DIY - Projects & Ideas • My next DIY background

[mightyevil]

So, amazingly I am making a new background for my 110 gallon...reason? I started liking the first one I made for the 110 gallon less and less every day! Started to look very unnatural. I think this one looks a lot better, natural wise.

Here are some pictures...

Left side

Middle

Right side


I decided to go with drylok for this background due to the extensive detail and I must say, drylok is extremely easy and preserves detail amazingly.

Here is the background with its first coat, charcoal black.




Here are the tools used...


Let me know what you guys think!

[Wolffishin]

Looks great.

What did you use to get the Drylok that color?

[mightyevil]

Thank you!

I used cement pigment, Quickrete charcoal pigment.

[mightyevil]

So, I played around with the texture and this is what I came up with this...

Full shot

Left side

Middle

Right side


Shot without flash

[myfirstgixxer07]

[myfirstgixxer07]

[mightyevil]

:o

:drooling:

LOL...thank you!

[Wolffishin]

Sorry, have to ask again...
How'd you get that new color? Spray paint this time?

Looks fantastic after the added color.

[trigger]

Looks great. Can't wait to see it in the tank.

[clgkag]

That looks as good or better than the $400 back to nature backgrounds. Outstanding job.

[gnomemagi]

Best one I've seen IMO.

More detail on how you did the detail work?

[mightyevil]

Sorry, have to ask again...
How'd you get that new color? Spray paint this time?

Looks fantastic after the added color.

See, the first time I took bowl full of Drylok and added the black charcoal pigment straight to the white Drylock. I then put a semi second coat of almost the same color (charcoal). My third coat I mixed 1/4 of a small cup of white Drylok with Quickrete "Buff" pigment and a few drops of "charcoal" pigment. Note that the pigment intensely changes the color of the Drylok so you need to use extremely small amounts of pigment. The way I applied the third coat was...Dip the tips of the brush in the Drylok and then smear it on a piece of paper, towel, cardboard, etc... and the brush will seem dry, but its not. Then in fast long strokes brush it against the background, repeat until desired effect is achieved. I also used the plain white Drylok in some places as to give the background highlights and a more realistic look applying the same technique.

[mightyevil]

Looks great. Can't wait to see it in the tank.

Thank you... I was going to do it this weekend but I will be gone on a family trip so I will do it next week or next weekend at the latest...hang in there!

[mightyevil]

That looks as good or better than the $400 back to nature backgrounds. Outstanding job.

Thank you, I almost gave up on it for a minute when I added the Great Stuff to the background...you just can't mold it very well but those parts came out looking decent.

Best one I've seen IMO.

More detail on how you did the detail work?

Thank you!

I just posted the details for the Drylock technique above. The technique for carving the styrofoam is also easily achieved with the soldering iron, there is a picture in my first post if you are wondering what it looks like. Simply melt the styrofoam down with the soldering iron, when the styro melts it will create a rough texture all by itself which will play a critical role when applying the colored Drylok. This effect will not be easily achieved with concrete, but it can be done...just a heck of a lot easier with Drylok, believe me!!!

[Wolffishin]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, that really helps me out.
...even though I don't think I'll be able to pull it off as nicely as you did.