background

[dcreptiles]

HI i'm new to creating actual vivariums with backgrounds and the whole 9 yards. My 2 questions are

When making the background these are the steps and supplies i understand i need, please correct if im wrong
black silicone
black version of great stuff
and co co bedding

step 1
apply black silicone everywhere that i want the background to be so 3 sidea.

step 2
apply the black great stuff everywhere that i want the background to be, let it dry for 24 hours with good ventilation
in this step do i put in pieces of cork, wood, bamboo, air plants etc...

step 3
apply silicone completly over the dried great stuff and then throw on the co co bedding.
or in this step do i place all the extras.

planting

materials
plants
a crate, used in florescent lighting, decorative material plastic squares, used for drainige. is this the best material to use for proper drainage.
clay balls for drainge also
co co bedding along with small amount of fertilizer

first step, place the a crate

second step, place down clay pebbles,

third step, place soil and then plant the plants

thanks,
michael

[Rainfrog]

I think I can help.

There is no black Great Stuff. The black Foam is handy-Foam. From what I have heard if you can get HF use it. It is a superior product to GS but more expensive and can be hard to find (I can’t Find a distributor) With HF it is not as necessary to cover the back in silicone HF will stick better. I have spoken to PDF Breeders that swear by it and say they have had tanks for years and the hold, well, held. Also HF cures fast, within 5 to 10 minutes the surface hardens and you can start to manipulate shapes you want by pressing the foam around (Use Gloves). Also I have been told it cures with less air bubbles. If you use HF I would recommend Gorilla Glue to attach coco fiber to the foam. Follow the directions and it will work great. With GS Silicon the back both for grip and GS looks like crap. Let cure for at least 24 hrs if not as many as 48 to be sure. When ready to apply coco fiber coat silicone in small sections and press plenty of excess fiber in to make sure you cover. If you try too large an area the silicone will start to dry and the fiber wont stick.

Egg Crate (light diffuser panel) is used to make a false bottom. If you don’t want a false bottom you can make a drainage layer out of a layer of expanded clay pellets 1 or 2 inches deep. You need to cover the drainage layer with a barrier to keep the substrate from packing into it. You can use screen but I prefer Weed Barrier. I just picked up a 3' by 50' roll for $13 and some change at home depot (love Home Depot!) it is fine grade and will let water through but no soil.

For a false bottom use PVC to raise Egg crate off the ground to the desires height. Cover EC with screen or Weed Barrier, then place and inch or so of Clay pellets and then another layer of Screen/Weed Barrier, then the soil. With a false bottom you can leave an open area for a pond, use filters and pumps under the raised floor.

In either set-up make sure the water level is at least a 1/2 inch below the level of the soil or you will get a boggy mess. Proper drainage will keep your plants healthy and help prevent root rot (Smells BAD)

[dcreptiles]

That helps very much, now i have a few more questions, and i just want to make sure im clear. In my vivarium im not going ot have nay waterfall in this one or any pond. I just want to have my plants grow the best, to do this would the best way just be have clay pellets on the bottom followed by co co fiber with a little bit of fertilizer. and put the plants directly in the co co fiber.

Next how do you shape the handy foam, so you can make it look how you want.

Also, once i have shaped the handy foam, ill apply the gorrila glue to a small section, and then just press some co co fiber against the gorilla glue. Will handy stuff and gorilla glue be safe to day geckos. After about a week after completion of the vivarium and complelte airation will it be safe to let day geckos inhibit it.

Lastly if i use air plants, will i stick the air plants directly in the handy foram or should i wait for the handy foam to dry and gorilla glue the air plant to the back ground.

thanks,
michael

[Rainfrog]

With Handi foam you can shape it a little with your hands after the surface hardens. mostly it will be a mater of a little more here and there and then carving it to shape it. I have not worked with Handi foam myself and little with great stuff so I just give you what ive found through research. I would say yess about gluing in amall sections I dont know how fast gorrila glue dries, but once dry it is very solid. there is a good thread by Tindomul1of9 on ataching plants find it and read it.