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Finally started DIY background, but am i doing it right?

9K views 67 replies 13 participants last post by  cichlid85 
#1 ·
Hi everyone!

I have wanted to do this DIY background for so long! Finally decided to do it! So I am at the part where you paste your concrete on. I followed directions closely within diy articles in the library. So i have my 1st layer on. I misted it so it doesnt dry too fast. Couple things:

Am i doing this right? It seems to almost crumble off. I tried sandpapering it down first before concrete, as i am using white styrophome. Also the concrete has alot of rocks in it. Is that normal?
This is only my first layer and it has been drying abt 2 hrs now and i have misted w water to slow the drying.
Lastly, i am attempting to add this to an established tank. (I know to soak it first and be sure ph ismt too high)We'll see if this thing stays in or it might be too boyant. Eh, I really hope this works and im not wasting my time!

Thanks!
 
#3 ·
What kind of concrete did you buy? Just curious....

Maybe you can try drylok? I know concrete can crack and crumble if not the right consistency and not allowed to cure correctly. I am considering doing a DIY background and will probably use drylok or a thin-set mortar like used for scratch coats and for hanging vertical tiles/stacked stone.
 
#4 ·
Hi!

Thats a good idea. If this diy doesnt come out right i will use that.
I used Quikcrete concrete mix. Is that ok to use? I went ahead and applied my 2nd coat. This time I made it morewatery. Dont know if it was that, or because its the second coat, but it seemed to go on and take easier than the first application.

Is Quikcrete concrete mix ok to use for this? Is it going to chip off at some point? Also, what did any of u use for coloring concrete and where can i get it?

Thanks for the help!
 
#7 ·
I will check out ACE, thanks!

I am using my droid phone to post, i dont have Internet at home at this time. I can take some pics with my camera phone. Just have to figure how to upload them. This is a 15 gal tank i am doing the background for. I use to have 55gal african setup and i had a 36 gal. Sincemoving, im starting over, small at first but hope to get at least 55 or larger sometime end of this year.

So this diy is kinda my test to see if i can make it work in my small tank. I dont really like the idea of siliconing permanantly to the back of a tank, i like to change it up sometimes.

Let me see if i can get a pic on here for you guys to show u what *** been workin on here...2nd coat was applied lastnight. Still worried about cracking and chipping off.
 
#11 ·


This is it so far! Its a 15gal TALL tank. Photobucket worked for this, thanks .

I will try to get the concrete dye tomorrow and post a pic!

As u can see, the angle kinda distorts the pic, it looks better in person. The concrete was still drying and comes out a very light, cold silver color. Def. Needs some dye to enhance it.
Also, i think i will go ahead an leave the back styrophome. Dont want to cratch the glass. ( i guess ur not supose to concrete the back anyway I have to assume. )
 
#13 ·
Hi 13razorbackfan!

Well, i think i will add brown with a bit of red undertone. That or just black to darken it up..still looking into it. I have some pics i found online for diy backgrounds from other sites. I like a natural look tho of course. I will see maybe i can post those so u can see too.

This is for a south or central american tank. Otherwise i would have made more rocky looking to look like the african lakes. Also i wanted it more simple to start to save some room in my modest size tank (15gal)
 
#14 ·
I went to ACE hardware today for the cement coloring. They had 2 left and neither were the right color. So i went to lowes. I got quikcrete cement color in charcoal and in red. I did my 3rd layer of concrete just now. It came out too red so i am doing another coat when this dries. Also i want to try to give some dimention to the color to add depth and make it look realistic, not uniform and plain looking.

I have a pic i will post soon.

I am worried about chipping. I used quikcrete cement mix. That has a ton of rocks in it. Is this OK to use if i sifted the rocks out, or will it crumble?
 
#16 ·
Ok I dont think this is going to work. Can someone help?
I have been worried about chipping. I just tested a corner that is dry with 3 layers of quikcrete concrete mix. It totally cracked and chipped off all the way to the styrophome! It came off so easily, almost like it was just dried mud crumbling off! What did I do wrong? Can i fix it w/o starting all over? I have put alot of effort into this diy and im worried i wasted all my time!
 
#18 ·
Hi! I asked a worker at ACE he told me motar mix would come off. Honestly i dont know what drylock is. Can i get it at lowes? Can u dye it with the concrete coloring? Or is there something i can put over this diy to set it? So it wont chip?
 
#19 ·
cichlid85 said:
Hi! I asked a worker at ACE he told me motar mix would come off. Honestly i dont know what drylock is. Can i get it at lowes? Can u dye it with the concrete coloring? Or is there something i can put over this diy to set it? So it wont chip?
Here ya go....3/4 way down page on page 2 of thread. It is a 3 page thread. It deals with where he bought his plus colors.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/view ... &&start=15

Hope this helps.
 
#21 ·
Thanks both of u for the links and youre help! Its back to research for me but i will redo this with the drylock if i can find it. Im going to read those links. Then i will re-post a pic of the final outcome!

At least i learned concrete is not for me!
 
#25 ·
Just wanted to say I'm a little disappointed its chipping off, I really liked how it was turning out - had a really nice texture and color either the natural gray or the red, both looked very natural.

Just wanted to say with concrete, its like a rock, they look different dry vs. wet. What I mean is, you didn't like how light the concrete looked as it cured and dried, but remember when you stick it in your tank it will be wet and look a little darker.

I know you're going with drylok now, but just in case you ever try concrete again in the future there you go. Drylok is probably better anyways, won't have to worry about the curing process of concrete raising your pH. Drylok is basically paint though, so it'll take a more artistic touch than I have to make it look as good as your concrete one was looking.
 
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