New here, got a background Q

AlwaysNForeverFrogs · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 03:47 PM

Now I know you all are thinking, "Great another newb with a background question" But wait, there's more. While I am new here, I'm not new to the hobby. I have however just started toying with the making of backgrounds with I guess you'd say styrofoam and those tools. Pretty freaking neat if you ask me.

Anyhow, my biggest question that I can't seem to find an answer to...does the background go all the way to the bottom of the tank? If I'm putting in a water feature and am going to have the false bottom, should my background be above the water line or should it be ok submerged? I know I've got more questions, but just can't come up with them right now, so as I remember what I don't know, I'll ask.

p.s. I haven't decided yet but I'm either going to be using a 30g tall or a 20g long. Oh and I plan on keeping a yet to be figured out species of Dart in there.

Dryn · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 06:18 PM

All the books that I've read recommend putting the background on top of the false bottom.

AlwaysNForeverFrogs · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2008, 12:02 AM

Ok, so now I've seen a background that is submerged. The most intriguing part however wasn't the background. It was the actual "land" part of the tank. Apparently done with the same technique as I've mentioned, the black silicone w/coco fiber sprinkled or whatever on it. This part of the feature was also submerged, with no ill effects according to the owner. So, I'm lost again, which way to go? lol I hate having to make these decisions!

Dryn · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 12:16 PM

I really don't think it matters. If you put the background below the water, you risk the "bad" water soaking back up the background and joining the runoff. Not to mention the difficulties in making a false bottom fit the contour of the background. It is just easier and probably safer putting it on top of the false bottom, but again, I don't think it really matters.

MBS · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2008, 03:14 PM

As long as you seal your background with Epoxy Resin or Polyurothene or something else along the same lines it should be fine for it to be submerged. Just run a filter in it for a while before you put anything living in it, and do lots of water changes until you're confident nothing else is going to leech into your water. There are lots of DIY guides on the web.

As far as the whole false bottom issue goes, I'm working on a paludarium right now and building the false bottom into the middle of my background. It's pretty simple if you do it right from the start (rather than trying to make your false bottom fit the contour of your background). All I did was use a piece of that pink insulation board and silicone the eggcrate to it, then do the details of your background on top of that. Also, I'm building a sort of retaining wall around the outside edge of the egg crate, which will serve to hide the egg crate as well as keep my substrate on my "land". Looking forward to an update when you know what you're going to do!