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Ok, I was going to wait to post this until I was finished, so I could wow you all with my creativity and mad vive building skills, but I just can't wait, lol...
This is for my two Anolis sagrei, as I will be getting another type of anole soon that will go into the tank they currently reside in.
Without further ado, here's pics!
I wish I could remember where I bought that double sided tape from (it's very thin, comes on a side roll so I get more sq" of it, and is very very strong, I even have my hinge on the big palu held to the tank from with it!), I ran out if it with only a little left to do and couldn't find any more of it, so I had to settle for foam core double sided tape to finish the rest. The outside corners are reinforced with foil tape.
Moving along:
This:
Turns into this:
Here's a closeup of where the topper and tank meet. This will be constructed so that the topper is still removable:
Next we move on to constructing the tree:
I used loose staples to staple some fiberglass screen to the platforms. This allows for a more organic look and will be the base for my mortar.
The next step was to begin applying the mortar:
Next time, I will either coat the screen in a layer of mortar sitting on something flat and attach it after it's dry (it remains flexible), or use a different type of material, as I lost alot of the mortar as it dripped through the screen.
This is what I have so far, I just HAD to see how it looked on the tank:
It's currently drying, waiting for the next layer of thinset. I admit, I'm speeding the process with a fan.
SO, what do you guys think? Comments, suggestions, questions?
So, as far as I know, I will be building a sort of "slip cover" for this, probably out of luan (I'm sure I spelled that wrong...), which is only 10 or 11 dollars per standard plywood sheet. It's very thin, so it would be light enough that it's not going to be an issue, and it will make it look nice, more like a show piece than my other tanks. Now I just need a different saw to cut it with, lol... I'll likely paint it black, but I might stain it, the grain on the wood is a nice one.
Do you guys think I should go all the way down, or just do it down to the top of the tank? I'll have to do two layers up around the topper if I go all the way to the bottom.
Looks great so far. I'm really curious as to what you are doing besides mortar and what your BG will end up like. are you shaping it to look like stacked rock? a cliff face? Are you going to have any sections with coco-fiber? Fill us in! Another thing I cant wait to see, is the plants you have in mind for this. With all the ferns and mosses you have access to, it should be quite a show.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to do too many mosses in here, due to the heat that the anoles require. That said, I may be able to do some in the lower regions of the tank, I'll have to see.
For the rest of the BG, I'm not quite sure yet. I covered in it one layer of mortar so that GS foam would adhere to it a bit better. I know that 'm going to do some faux tree fungus on the tree trunk, and I want some ledges of some sort on the right that I can use as planters. I want as little brown in there as possible, other than the tree, so I'm definitely not using any coco fiber. I'm planning some artificial branches (made out of PVC), but I haven't been able to envision how they will play into the design yet. It's ok though, I STILL haven't found the battery for my dremmel... I might end up using the drill instead, but I always get irritated because the sanding barrels won't stay on the thingy... (yeah, I said thingy, lol).
Anyway, as usual, I'm working off a little bit of a design in my head, and winging it as I go, lol... I am, contrary to my usual course, thinking things through very throughly before I do them, because this is a permanent tank. That stuff's glued right to the glass! This is actually my very first permanent tank (other than my frog/toad tank build, but that doesn't really count, it was highly experimental, lol... And not technically in a tank anyway. ). I have the perfect place for it too. There's a bar built into the dining room, and the cabinets on top don't go all the way across the bar, so there's an opening in the middle. This should fit in there quite nicely.
I'd love to be able to do some licorice fern on the tree, and I might try it, but I'm not expecting it to make it if I do. It MIGHT work, I'm planning to put the outlet of the fogger above the tree trunk so that it rolls down the "bark", and that might keep it hydrated enough to grow. I run the humidifier during the day on the same timer as the lights, so it should get alot of moisture all day. I really would love to stock it with lots of ferns, but the really do best in temperate vives (with the exception being dart frog vives). The frog tank, however, will be fully stocked with ferns and mosses. That one is next! It's going in my bowfront tank, I can't wait. Still gathering inspiration for that one though.
