[Wet Thumb Forum]-DIY background/styrofoam (pictures)

[imported_Zhima]

HitATree (nice name btw), I heard a few people used epoxy glue or paint for the background board without any bad news, so I am assuming it's safe (I am just Monkey-C-Monkey-Doing). Plus they are used for boats, and that gives me the idea that it's permanent and waterproof.

Steeeeeve... yah, but the wood color is fading and it's getting chunkier, now it looks like xxx with corn cobs and stuff...

"Major color fading"

Current condition

Thanks for the comment Mike, thanks all the teaching from Jay I am still soaking it, but I'll put the photo up once it's set up in the tank. I changed the brand of my dye, and apparently, the black dye turned into blue again. I have no luck getting black to stay black, but I did change the purple color of the wood piece by adding yellow dye. It's my 3rd day soaking and I changed the water every day; it's still losing a bit of color. Since I am so finicky and fish loving, I'll have it set up only when there's no color leak. Meanwhile, I am integrating my diy reactor into the background board and trying to fit things in.

I am trying all possible ways to fit things the better looking way, so things get kind of slowed down. I'll post my reactor later too.

[This message was edited by Zhima on Wed December 17 2003 at 02:03 AM.]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jpmtotoro:
i still wanna know how you attached it. just good old silicone or something?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Model was cut perfectly to fit into tank. I was able to put it at the angle and then squeeze it in under black top frame.

Join as at www.njas.net

[imported_Zhima]

Hi Jay, I would love it if it turned brown or greyish like yours, since it would be natural looking too~!

Now... Problems problems problems that I have!

1.) U have lots of sand on it, whereas I only have 1 sand layer on my fourth, so my board shows some of the "pinkness" of the pink styrofoam.

Pink + brown = more purple
Pink + Black = dark blue

So I should have used lots of sand in the first layer to cover up pink!!

2.) U mentioned that u mixed lots of dye

3.) sand scratched my new tank glass really hard... I think I should not sprinkle sand on the very last layer, instead, I can use the toothbrush to lightly dap on the paint when it's close to dry. it would give off the bumpy look.

Now I am painting my 5th layer with a yellow dye, since yellow makes every other color more natural. I am expecting brown and a bit of green... I hope this will rescue me... Coz this board is

$25+60+20=105 dollars.(styrofoam, glue, dye).

I would looove to hear more about methods to rescuing this board. I'll post my photos later

<font color="#6699cc">

Zhima</font>

[Jon Mulzer]

You just dumped it??? That background was gorgeous. Had I decided not to use it I would have at least put it up on ebay or aquabid. I am sure it would have fetched a healthy price.

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15XH, 36W PC, XP-1, Onyx Sand, DIY CO2

Crypts spiralis, ciliata, balansae and wendtii bronze and red, pennywort, wisteria and java fern and moss.