Building waterfalls, backgrounds, ect

[Kudzu]

I realize this is probably off topic for the group. If so steer me the
correct group please.

New house is almost finished and we planned a 6 foot tank as a divider. Open
on both long sides and one end. I am ready to buy a new 120+ G tank but now
I am tossing around another idea. I have two identical 65 gallons (3' wide
each) We are thinking placing these tanks beside each other. One tank as a
planted aquarium with the narrow side against the wall. Leave a space
between it and the second tank for plumbing and electric. The second tank
would be setup as a Vivarium/Terrarium setup. My idea is to have a water
fall on the side that the tanks join to (sort of) appear as if the water is
flowing from the joining aquarium down the waterfall into the pool on in
Vivarium/terrarium.

I am a wood worker so building stands and hoods etc. is not a problem. I
was thinking I would put a divider panel between the two tanks to hide the
wire and plumbing. The plumbing, filtering etc. I understand.

Problem is I have no experience in building backgrounds. I want something
very natural looking. I know that you can shape foam and seal it, add
texture. Silicon on rocks etc. but I need info on how to do this safely for
any animals. I have searched and found little information on the web so far.
If you have any sites that have some ideas on building terrains on this I
would greatly appreciate it!

[Billy]

"Kudzu" > wrote in message
...
|I realize this is probably off topic for the group. If so steer me
the
| correct group please.
|

Not at all. Hence the "misc". <g>
You could simply paint the back of the tank, but your idea may be
much more interesting. Keep in mind that a three-dimensional object
behind the tank will not be 100% visible at all times due to light
reflection. Take a look at these links:

http://www.max-discus-dream.de/mddnew/3D-back.htm
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/terrarium/msg1021032014969.html
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background2.php
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background.php
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/panis/pu_background.html
http://www.littleboxofbones.com/tank_rebuild2.html

Hope some of these can get your creative juices flowing. Can you post
pics as you get going? I love 'work in progress' pics.

billy

[Kudzu]

Good links! While not the same look I had in mind the construction methods
seem to be exactly what I was thinking. I just scanned them but I am going
to bookmark them and come back to maybe tonight. I am sure I can pick up a
lot from these links. It will probably be a couple of months or more before
I can actually start on this but I will probably do a web site on it. Step
by step type of thing.

Also not sure I explained this to well but the back of the this tank will be
open. Both long sides will be open and the back of the tank, so to speak,
will be one of the small ends. So you will actually be able to see
everything in this one. What I want to build will not actually be a
background but more or a hill on one side of the tank.. I want a water fall
to stream down leading into a small pool/pond.

Still tossing around ideas on this. BTW my first thought are to keep a few
small fish, like white cloud minnows and a few frogs along with the plants.
Something very tropical looking. Sounds cool anyway. :-)

[NetMax]

"Kudzu" > wrote in message
...
> Good links! While not the same look I had in mind the construction
methods
> seem to be exactly what I was thinking. I just scanned them but I am
going
> to bookmark them and come back to maybe tonight. I am sure I can pick
up a
> lot from these links. It will probably be a couple of months or more
before
> I can actually start on this but I will probably do a web site on it.
Step
> by step type of thing.
>
> Also not sure I explained this to well but the back of the this tank
will be
> open. Both long sides will be open and the back of the tank, so to
speak,
> will be one of the small ends. So you will actually be able to see
> everything in this one. What I want to build will not actually be a
> background but more or a hill on one side of the tank.. I want a water
fall
> to stream down leading into a small pool/pond.
>
> Still tossing around ideas on this. BTW my first thought are to keep a
few
> small fish, like white cloud minnows and a few frogs along with the
plants.
> Something very tropical looking. Sounds cool anyway. :-)


A few more links to help. Sounds very kewl. I'd love to see pictures of
that!
http://cichlidinspiration.net3services.com/show_articles.asp?category='Constructions%20-%20Background'
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/panis/pu_background.html
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/invent1.html
http://www.goddijn.com/aquarium/index.htm
http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/janne.html
http://www.african.uklinux.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=1926&forum=8&153
http://www.2cah.com/netmax/diy_projects/sculptures/sculptures.shtml
--
www.NetMax.tk