Anyway, if you know of any good examples of faux rock work that you'd like to link to for me, that would be greatly appreciated. I'm getting real designers block on that part. Making a natural transition between the tree and the rocks is what's getting me in my head...
Oh, I forgot. I've done a couple more layers of the grout on the tree (just used what was left over from the first time), and then I did a layer of mostly acrylic copolymer (concrete binding additive) mixed with the little bit of mortar that was dried to the sides of the bowl. I did that hoping to strengthen it some before the next layer goes on, and it was quite effective.
I don't really like this method. It takes too long for the mortar to dry between layers so that I can add the next layer. It's a pain in the butt. I'm definitely getting that gallon of Titebond from ACE for my next two projects.
Thats a great idea using the foam to add more hieght I think itsgoing to look awesome when its done.
There are so many fantastic builds when it comes to the rock BG that I dont think you will have to look to far to get a bit of inspiration in that department but I have got a link for you that might help you a bit with the tree trunk, Streambank paludarium - Paludariums - Aquatic Plant Central,
I think this person did a brillant job making it look real I just wish they had have given more detail on their painting technic.
As for the box question, I would probably just make it to the top of the tank not all the way down unless you are planning on putting a BG inside the tank that wraps around the sides too
keep the pics coming, Im looking forward to seeing how it progresses
Right now there's nothing exciting going on pic wise. This concrete thing is taking forever, and I JUST realized that I am wasting MORE time because I haven't started the part of the trunk that's inside the tank yet!
The last layer I did last night was the one that finally made it hard and no longer flexible, so that's cool.
I've seen that link before, but it's always good to see it again! That's the sort of work I'm going to do in my corn snake tank (don't know if you've seen that thread or not). That said, the rock work in there is alot like what I've been thinking of, so that definitely works from inspiration there! This tree trunk will be modeled off of a tree that grows in my front yard, just on a smaller scale.
I still haven't figured out how I want to do climbing branches... I'll probably have to wait on that part until the BG is finished so I can see how they will fit into the design.
Ok, I'm off to go work on it some more! While the crete is drying, I'm going to fiddle with my palu or aquarium, I think.
I HATE this method. I hate it I hate it I hate it!!!!!! Takes too friggin LONG! put down a layer, wait two hours for it to dry, put down a layer, wait two hours for it to dry, etc etc etc, on and on and on!!! I finally gave up with the thinner layers and put on a thicker one today because I need to be able to mold it a little, and it's been FIVE hours, and it's barely dry, and it's CRACKING. SO, I lightly mist it to repair the cracks a bit, and then I just have to wait LONGER for it to dry...
gasteriaphile is waiting to ship me my new anole until this is done for the bahama anoles, and at this rate, it will NEVER be done! I haven't even STARTED on the tank part yet, like a total dumb*ss...
Ugh, this is NOT enjoyable at ALL. If I hadn't already taken so much time to get this far, I'd wait until payday and just do the thing with Titebond. They have the gallon jug at ACE for only $30.
All that said, I think I finally got the shape and thickness I wanted on the tree trunk in the topper part. Now I just have to wait for it to dry and then sand it and paint it. I REALLY need to do the part in the tank, but I'm 100% on how I want it to look. I don't know if I want to do straight trunk all the way to the bottom, or do the bottom as roots.
Oh well, I'll figure it out and work on it some time today...
Once the mortar on the tree dries, I can start the rocks on the sides. I'm nervous about that part for some reason... I want it to turn out perfectly, but it's my first time doing it this way, and I don't have a picture of what I want in my head. I know that the rocks are going to be mostly in the corner across from the tree, they won't go all the way to the tree because that will detract from the tree which should be the main focal pt. I know I want to have planters in the BG, I'm just not sure how I want to do those planters. I have a feeling that anything I do is going to look clumsy, because I've never done it this way before and I lost my patience days ago. This sucks. Stupid mortar... How I hate you...
20g Tall with Styrofoam Topper
but I have got a link for you that might help you a bit with the tree trunk, 
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