super excited tank build

[Firefly85]

Originally Posted by Vizja13

Lovely tank!!!

I love Java fern, I started with one in my planted 5.5...soon my other fish will have to adopt some they're growing so fast. Least it keeps algae levels down a bit :P I usually put the stringy roots under a small stone until it grows itself into the substrate...which in the 5.5 is a fertilized gravel I can never remember how to spell the name of...Flourite? Or is that for teeth >.>

thanks, and i think it is spelled right, floride is for your teeth lol
the only algae problem i ever have is darn hair algae which annoys me but is easy to remove.

[Vizja13]

Yeah, same here, now I've added the marimo

How did you paint the back? I've thought of doing a Galifrey scene on the tank I intend to give to my friend at the end of the summer (first it will be a fry tank, then she gets the tank and two fish xP). Both of us love Doctor Who.

[Firefly85]

Originally Posted by Vizja13

Yeah, same here, now I've added the marimo

How did you paint the back? I've thought of doing a Galifrey scene on the tank I intend to give to my friend at the end of the summer (first it will be a fry tank, then she gets the tank and two fish xP). Both of us love Doctor Who.

i just followed other forums advice, clean he outside glass several times with vinegar, i used paper towels, and the final time i let it dry for an hour or so before i started to paint.

i used line art/ coloring book for spongebob, patrick, gary, and squidward, and taped it to the inside of the tank, so i could trace the outside with paint. I did everything else free hand.

i used acrylic craft paint, and it took several, layers/coats, to get the look i wanted. just make sure what ever you want to show the best is on the first layer, and you wait until each coat is dry before adding another coat. I maybe did 3-4 layers, and some touch up on the characters. I also used a sealer coat.

I have read that acrylic paint will scrape off glass with a razor, if you want to change it later.
Also if you paint the back of an acrylic tank you are pretty much stuck with it, once it is on there.

[MattsBettas]

Looks great!