Try to imagine how these aquascapes would look viewed from beneath the water, referring if necessary to photographs. Any permanent fixtures, such as pieces of driftwood or plastic plant, should be added while the paper mix is still wet. When it does dry, mix up the filler so that it is slightly runny. The sculptured scenery is then coated with a thin layer to leave a smooth finish. Once the diorama has hardened off, it will be ready to paint.
Emulsion is best, as it dries quickly and can be blended or diluted.
Figure 7 When you are satisfied with your artwork, all that remains is for the diorama to be placed in position behind the tank. You will probably notice that the dioramas base will be visible, and to hide this add handfuls of dry gravel over the bare wood to the same level as that in the aquarium. If your light source is directly above the back glass, the illumination will be even throughout. Alternatively, a separate light source of the same or similar output to that of the tank can be placed over the diorama. Correctly placed lighting will make it even harder to detect the presence of a backdrop.