broskie
Well-known member
So I decided I didn't want to get completely out of the hobby. With the new business taking a lot of my time I wanted a slightly smaller less maintenance tank. So thanks to Rob at ARSA, I picked up a 30 gallon cube that will be perfect. I already have more then half the stuff I am going to use so I only needed the tank.
I am going to be using the following for the tank and decided I would make my first build thread.
As for equipment:
30 Gallon Oceanic
10-15 Gallon sump
Current 250 MH with LED Actinic
EcoTech MP20
Octopus 100 Skimmer
Mag 9 return pump
So the first thing I did was black out the back. I have painted a lot of tanks but always hated the time it took, the prep, and that it's not easily removable. I hate the cut and tape backgrounds but they are easily removable. But after a little searching I saw vinyl stick on film at the craft store and thought what the hell. So for $8 I said lets give it a try.
While I was installing it I decided to do a DIY on how to do it.
Materials needed
1.Black Stick vinyl $7.99 can be found at most craft store's (comes 12"X24")
2.Windex
3.Paper Towels
4.Sharp razor
5.Credit card or similar
1.The first thing to do was use the razor to clean of any left over silicone or debris from the back of the tank. Then clean really well with the windex.
2.Get the film ready by removing it from the packaging and fold one side of it down to apply.
3.Spray the tank with a generous amount of water and light detergent and start to apply the film. The film will move around easily so don't worry about it sticking immediately.
4.Use the credit cards to smooth out all the bubbles and cut excess vinyl from the edges (be careful).
5.The vinyl only comes in 12"X24" so you may depending on your tank need to use both pieces (I had to). For the next repeat the same steps overlapping the previous piece by about 1/2".
6.Use the paper towels to dry up all the water pushed out by the credit card and go over lightly. The total process took me about 30-45 minutes conservatively. But I am really impressed on how it came out, that its easily removable, and only $8.
Finished product
All pics taken with iPhone 4
I am going to be using the following for the tank and decided I would make my first build thread.
As for equipment:
30 Gallon Oceanic
10-15 Gallon sump
Current 250 MH with LED Actinic
EcoTech MP20
Octopus 100 Skimmer
Mag 9 return pump
So the first thing I did was black out the back. I have painted a lot of tanks but always hated the time it took, the prep, and that it's not easily removable. I hate the cut and tape backgrounds but they are easily removable. But after a little searching I saw vinyl stick on film at the craft store and thought what the hell. So for $8 I said lets give it a try.
While I was installing it I decided to do a DIY on how to do it.
Materials needed
1.Black Stick vinyl $7.99 can be found at most craft store's (comes 12"X24")
2.Windex
3.Paper Towels
4.Sharp razor
5.Credit card or similar
1.The first thing to do was use the razor to clean of any left over silicone or debris from the back of the tank. Then clean really well with the windex.
2.Get the film ready by removing it from the packaging and fold one side of it down to apply.
3.Spray the tank with a generous amount of water and light detergent and start to apply the film. The film will move around easily so don't worry about it sticking immediately.
4.Use the credit cards to smooth out all the bubbles and cut excess vinyl from the edges (be careful).
5.The vinyl only comes in 12"X24" so you may depending on your tank need to use both pieces (I had to). For the next repeat the same steps overlapping the previous piece by about 1/2".
6.Use the paper towels to dry up all the water pushed out by the credit card and go over lightly. The total process took me about 30-45 minutes conservatively. But I am really impressed on how it came out, that its easily removable, and only $8.
Finished product
All pics taken with iPhone 4
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