wmcinnes

so does Red Coral on Fort Road!

No, the concrete was quickcrete quick setting cement

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=82206&d=1235610176&thumb=1

and the color was a powder pigment that I mixed in with the cement. i found the pigment at RONA in Edmonton.

2" thick rigid insulation

sorry for the long time it took me to reply, I had no indication that anyone wrote on here..

Used a jigsaw to cut out the main shapes and then sanded them down to created the rounded edges. Once it was all sanded down I took a small handsaw known as a compass saw and just cut random peices off and cut deep lines into the styrofoam giving the 'rock' some imperfections. Once that was done I ran a blow torch quickly over it to make a truer look.

The styrofoam was just rigid insulation I got from the local hardware store.

The cement was colored with cement pigment. I used the colors buff and terra cotta and then covered them with a black pigment layer leaving some of the other colors showing to give it a realistic/dimensional look.

Do not worry about browns as much because your rocks will be covered in a brown algae over time anyway.

Canreef is the place to go for sure for information on this topic. I have the same username on there as well if you have any questions!

Hi!

More information on your potential system is needed in order to properly assist you!

Is this going to be:

FO? (Fish Only)

FOWLR? (Fish Only With Live Rock)

Reef? (Softies, LPS, SPS)

Will the system have a sump, etc

The hardware you require is dependant upon the type of livestock you will be keeping in the tank. Itll be easier to help you once we know what you are planning to keep!

i found a couple youtube videos on how to do this, so search on youtube!

lambs wool buffing pad on my 5000rpm buffer and cesium oxide (a type of jewellers rouge) worked for me after a ton of effort and time.

Any stocking plans?

Electric Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caerulus)

Blue Dolphins (Cyrtocara moorii)

Kimpuma (Labidochromis sp. 'Hongi')

Afra Edwardi (Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue')

Malawi Golden (Melanochromis auratus)

Cuckoo Catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus)

Electric Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caerulus)

Blue Dolphins (Cyrtocara moorii)

Kimpuma (Labidochromis sp. 'Hongi')

Afra Edwardi (Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue')

Malawi Golden (Melanochromis auratus)

Cuckoo Catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus)

texas holey is most preferred!

Anyone know who supplies lace rock or texas holey rock in Edmonton?? I want some for Mbuna!

Also a supplier of Lava Rock would be good too!!

Thanks guys!

What did you use to cover the Styrofoam with?

its quickcrete cement with a charcoal pigment and buff pigment undercoat

haha it is just a face statue. its from my other tank i used it as well as a few other things to seed the tank for cycling!

Cool. Have you thought about building aquarium and stands?

one day ill end up building a big one for myself, but not at the moment!

Pictures of my tank background are in the DIY forum!

Heres my first completed styrofoam DIY background! Tank is still cycling.

(Sorry for some blurriness in the photos, the camera does that automatically with no flash)

Yes it is a styrofoam DIY background. I researched a ton of websites and success/failure stories online and took a stab at it myself.

I will get some pictures up soon! Internet has been down at home for over a month now and the only time I get a chance to come on here is at work!

I will do my best!

dang i missed it!!

Hows this look for a stock list??

5 CYPHOTILAPIA GIBBEROSA "KAREMA"

2 CYPRICHROMIS LEPTOSOMA "LIVUA"

2 SYNODONTIS MULTIPUNCTATUS

2 TROPHEUS DUBOISI "MASWA

2 TROPHEUS MOORII "KAZUMBE"

3 TROPHEUS SP. BLACK "PEMBA"

4 NEOLAMPROLOGUS LELEUPI "KARLIANI"

2 ALTOLAMPROLOGUS COMPRESSICEPS "CAPE CHAITIKA

1 NEOLAMPROLOGUS PULCHER

Hello Alberta Aquatica!

My name is Wayne, I am 20 years old and am fairly new to the hobby.

About a year ago I bought my first aquarium, a 55 gallon, which now houses a lone male Tiger Oscar and a beautiful Sailfin Pleco.

Reading articles online and growing more fond of the hobby, I came across DIY backgrounds and decided I needed to try it out! Great excuse to purchase a new tank right?

I decided to move the 55 into my bedroom to make room for the new 125 gallon 6 foot tank in the basement. The next month or so I worked my butt off to create a DIY background and it as turned out amazing.

Currently I am about 10 days into the fishless cycle and making good progress. Once im finished I have decided to go with a Rift Lake habitat and house Lake Tanganyika Cichlids.

I cannot wait to get fish in the tank and am glad to know there is a society of fish geeks like me in Alberta! :smokey: