My Web Blogg is up!

[Ozdude]

Hi guys, just a quick one to let you know my web page(s) are up.

They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low budget
stuff is there.

Regards,

Oz

[Ozdude]

And it would help if I gave you the URL wouldn't it! :) sorry ---

http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

enjoy!

Oz
"Ozdude" > wrote in message
u...
> Hi guys, just a quick one to let you know my web page(s) are up.
>
> They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low budget
> stuff is there.
>
> Regards,
>
> Oz
>

[Eric Schreiber]

Ozdude wrote:

> They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low
> budget stuff is there.

You might want to consider changing the color choices to something with
more contrast. I'm just a little bit color-blind, and I can't read it
at all unless I select the text.

Appealing as they seem, colorful pattern backgrounds are rarely a good
idea.

--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

[Ozdude]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Ozdude wrote:
>
>> They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low
>> budget stuff is there.
>
> You might want to consider changing the color choices to something with
> more contrast. I'm just a little bit color-blind, and I can't read it
> at all unless I select the text.
>
> Appealing as they seem, colorful pattern backgrounds are rarely a good
> idea.

Fixed.

It's high contrast now.

Oz

[Dan J.S.]

"Ozdude" > wrote in message
u...
> Hi guys, just a quick one to let you know my web page(s) are up.
>
> They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low budget
> stuff is there.
>
> Regards,
>
> Oz
>

Looks good!!

[Eric Schreiber]

Ozdude wrote:

> Fixed.
> It's high contrast now.

Hehe, yeah, you don't get much higher contrast than black on white :)

I'd like to know more about the styrofoam backing. Is it insode or
outside of the tank (hard to tell from photos). If inside, did you seal
it with anything? If outside, do you plan to color or paint it?

I'm looking to steal some background ideas for my 30 gallon bluegill
tank, which right now is very barren.


--
Eric Schreiber
www.ericschreiber.com

[Ozdude]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
>
> "Ozdude" > wrote in message
> u...
>> Hi guys, just a quick one to let you know my web page(s) are up.
>>
>> They are quickly done, but at least the photos of all this DIY, low
>> budget stuff is there.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Oz
>>
>
> Looks good!!

Ta. It's early days yet but as I go I'll inform you all of what I am up to.

Tomorrow I am going to clean the filters because I think that's the source
of my high Nitrate readings.

It's never ending all this ;)

Oz

[Ozdude]

"Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
...
> Ozdude wrote:
>
>> Fixed.
>> It's high contrast now.
>
> Hehe, yeah, you don't get much higher contrast than black on white :)
>
> I'd like to know more about the styrofoam backing. Is it insode or
> outside of the tank (hard to tell from photos). If inside, did you seal
> it with anything? If outside, do you plan to color or paint it?

It's outside, and yes, I plan to paint it.

I used a cheap water proof glue which stated it was safe to use on foam to
stick the bits on and then carved them with a couple of box cutter/"stanley"
knives.

I am searching around for the cheapest water based acrylic sample paint pots
I can find, as funds are bit limited here right now.

I have found the paint and the sample pots so when more money comes I'll get
two shades of one colour. It will be darker at the top than at the bottom.

Having the time lapse between construction and finishing has actually been a
good thing because initially I planned to paint it a creamy brick sort of
colour, but on test runnning it white behind the tank with the dark top
substrate, I think two shades of grey would be better.

I am also getting a heat gun because it's a bit too angular for my liking
and I figure it will paint better if the foam is smoother, and I am not
going to micro carve it with knives when a quick blast of hot air will do
the trick ;).

I have learnt a few things about backgrounds in making this one though:
chief amongst them that what ever colour you make it; in/through water it's
at least 3 shades darker and that dark backgrounds are the best backgrounds.
It looks really dazzling white as it is at the momement and I'm sure the
reflected light is good for the plants, but it simply throws too much light
into the living area and lessens the sense of depth in the tank itself.

As for it being externally mounted; this is for a few reasons:

1) I can turn it around and stick normal tank backing on or paint a solid
colour if I get sick of the rocky pattern
2) The foam helps to keep the temperature stable and warm in colder weather
3) I can micro light and plant it with LEDs and artificial plants from the
$2 shop
4) It gives more of a sense of depth to me than an internal mount
5) It's very easy to hide all wiring and tubing behind it without placing
pressure on the leads and tubes
6) There is no strain or wieght on the back pain of glass.

I plan either next money or the money after it to get a blue cold cathode
tube happening (less than 0.01w) for "moon light" lighting and I think it
will be better to mount this tube either on the back of the lighting hood or
the very top of the backing foam. I'll have to experiment for best effect.

There is a fair amount of ambient light coming into the front of the tank if
I am watching TV so I am counting on the blue light washing that out a bit
because I am not sure if the fish are watching TV or not :) (it could
freighten them I would imagine).

> I'm looking to steal some background ideas for my 30 gallon bluegill
> tank, which right now is very barren.

Well of course I would recommend a styro back for the 5 reasons above, but I
look at it this way: putting stuff into the tank takes up valuable water
space, as well as headaches about sealing foam with concrete or more
expensive fibreglass resin(weight and stress on the rear pain of glass).
It's better than painting the glass directly as well because you either
repaint it or stick something over it, or completely replace it when your
done with it for what ever reason.

My tank actually came with one of those printed plastic backgrounds (you can
see it in some of the photos - it looks like tons of plants) and my first
instinct was to turn the styrofoam around and stick it to the flat side of
my construction. I couldn't do that if the backing was in the tank.

There is also every possiblity that I may change the design some time in the
future, so I just manufacture a new creation and replace it for the one
that's there, in about 2 seconds.

So I can't condone putting backing constructions in tanks when externally
they are so much easier, functional, configurable and useful as a shield
both visual and thermal.

Oz

http://members,optushome.com.au/ivan.smith

[default]

Ozdude wrote:
> "Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
> ...
> > Ozdude wrote:

> > You might want to consider changing the color choices to something
with
> > more contrast. I'm just a little bit color-blind, and I can't read
it
> > at all unless I select the text.
>
> Fixed.
>
> It's high contrast now.
>
> Oz


OW! My eyes!!

:)

[Ozdude]

"default" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Ozdude wrote:
>> "Eric Schreiber" <eric at ericschreiber dot com> wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Ozdude wrote:
>
>> > You might want to consider changing the color choices to something
> with
>> > more contrast. I'm just a little bit color-blind, and I can't read
> it
>> > at all unless I select the text.
>>
>> Fixed.
>>
>> It's high contrast now.
>>
>> Oz
>
>
> OW! My eyes!!
>
> :)
I'll fine tune it, like the tank as things and time goes on ;)
Oz
--
My Aquatic web Blogg is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[Tom Randy]

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 23:39:27 +1100, Ozdude wrote:

> And it would help if I gave you the URL wouldn't it! :) sorry ---
>
> http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith
>
> enjoy!
>
> Oz
>

I like the styro backdrop! Nice! Look forward to more photos and notes!

Tom