Fun with DIY Reef backdrop

[Guest]

Sharing my recent experience and fun creating the reef backdrop for my new tank

Items i am using would be ;

- PU Foam
- Pen knife ( To cut off excess foam )
- Hand drill
- cable tie
- Hand saw
- Epoxy
- Dry Sand
- Dry and cured rocks
- Egg crates

[Hairul Hakim]

Sounds interesting. Would be handy for my upcoming 3 footer if it's not troublesome to do.

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[Hairul Hakim]

Any pics?

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[Guest]

Step one

Cutting the egg crate after measurement

Selecting and arranging suitable rock for the reef drop

[Guest]

Sawing the rock to flatted the base .

Arranging the rock on the egg crate

Some of the rock which is too big or thick to saw, the grinder really helps alot.

[Guest]

Drilling hole on the rock in order for the cable tie to be able to secure the rock on the egg crate.

Securing the rock to the egg crate using cable tie

[Guest]

Applying the PU foam the rock and crate

[Guest]

This is the PU foam which i used in this project. The " pond and stuff from great stuff " , which also stated "Safe for fish" . It is much more costly to ship in but at least i have a peace of mind comparing to use those commercial grade one .

[Guest]

Testing the DIY rock scape on the wall

Trimming the excess foam using pen knife

[Guest]

After a day of curing the foam letting it to dry. Next, we apply plenty of epoxy to the foam as a meant of protection from UV and for sand to stick onto.

[Guest]

The finished product

[sunny03]

Boss nice diy... but have make sure you put enough epoxy. . If not the form will disintegrate under your lighting. ..

make sure it does not float and no gab between the backdrop and tank wall ..

this is what I experience years ago when I do the backdrop. .

[Martian]

Nice...

[Guest]

Boss nice diy... but have make sure you put enough epoxy. . If not the form will disintegrate under your lighting. ..

make sure it does not float and no gab between the backdrop and tank wall ..

this is what I experience years ago when I do the backdrop. .

You are right, out of the 3 pcs we make the first pcs is floating in the water lol.

So now I have to make another new pcs.

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[flo_reeftank]

Very nice

[YHS]

WOW! nice backdrop! i hope to see em in person soon...

[Admiraltian]

Nice DIY backdrop.

[Regal]

well done...

[Jameshong]

Hard work pay out...nice master piece...!

[solasido]

Great sharing. Thanks bro!

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[DerrickLim]

Speechless, Bro. Any specific fish safe epoxy that u have chosen?

[Hairul Hakim]

Nicely done

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[Guest]

I started with those normal two part epoxy found on the hardware store, but later then I realised that I would need hundred tube in order to fill my backdrop.

Upon searching for information, I found the fiber glass resin which is use for water tank manufacturing which also certified safe for use in water drinking storage tank. This really help save a lot of money

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[peebee]

Wow.. That's dedication... Great job

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[[V]tEc]

Its going to be awesome when its covered with coraline. But at the same time, ita going to be hell of a work to maintain the perimeters for a reef tank this big.