??

[@NativeFishKeepers]

There is a link at the end of the video starting at 16:48

[@jimychandratjia325]

awesome. naturally shape. btw. what kind of foam i can use ?

[@NativeFishKeepers]

There are links to the materials I used in the description. As for the foam for the base I used white styrofoam sheets the stuff used for packaging.

[@jimychandratjia325]

Native Fish Keepers : thank you

[@bikeindublin]

You deserve more than a like

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thank You!

[@rayhughes8240]

Best video on an aquarium background ever. I noticed the Minwax sealer is no longer available. Apparently, the new replacement should not be exposed to water for very long. Could you tell me a replacement product and as I'm in Australia I will try to cross-reference the details if it cannot be purchased here.

[@NativeFishKeepers]

Thank you, I don't know of a replacement yet. but I do know of a guy not using any sealer and his is holding up nicely.

[@rayhughes8240]

@@NativeFishKeepers Thank you for the reply. It is very much appreciated. I don't want to push my luck with the questions But can I leave the salt out if I just want a basic freshwater aquarium with slightly smoother rocks

[@NativeFishKeepers]

@@rayhughes8240 yep