Fake rock for geckos journal

archiecrain · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 06:55 AM

Here is the start to my tank for my geckos, the idea is to make it a desert vivarium. Seeing as there is so little info on desert vivaria I thought I would start something.

I built the basis of the rocks with polystyrene which I glued with a glue gun(didn't work just melted it) and a glue called "No More Nails"

Once the background was built in Polystyrene I then used tile grouting to beging forming the rocks, will post that later.

beckdg · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 11:32 PM

great shape... i think it will look more natural if you broke it instead of cutting though... it should be pretty nice when you're finished regardless... good start.

archiecrain · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 04:07 AM

Here is the next step in the process took pictures after I had done three layers of tile grouting over the polystyrene. This is what it looked like before it was completly dry, it went white after it had dried. So the next step is to paint the concrete to give it a natural appearance.

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 06:57 AM

Nice. I like how you didn't take it all the way to the top. This is turning out very well. What grout did you use? I'm not sure what type to buy...

archiecrain · #5 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 07:55 AM

It was ordinary tile grouting without any Anti-fungal additives, got it at a hardware store near where I live (Johannesburg SA) Its basicaly pure concrete with a fine sand mixed in, so it gets quite hard quickly and is quite very easy to shape if mixed correctly.

froggsong · #6 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 08:04 AM

Thanks.

repman01 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 01:00 PM

so that concrete is just tile grout or did you grout it then put concrete over

i have never done something like that so i was wondering how you make a "rock" wall

beckdg · #8 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 01:23 PM

it's just grout repman

repman01 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 01:26 PM

now is it watered down ant all or is it how you would find it in the store ( sorry for all the questions it is just i have never worked with anything like that and i was thinking that it would be a good idea for making backgrounds)

beckdg · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 01:41 PM

most grouts come in powders and need mixing... usually good to go really thin first to get a good bond... then thicker for texture and you can go thin again for last coat to smooth things out... the same applies to cement, thinset and other like products... you'd be surprised how easy it is!