Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 They are just SO crazy expensive! I'd rather send my money to Aquarium Co-op for cool goodies to go INside my tanks! 😍 I couldn't find what I wanted. And I didn't want to spray paint it black like we did our other tank So I figured "water" color would be appropriate for an aquarium.😁 I know poster board works too...I just wanted a little ombre action going on. The lighter color will go at the top. I might add another layer of color when it dries. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenP2003 Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 This is an awesome idea. My homemade backgrounds include a spray foam/sand 3d background, a concrete/foam background coated in flex seal liquid, a black plasti-dip background, and a black krylon fusion background (and that was a bad idea because it's never going to come off). Have you considered using thinner paper with the water color and letting a bit of light come through? Ever since I saw Aquapros ancient gardens on youtube, I've been interested in the background system he used -- the current-usa serene background, which combines a translucent background and a sunrise/sunset light on the back. I want to make a DIY version of it combining a water-color background and very soft, dim lighting behind it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 5 minutes ago, StephenP2003 said: Have you considered using thinner paper with the water color and letting a bit of light come through? I haven't ever considered that, but it should be very do-able, I'm sure. This paper does let some light through. I can use a light box to trace things, so I know it isn't completely opaque. I'm just a beginner, so I'm not sure which thin paper would work with watercolor paints. If you give it a try, be sure to share it with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 2 hours ago, akconklin said: They are just SO crazy expensive! I'd rather send my money to Aquarium Co-op for cool goodies to go INside my tanks! 😍 I couldn't find what I wanted. And I didn't want to spray paint it black like we did our other tank So I figured "water" color would be appropriate for an aquarium.😁 I know poster board works too...I just wanted a little ombre action going on. The lighter color will go at the top. I might add another layer of color when it dries. This looks so good! what kind of paper did you use? how do you attach it to the back of the aquarium? I hate trying to apply those sticky ones! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renatelynne Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 rice paper can take watercolors and will show through nata 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 I don't know if this counts, but I have Rubbermaid shelf behind my tank as a background. You can find them in the closet organization section at Home Depot. It just happened to be nearly the same size as my Mr.Aqua 12g. I'm using it because I setup the tank before I thought about a background and it was easy to slide behind it. Since it is not directly against the glass it makes a natural hombre from the shadow and adds a little more depth to this narrow tank. Also some plants grow out of the tank and fall between the background and glass with I think is neat. The hydrocotlyle in the second pic is outside of the tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 It's watercolor paper: Arches coldpressed 140 lb paper. My plan it to attach it to poster board, then tape it to the back of the tank. Very low-tech application. 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 3 minutes ago, Aubrey said: I don't know if this counts, but I have Rubbermaid shelf behind my tank as a background. You can find them in the closet organization section at Home Depot. It just happened to be nearly the same size as my Mr.Aqua 12g. I'm using it because I setup the tank before I thought about a background and it was easy to slide behind it. Since it is not directly against the glass it makes a natural hombre from the shadow and adds a little more depth to this narrow tank. Ohhhhh... great idea, @Aubrey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 41 minutes ago, renatelynne said: rice paper can take watercolors and will show through. That's a great idea! Didn't even think of rice paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSamsell Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 @akconklin, I have used inexpensive fabric coverings. They come in a wide variety of designs, colors, styles and most are washable, as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexa Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 Wow that looks great!! I was thinking about making something that looks similar, but with window privacy cling and spray paint... yours looks much easier! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishTankBarn Posted October 16, 2020 Share Posted October 16, 2020 I made the background in this tank using closed cell foam, pond spray foam and spray paint. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 16, 2020 Author Share Posted October 16, 2020 3 hours ago, DaveSamsell said: @akconklin, I have used inexpensive fabric coverings. They come in a wide variety of designs, colors, styles and most are washable, as well. That's a good point, @DaveSamsell, that material is washable. I wondered briefly if sealing the paint would be a wise move. If water hits watercolor paper, it will definitely alter the picture. I'll be doing a little research on that. Thanks for the idea. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 15 minutes ago, FishTankBarn said: I made the background in this tank using closed cell foam, pond spray foam and spray paint. Gorgeous, @FishTankBarn! You and @StephenP2003 are so talented with those backgrounds. I would like to try my hand at that some day too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishTankBarn Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, akconklin said: Gorgeous, @FishTankBarn! You and @StephenP2003 are so talented with those backgrounds. I would like to try my hand at that some day too. Thanks akconklin! Give it a try, you never know what you can come up with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenP2003 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 3 hours ago, FishTankBarn said: Thanks akconklin! Give it a try, you never know what you can come up with. I saw yours on the kg member stream and instantly recognized the technique. It's cool to see the different textures that can be achieved with it. I made one with real concrete first, and it was a bigger pain in the ass and didn't look half as good. Much easier to shape and cut the all-foam background too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 I tried the background this morning behind the tank. It was very pale! So I painted another layer, a little darker, & it's drying now. I also mounted it on foam board with double-sided tape. I had to weight it down overnight (fortunately I had a few bags of gravel handy! Excellent paper weights.) I'll do that again tonight to get the ripples out of the paper. I did a little research & ordered Krylon Gallery Series UV Archival Varnish Aerosol Spray, Gloss from Amazon. It should seal the paint & protect it from drips. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted October 26, 2020 Author Share Posted October 26, 2020 Finally got the background sealed & installed. It's way more subtle than I expected. But I think there are a couple of things affecting that: I've got a great bio-film going on the front & back glass, AND I think my water's a bit on the green side. 😏 Over all, I'm very pleased. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenP2003 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 That looks awesome! Great job. I definitely want to do something like this for my next tank (don't tell my wife there's a "next tank") 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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