My Shadowbox Background Project

Youre tank looks great. I will be trying something similar in my 600g tank in the next few mo. I decided to try a backlit tank awhile back after seeing the jellyfish exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Youve given me some great ideas and I will definitely be doing a build thread on this project.

Thanks Dave
 
Hey Karin, I'm new to reef central so have been reading through the thread to catch up the last couple of days. I think this is a fantastic effect and really produces a natural realistic look to your tank.

I'm due to start my new upgrade soon so am going to try and incorporate this into my own build.

just wondering what effect, reflecting the light off a blue chromed back panel or mirror would have onto the back of the blue acrylic screen?

Nick
 
Nick I have no idea!
Mostly I was trying to dull things and keep them from being too reflective but of course an area behind the sanded acrylic would be different.
Will be interesting to see what you do with it! Be sure to post a link :)
 
Awsome perception of depth with your shadowbox, no arguments there.

Scifi_3d_zoo did raise an interesting point though. Could you get a similar effect by using a printed decal?
I believe that it's to easy to dismiss that with the statement that it won't alow getting the desired 3d effect. Afterall, the shadowbox also only creates the illusion of depth. A good photograph tweaked using photoshop might be able to approach a similar effect. Clear advantages are that it will be cheaper, more easy to 'build', not requiring additional lighting and the tank can be positioned against the backwall. Possible enough advantages to overcome any potential loss in 3d effect?

I don't know if it would work, but some day I might try since I really, really like the effect you've achieved here.
 
Henk, I have no idea what would work or wouldn't work. It certainly would be worth a try and I would love it if you tried it and posted a link. :)

Personally though I think the lighting is the crucial part. I could totally skip the box and the fake rocks but I think the lighting from behind the tank makes all the difference - more so than any painting or photo could, simply because of the dynamics it adds to the tank itself, the glow falling onto the rocks/sand/corals, shadows created and lighting softened by having more than the top down direction of light.
It just gives less of a boxed in feel.
Kind of like the difference between a poster and a real window where the image might be exactly the same but the sunlight falling in is what makes all the difference, know what I mean?
I forgot who it was but somebody just used a translucent sheet of colored acrylic lighted from behind. I think that would probably be completely sufficient and one could skip the box and the fake rocks, etc.
 
There is that "blue gradient" background you can get and it does have a 3D depth to it. I think it does. It's the most used, along with black background. But all of this will make you think about a rock layout with the middle open.
 
Yes I got some of that. ;)
It's absolutely no comparison in my opinion.
When I talk about light I mean the light that actually falls into the tank. Not just a lighter background on top and a darker background on the bottom.
BUT: we all have different expectations and goals. For me I really wanted to get away from the boxed in one dimensional look that I got with paper and vinyl backgrounds. For that lighting was crucial.
However I am sure there are beautiful tanks that utilize paper and vinyl backgrounds wonderfully.
I still got some spare gradient blue paper backgrounds that I won't be using and you can have if you like :)
 
euromomtx, how high above the water have you placed the light for the background box? I've been thinking of using a horizontal algae scrubber trough, like this one. It would be nice if I could use the same T5 tube for both the background box and for partially illuminating the algae scrubber (in addition to the ordinary tank light, see photo in the linked post). I guess this means the tube must be positioned somewhere above the tank's edge. Do you think that arrangement will provide enough light for the background box?
 
