Tips and Tricks

[MtuPup]

Originally Posted by froggsong

DO a search for eggcrate, we say pretty often where to buy it and what section it's in. Come now, you've got to do some legwork yourself! lol.

Best tool to cut it with would be diagonal pliers (snips). Just be careful and don't do it in a room where you could injure anyone with the flying pieces. And I'd recommend closing your eyes as you snip, lol... I've been saved by my eyeglasses more times than I can count.

You should always be wearing some sort of eye protection in most steps of viv construction - you'd be amazed at what even fumes can do to your eyes...remember they're the only set you have.

[beckdg]

i use dykes... wire cutters.

[MtuPup]

if you're in a rush, I use a dremel with the cutting wheel.

[viva la viv]

My live and learn lesson..If you have a high waterfall be sure to have a by-pass that allows you to stop the waterfall and pump the water straight into the body of water at night or sometimes it becomes like chinese water torture....!!!mine has this feature now and was worth the rebuild. Somethimes silence is bliss

[MtuPup]

now that's a great idea. I put a ball valve in line from the pump to the outlet so I can control the flow a little better.

[WannabeVivMaster]

Use 100% Silicone, don't use Dap anything... mine turned to gray mush within days of getting wet.

[beckdg]

black airline tubing sliced longways and put over the ends of the doors helps keep small feeders in an exo terra setup.

[neah84]

Originally Posted by froggsong

If you want to use some tree branch type moss on a bare branch in your tank, sterilize with CO2, let it dry out completely, staple it to the branch, muss the area around the staples to hide them, then water it. It will turn out beautifully, and if you need to remove it later all you have to do is pull out the staples, rather than trying to remove glue.

You can also use fishing line to attach mosses to branches or odd angled formations. *overhanging rock wall. Cut the fishing line when the moss starts growing all around and doesnt need the line to hold it in place anymore, or leave it on and let the moss overgrow the fishing line.

[froggsong]

TIP: Make VERY VERY sure the trigger is TIGHTLY screwed onto the can of GS you are using, especially if your using it in your living room... Having GS in your eyebrows and on your forehead might look funny, but it sucks, lol... Not to mention the carpet, the walls, various light fixtures...

Like I said, make sure that sucker is tight!!!

Right in front of my eyes (hence the GS in my eyebrows), the pressure in the can unscrewed the trigger and the thing went flying! So, once more, make sure that trigger is tight!


hehehe... seriously though... check, double check, then recheck!!!

[Jason]

This may not be a traditional tip or trick but has saved my behind a few times on tanks and about every project ive done before.

Draw up everything you plan on doing and then give it to two people before you begin building anything.

One person who knows nothing about the principles of the project type as they can ask questions and force you to explain the smallest thing, helped me see mistakes i may have missed being to confident in myself.

The second should be knowledgeable in the principles of the project type as they will force you to explain your path in a more focused manner and and can add ideas that could make your life easier and maybe more cost effective.

Just my 2 cents.