Great Stuff/Silicon/Dirt Question

[gohuskers06]

Ok, so I stumbled upon this forum a few days ago, and read through the big Vivarium Construction post. I decided to give it a try with a 10 gallon tank, and after I put the Great Stuff in and it set, I put Silicon on that. Then, I got the dirt from one of those dehydrated bricks, that had had water added to it so it was jsut dirt, and I put that on the silicon. I did it in patches, jsut like the thread said to, except alot of my substrate just came off, either after the tank had been put into it's new upright vertical position, or after being touched. Did I do something wrong? Thanks for the help.

[Rainfrog]

You really have to press the coco fiber into the wet silicon. I would work in a very small section and then put a small pile of the coco fiber on the patch of wet silicon then press it in. if you are worried about getting it on you hands use something flat, place it over the patch and press the fiber in this should get it in there good.

[Landon]

I would also reccomend using WAY more coco fiber than you could ever get to stick. This way when you press it down you dont get the wet silicon on your hands (or gloves if your smart ) and you get better coverage. If its a small tank I do it all at once, but a square foot at a time is a good goal to shoot for.

[gohuskers06]

yeah, this is both of those posts were helpful, and I did all of those things, but there are still bare patches. I guess I will just have to do some touch-ups. What about this "Silicone Soil" idea that I have read about? Does anyone know anything on this? Thanks again.

[gohuskers06]

Just an update on my 10g Vert.
So it has been done for a couple of days now, and I was standing in my room and all of a sudden I heard a loud pop. I lloked around, and saw that the top of my 10g Vert was cracked, it must have been from the heat lamp. So I then figured I should take my House Gecko and Green Tree Frog out, and cram them in my other 10g Vert with 2 anoles and a Longtail. In the process, my gecko felt the need to drop it's tail. Great day for me. Any tips on how to salvage the broken tank? I actually think it looks pretty nice, aside from the crack.

[Studdlygoof]

Another think with those coco bricks...you have to make sure that there is zero moisture in the coco when you apply it to the silicone or it wont stick...i stuck mine in the oven to dry it out 100% and never had a problem

[gohuskers06]

well, theres my coco brick problem haha

[Studdlygoof]

living is learning...the only reason i know is cause I made the same mistake

[Rainfrog]

My first try with silicon on a tank was a 10 gallon conversion. it didnt work as a verticle becouse the glass was cut crooked(Iwill use a different shop for my next project!). so I layed it flat and put a tarantula in it. the sidt that got some light from my python tank lamp cracked the same way. also the seal on a sibe of the tank I used to have my python in failed and I redid the whole side with the GE silicon II. It was fine until I moved the light closer to the edge and then POP broke the glass. I think it has something to do with the galss not being able to exspand right when it heats up(Glass is not exactly a solid, even with todays technology it is a litle unstable) I dont know if it is something I did or how to avoid it. I did seal the crack with silicon and though I would not put water in it it will still work as a viv. you can seal and use it if its not to bad.

[MRIGUY]

The first time I used this technique I had the same problem. My CoCo was very dry but I was using just enough silicone to cover the GS. The trick I learned is that you need to slather the slicone on nice and think so that when you press the wad of coco into it is really taked hold.