which color plexiglass for backdrop light transmission?
- Thread starter ReefEnabler
- Start date
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
thanks. I just got the smaller pillar on the left in the tank, and it works pretty good.
the other pillar I am going to have to shave the rock protrusion near the top down, by about 2". I made it just barely too big to go into the tank because of the bracing. My access to the tank is 3 holes 16.5" wide. I'll basically saw off the rock to the width I need it, and then use 1/2" pvc to make the sawn off piece kinda dry fit back in place once its in the tank.
the other pillar I am going to have to shave the rock protrusion near the top down, by about 2". I made it just barely too big to go into the tank because of the bracing. My access to the tank is 3 holes 16.5" wide. I'll basically saw off the rock to the width I need it, and then use 1/2" pvc to make the sawn off piece kinda dry fit back in place once its in the tank.
reef_research
New member
Awesome idea!
Awesome idea!
RyanBrucks- Great idea and initial pics! Can you go into more detail about the box construction (particularly the slanted piece)?
I wonder if a transluscent black plexiglass version would make good lighting for caves? Say, for areas that are mainly dark but need to be looked at occasionally for display/maintenance.
Just a thought,
Thanks,
Awesome idea!
RyanBrucks- Great idea and initial pics! Can you go into more detail about the box construction (particularly the slanted piece)?
I wonder if a transluscent black plexiglass version would make good lighting for caves? Say, for areas that are mainly dark but need to be looked at occasionally for display/maintenance.
Just a thought,
Thanks,
chudsosoft
New member
Wow. This is really great!
yousmellsfishy
New member
Can we see some new pics please?
NanoReefWanabe
Active member
wow .....where is your build thread...this is one i would certainly like to follow..
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
click the red house above.
reef_research,
What exactly would you like to see pictures of? I am not sure what you mean by 'slanted piece'.
YouSmellsFishy (and everybody else),
Sorry about the lack of photos. I have been rediculously busy at work with barely any time to work on the tank. Add to that I just got married and my wife is pregnant
Both pillars are in, last night I added the first layer of sand (about 4" of sugar fine argonite). I am letting it settle so I can see, then I need to go add two thicker types of sand on top to get the sandbed up to 5". A bit of crushed coral and rubble will be used as topping to help keep it in place.
The rest of the rocks will just be normal stacked rocks, but they will be on small PVC bases so they will be stable. I am in the middle of messing with some rockwork in the garage.
As soon as the tank clears I will show how it looks with the pillars in. And then it wont take long at all for the aquascape to be complete!
reef_research,
What exactly would you like to see pictures of? I am not sure what you mean by 'slanted piece'.
YouSmellsFishy (and everybody else),
Sorry about the lack of photos. I have been rediculously busy at work with barely any time to work on the tank. Add to that I just got married and my wife is pregnant
Both pillars are in, last night I added the first layer of sand (about 4" of sugar fine argonite). I am letting it settle so I can see, then I need to go add two thicker types of sand on top to get the sandbed up to 5". A bit of crushed coral and rubble will be used as topping to help keep it in place.
The rest of the rocks will just be normal stacked rocks, but they will be on small PVC bases so they will be stable. I am in the middle of messing with some rockwork in the garage.
As soon as the tank clears I will show how it looks with the pillars in. And then it wont take long at all for the aquascape to be complete!
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
I'm putting in more rocks today. From here out, I'll just be updating my build thread though:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13158955#post13158955
ReefRescue
New member
those overflow covers look amazing
Rickyrooz1
Acropora Nut
Nice
Rickyrooz1
Acropora Nut
Nice
ScarabRa
Member
Yeah I had this thread bookmarked also, like form the original date posted. This is my version, and how it is now.
This tank is 48" wide, and currently is using a temporary 36" light, a single old T5 bulb for the light source. The goal is to use a 49" long T5 bulb.
With it on:
With it off for comparison:
Construction:
So I was able to do the other thing I was really waiting to do for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg time!! a "lit" background
Even though the lit back is brighter in pics below, its becasue of my photog skillz. It looks more like the pic above, but its a little smoother transition than that with the eye. Well see how it looks with main lights on soon!!
Basically a "blue translucent" sheet of acrilic, with a light behind it, well more like a lightbox..
3" lightbox with back reflective cover removed
See the light at the top
when tank was not complete yet:
All skinned, buckled up, and done...with main tank lights on (still with temp 36" light):
This tank is 48" wide, and currently is using a temporary 36" light, a single old T5 bulb for the light source. The goal is to use a 49" long T5 bulb.
With it on:
With it off for comparison:
Construction:
So I was able to do the other thing I was really waiting to do for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg time!! a "lit" background
Even though the lit back is brighter in pics below, its becasue of my photog skillz. It looks more like the pic above, but its a little smoother transition than that with the eye. Well see how it looks with main lights on soon!!
Basically a "blue translucent" sheet of acrilic, with a light behind it, well more like a lightbox..
3" lightbox with back reflective cover removed
See the light at the top
when tank was not complete yet:
All skinned, buckled up, and done...with main tank lights on (still with temp 36" light):
Dave's Reef
New member
Very good idea Reefenabler! I really like what you've done and think it's a very original idea for sure!
Do you have any updated pics of your reef you could share with us???
Thanks
Do you have any updated pics of your reef you could share with us???
Thanks
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Not the answer to your question and just my opinion, but I have never seen a small tank with a blue background that looked good. You don't get the "deep blue" feel and instead the color of the corals does not pop and the tank looks smaller and washed out, not bigger and more colorful.
ScarabRa
Member
Mine pictured above is attached to the hood, and it hangs down, like a pengelum (spelling??)
I did not "attach it to the tank, other than boxing tape along the sides, its just setting against it otherwise.
It is difficult to keep the back glass clean, but Ive never done that before.
others keep al glass clean, so there use to it id assume
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
Yeah I had this thread bookmarked also, like form the original date posted. This is my version, and how it is now.
This tank is 48" wide, and currently is using a temporary 36" light, a single old T5 bulb for the light source. The goal is to use a 49" long T5 bulb.
With it on:
This looks awesome! Nice Job!
I'm curious, why did you bother to share this opinion years after I finished this project and considered it a complete success? Not only that, but the same day you posted this, hours earlier, somebody else (ScarabRa) posted beautiful images of this concept in action, then you post it won't look good? I can attest that it does not diminish the color of the corals. ScarabRa's images are the very definition of "Deep blue feel". Maybe a tad bright, but I can also attest that these backgrounds are virtually impossible to photograph as they appear in person. I had to do some photoshop to adjust mine to how it looks in person.
The most recent FTS I have is from 6 months ago when the tank was doing really well. In the last few months I've had some really busy times at work and water parameters haven't been so stable, so the tank no longer looks this good. Probably lost 1/2 the sps since this nice shot:
