Questions on foam backgrounding?

[shimpy]

Hi all,
Im new to reefing and even newer to here so my name is aaron shimpy I had a SW 55gal for years fish only had to tear it down to move but ether way im lookin for a new tank/stand and I read a few threads on this sight about foam background project 101. Im a pretty handy guy and it looks easy enoph so for my next tank I will be temping this and had a fee questions now fpr my first question is you know those glass rocks u see in ur LFS well my idea is to get a few peaces of that and plan place them to where the rear of the rock exsposed so that I may instail LED's on the back and bottom of the tank so when the lights go out the crystles/glass rocks light up with an epic glow do u guy think this will work?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Anything is possible. But due to the nature of the foam, it would be difficult to do. You would have to get some super bright lights to be able to light up those rocks enough. Take plenty pics of your build to let us know how it turns out!

 

[gemmy]

That would be neat! You might also be interested in the shadow box.

 

[shimpy]

Deff will do i wont be starting for a while bc of the money to get a new tank and what not but when i do start i will deff keep you guys updated but as far as my question is will those glass rock cut or harm my fish in any way i would think not bc they use them in Fresh water all the time with no problems but due to the more personality of saltwater fish with them woundering and surfing alonge the surffaces of the LR and the Glass rock would it cut or hurt them??

 

[snakeblitz33]

If you think it would be an issue, take some sand paper and gently sand some of the sharper edges.

 

[shimpy]

great idea! dose the glass apose any chemical problems for saltwater?? o and here is a link to the kind of shape glass/crystels ill be looking for to attach to the back and bottom http://www.google.com/imgres?q=glowing+crystal+prism+picture&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=X&biw=1024&bih=571&tbm=isch&tbnid=RViWxSmMO_rA6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.secfenia.org/forums/viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D137%26t%3D2848&docid=jkelkJ56kHMk3M&imgurl=http://www.openexchange.org/Images/JAS09/crystal.jpg&w=400&h=533&ei=2qY9T9X8LuLx0gHavdjxBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=406&vpy=128&dur=4165&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=134&ty=177&sig=105276526835177752340&page=9&tbnh=130&tbnw=98&start=187&ndsp=24&ved=0CJQHEK0DMMkB
Now this is exzactly what i had in mind right here!
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=glass+hexagonal+rods&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1024&bih=571&tbm=isch&tbnid=Ie94DLuAzHUvFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.newtechdisplay.com/item/acrylic_hexagon_bar&docid=Sca79JrfdQ0c4M&imgurl=http://images.uptilo.com/newtech/153F4860-57E5-4ADD-97CA-48533E090B45.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=jq89T8_MIePY0QGDqPmpBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=235&vpy=212&dur=11045&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=133&ty=258&sig=103411780827603203789&page=2&tbnh=127&tbnw=114&start=16&ndsp=21&ved=0CI8BEK0DMBE
i want to make it look like a metore crash site or superman/alien looking the crystals will only glow between the time that the main light goes on/off and right befor no lights at all this will cause less stress i will prob just use per bright white but if someone on here could tell me how to get color changer's and exsplance how to get them to faze from one color to another it would be greatly appriceated... and i will probly get something to reflect the extra light and consontraite it to the small area that im trying to get it consontraited on to provide a better light crystle... Thoughts and ideas are always welcome there!
Thanks guys,
Happy reefing in more ways then one

Aaron Shimp
P.S. i suck at spelling i know if you have a problem with reading something just quot it and ill spell check it and let you know what it is that i was trying to say. TY for bearing with my crapy spelling

 

[snakeblitz33]

 

[flower]

LOL...Welcome to the site!
You are only limited by your imagination. There is however a drawback to consider if you try just solid glass sections. Rock is the natural filter for the tank and glass does not have the little nooks and crannies that rock provides for the critters to live in it. If you add rock and stack it in the tank, you cover your glass. That does not mean you can't maybe mix some nice reflective glass in with the rock.
It sounds like you have some great ideas that just need some tweaking. The glass will not hurt the critters, but no rock in the tank would. I would not attach LEDs to the back wall...I got a strip of blue LEDs (they have green, and red as well and even a multi colored one) that hang on the outside of the tank and hung it vertically on the side and angled it toward the back...the light bounces off the rocks at night. I bet that would look awesome with glass segments inbedded in a back rock wall.
You can always do a wall and leave open areas...then mount the lights on the back of the tank outside, and let the light shine from the openings in the wall.

 

[shimpy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/390541/questions-on-foam-backgrounding#post_3459432
LOL...Welcome to the site!
You are only limited by your imagination. There is however a drawback to consider if you try just solid glass sections. Rock is the natural filter for the tank and glass does not have the little nooks and crannies that rock provides for the critters to live in it. If you add rock and stack it in the tank, you cover your glass. That does not mean you can't maybe mix some nice reflective glass in with the rock.
It sounds like you have some great ideas that just need some tweaking. The glass will not hurt the critters, but no rock in the tank would. I would not attach LEDs to the back wall...I got a strip of blue LEDs (they have green, and red as well and even a multi colored one) that hang on the outside of the tank and hung it vertically on the side and angled it toward the back...the light bounces off the rocks at night. I bet that would look awesome with glass segments inbedded in a back rock wall.
You can always do a wall and leave open areas...then mount the lights on the back of the tank outside, and let the light shine from the openings in the wall.
Thanks glad to be here!
But ya i guess i should have been a little more clear on what i was trying to do lol sorry i was to exsited about the idea but ether way here it gose the hole kit and kaboodal!
I would like to craft a foam rock wall just like those shown on this fourm like i read on this thread https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/335216/foamback-project-101 but instead of doing just all chrushed LR i wanted to plan places where i can put the glass rock with the back exsposed on the backing of the tank so the lights will shine and make the glass glow at night not the hole wall just some peaces her and there to make it look like an "EPIC" mine shaft or Alien crash site or what ever like those found in Epic movies where the ore glowes but its still inbetted in the wall/dirt.
i wanted to use LEDs shuch as these ones http://www.dhgate.com/3-round-led-kitchen-under-cabinet-shelf-light/r-ff8080812d12f64a012d131f69c27520.html but mabe the ones with like 6 LEDs in them
so that is about it!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shimpy http:///t/390541/questions-on-foam-backgrounding#post_3459658
Thanks glad to be here!
But ya i guess i should have been a little more clear on what i was trying to do lol sorry i was to exsited about the idea but ether way here it gose the hole kit and kaboodal!
I would like to craft a foam rock wall just like those shown on this fourm like i read on this thread https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/335216/foamback-project-101 but instead of doing just all chrushed LR i wanted to plan places where i can put the glass rock with the back exsposed on the backing of the tank so the lights will shine and make the glass glow at night not the hole wall just some peaces her and there to make it look like an "EPIC" mine shaft or Alien crash site or what ever like those found in Epic movies where the ore glowes but its still inbetted in the wall/dirt.
i wanted to use LEDs shuch as these ones http://www.dhgate.com/3-round-led-kitchen-under-cabinet-shelf-light/r-ff8080812d12f64a012d131f69c27520.html but mabe the ones with like 6 LEDs in them
so that is about it!
I don't know about the LEDs...but the rock wall is pretty easy. You just have to make sure to leave room for your overflows, glass rock pieces would look great... I have made a rock wall, and it's pretty easy.