Wanted: Easy DIY Background

RChandler · Post by **RChandler** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:08 am

I have a 55gal with the back panel painted black (On the outside). It makes the tank look really dull, especially in comparison to the natural backgrounds that you can stick on the tank. Removing the paint is not an option unfortunately.

I am looking for an easy to do DIY background (preferably climbable) that will not take up too much width of the tank (stupid narrow tanks). I would like it to look natural, though I am pretty limited in what I can do. I really cannot use any silicone, or other relatively permanent options, as this is not my tank.

It seems like I am stuck using some sort of hanging net/plant combination, but I would like it to cover the entire back wall. I have also heard of some nets being potential crab-dangerous, and would like to avoid those. Hemp/Jute nets seem like a good idea, but I can't knit/weave/whatever, and it would cost a pretty penny for a 48" x 17" woven net I'm sure.

If anyone has any ideas at all, I'd love the consider them, this dull black background has the whole tank looking sad

PS: How do you crabitat artists hide your second levels so well? I have a plant woven through one of mine, and the white sticks out badly. Maybe I just need more plants

PPS... Is there any way to make a nice climbable addition that will nicely hide an air bubbler hose? All of the tanks posted on here make it look so easy to keep things natural looking

Silver Buttons · Post by **Silver Buttons** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:14 am

Go to the nearest fabric store and see what they have that your crabs might enjoy climbing, such as a heavy canvas. Burlap might work, but I've heard it can be treated with chemicals. Even a regular cotton/polyester fabric in a leafy pattern might look good. Make sure you wash the fabric before using it, to remove any sizing, and rinse thoroughly in clear water (no fabric softener). You could then use silicone (aquarium-safe) adhesive to glue small seashells all over it for extra gripping surfaces. Seashells can be bought at Walmart or craft stores by the bag. If you keep the fabric sprayed with salt water, mold shouldn't be a problem, but check every day to make sure.

Would your friend allow you to scrape off the black coating that's on the back? Could just buy the tank from him/her? If you used a jute or hemp net, you would not need to use much silicone, just enough to adhere the net along the upper edge. If you end up returning the tank to your friend, you could easily remove the small amount of silicone. Could you pay a friend to knit or crochet you a hemp net?

There is a thread here called "Shower caddy disguise," in which I posted pictures of how I made my moss pit and fresh-water dish look more natural by gluing shells, pebbles, and leaves to them. You could probably glue a leafy vine to the tubing to hide it. I have some vines in my crabitat, and have seen the crabbies hanging upside-down under the leaves!

edjskier · Post by **edjskier** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:05 pm

I only have a ten gallon but i use pressed coconut fiber. The crabs love it and looks nice with some plants!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:12 pm

I was thinking on putting this stuff on the back and sides of my tank.

http://www.gardenartisans.us/cocofiberroll.aspx

suebee · Post by **suebee** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:27 pm

I have plastic leaf mats in the back of my tank, the crabs hide in them and climb all over them..

wendyj · Post by **wendyj** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:59 pm

Suebee my sweet, could you please show a pic of the plastic leaf matts? I cannot picture what it may be but it sounds interesting.
Thanks
Zred

suebee · Post by **suebee** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:20 pm

I have some good photos of them in my etsy shop suebeebuzz@etsy.com
I got them at a very cheep price due to the packages being opened so when i had the chance I bought them all and added them to my etsy shop at cost. They have leaf mats at petsmart and pet co but they are more then twice the price.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:00 pm

I tried the coco mat on the back of my tat but it molded! It looked nice and I did spray it with salt water but the thing got mold between the back and the glass. Now I have a 20L with cork wood thing and netting. I shaped my sand so there is a hill in the middle of the tat. I buried a pot in the middle of the hill for a good hiding spot. On one half I have my quite large, but much loved, shower caddy moss pit. On the other side I buried the corner of the cork in and propped it up against the back. They LOVE sitting on top of it to sleep. Across the top I have a net that I got at Wal-Mart. The net is cut short so it just hits the top of the cork and they like to climb behind it. The cork is fairly new and I soaked it in salt and I check it for mold, so far so good. Also, to attach my net I used 2 suction cups with hooks and attached them to the back side of the tank upside-down. The net is looped over them. The only downside to this is that I have to be sure the back of the cover is extra secure.

And to hide my shower caddy I took a plant and stuck it down in the basket in the holes. I used 2 small clear 3-M hooks to attach more net to the front. These hooks have not molded and although you can see them they are not too bad.

Some day I'll have to find my camera and post some pics.

KrisDutt · Post by **KrisDutt** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:05 am

suebee wrote:I have some good photos of them in my etsy shop suebeebuzz@etsy.com
I got them at a very cheep price due to the packages being opened so when i had the chance I bought them all and added them to my etsy shop at cost. They have leaf mats at petsmart and pet co but they are more then twice the price.

Sue, do you have enough in your etsy store to cover the back of a 55? I've seen your mats and I love that idea and I've been debating because well my netting in the back is great but it doesn't look too pretty and it doesn't have enough support to hold my bigger guys

I would much rather use the big netting I have to work on a bigger 2nd story for them and be able to reinforce a backgound better.

RChandler - My one 2nd story the white sticks out badly, I have vines and such but it doesn't look natural at all

But hey as long as they like it I'm good with it.

My moss pit on the other hand looks great, Its a wire basket and I put plastic on the bottom so there little legs wouldn't go down and get stuck and wove vines throughout it and its looks pretty good.

RChandler · Post by **RChandler** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:56 am

I've now hotglued loads of silk plants on all the unnatural looking parts of the tank, and added plastic plants in excess to naturalize the background. I'll be posting pictures in the pictures section sometime in the next month, hopefully of the whole tank and all the crabs if they're up. Will need to get a hold of a better camera though

KrisDutt · Post by **KrisDutt** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 12:22 pm

Sounds interesting, can't wait to see pics

Post by **curlysister** » Sun Sep 26, 2010 6:26 pm

Is hot glue safe in the crabitat?

suebee · Post by **suebee** » Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:35 pm

Yes i have plenty of the leaf mats.. Just measure the back and then you will know how many you need. I over lapped them in the back of my 40 gal tanks but you could cut them too. In the 40 gal i used 4 with some over lapping.. They are 10 inch by 10 inch and you get two in the order for just under 9.00. Email me if you have any questions.. Suebee