Christian,
I think my bulb is about 5 inches above water. No special reason other than my ATI fixture usually hangs at that level above the water and I figured it will cover up the bulb from the front. I really didn't give too much thought to it. ;)
 
insirational

insirational

hi euro your thread has insired me to build my own shadow box fro my 75g I,m in the process of building . I am both currently building th box and converting an oak entertainment center into an enclosed stand.the stand is built I am staining it this week.the shadow box I have the plexi glass painted some blue I made up at my work. it painted nicely ,I was shocked.in the background I have purchased a model of the fling dutchman that i will build to look like a ship wreck plus I want to make some rocks probably out of building foam then i think i Will paint them in a darker blue to blend in better.my question for you is when you sanded your glass with the 400 grt paper did you do it by hand or a sander and how heavy of a sand job did you do. also I have been looking for some lighting sugestions for the shadow box. is it necassary to have a 2 light fixture in t5 what I was looking for is a cheap t5 48'' two bulb fixture but since i am already getting a48'' fixture for the tank it s self I don't want to spend a bunch more for a light just to decorate with. but i'll do what I have to. thanks for any help you can give. tim
 
Last edited:
Hi!
be sure to post a link to your thread! :)
In the end I used 800 grit with a random orbit sander. I didn't have much control with the sander so I wanted to us e the finest grit possible.
I got my retrofit 1 bulb fixture from ReefGeek.com
 
I really thought this was a cool idea. Aside from a huge piece of acrylic sheet, I had everything I needed so I thought I'd give it a go. Here is are some preliminary results. I used a VHO for the light because I was short a T5 endcap. Once I can swing by the LFS and grab one, I plan to switch it out as its not quite as intense as I'd like. Also, you can see the bulb under the tank trim. Also will work on the rock forms behind to make a little more lifelike. I was very impressed. The pop it adds to the tank can't accurately show in a pic.

Before

DSCF1050.jpg


After
DSCF1051.jpg
 
Nice! Huge difference :)

It's hard to explain to the people that compare it to a regular photo background but the lighting from behind the tank really changes everything

Looks great! Congrats :)
 
So what did you do? Create a big wood box or just have the piece of acrylic back there by itself? How did you make your rock structure too? I like in those other examples how they used a fake piece of gorgonia or some other tree like coral. Or another big rock structure in the back left too. Looks good just need a bit more.
 
euromomtx said:
Nice! Huge difference :)

It's hard to explain to the people that compare it to a regular photo background but the lighting from behind the tank really changes everything

Looks great! Congrats :)
Click to expand...

I agree. It really makes the tank feel much bigger and look more natural.


SCIFI_3D_zoo said:
So what did you do? Create a big wood box or just have the piece of acrylic back there by itself? How did you make your rock structure too? I like in those other examples how they used a fake piece of gorgonia or some other tree like coral. Or another big rock structure in the back left too. Looks good just need a bit more.
Click to expand...

I used the box technique with an acrylic cover. I used clear acrylic sanded to make it look "frosted". I'm definitely far from done. I want to do more work in the background to make the rock look more realistic. For this pic, I just cut out a shape and threw it back there to see how it would look.

I think it would also look a lot better with a T5 vs. VHO. I would prefer to use a reflector to angle the light towards the back as apposed to lighting the acrylic. It shows too many of the imperfections (aka scratches) in the acrylic.
 
serpentman said:
I agree. It really makes the tank feel much bigger and look more natural.

I used the box technique with an acrylic cover. I used clear acrylic sanded to make it look "frosted". I'm definitely far from done. I want to do more work in the background to make the rock look more realistic. For this pic, I just cut out a shape and threw it back there to see how it would look.

I think it would also look a lot better with a T5 vs. VHO. I would prefer to use a reflector to angle the light towards the back as apposed to lighting the acrylic. It shows too many of the imperfections (aka scratches) in the acrylic.
Click to expand...
yeah like you needed to make your tank look any sweeter to begin with...just incredible, cant wait to see what else you come up with for it...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Toxic paint /epoxy removal from reef rock?
Replies
2
Views
285
Reefing102
Reefing102
C
Aquarium Background
Replies
7
Views
541
OldReefGuy
O
cwegescheide
For Sale: Marshal Island / Tonga base rock, Tunze pumps, Sumps, Skimmers, etc
Replies
3
Views
197
griss
griss
wvned
My weir
Replies
6
Views
424
SantaMonica
S
L
Aqueon 215g Build Thread
Replies
7
Views
813
OldReefGuy
O
Back
Top