Faux (fake) Rock BG for Geckos: Build Log with Pics.

[archiecrain]

The substrate is river sand and play sand mixed. Not great for plants so I cut stockings and tied them around the plants roots and filled them with potting soil. This should stop the roots from spreading to much.

The plants on the background were planted in the holes I left, just added succulent potting soil.

So far some of the plants have taken well, others not so well.

[froggsong]

Cool. That's a good idea using stockings around the roots. Make sure you let us know which plants do well and which ones don't.

[anneries]

I also attempted a fake rock wall like this, but for safety I sealed it with a pva sealant after painting it and I also used this sealant to add some peat moss (just to break the look of all the rock).
Nice setup and nice looking gex. I also have a pair of C. angulifer.
Take care.

[archiecrain]

Here are the latest pics of the setup now that it is complete been some changes. Buried PVC piping under the substrate as tunnels. probably change more things in the future.

You can see the female in some of the pics.

What do you think?

[Kisber]

Originally Posted by archiecrain

Here are the latest pics of the setup now that it is complete been some changes. Buried PVC piping under the substrate as tunnels. probably change more things in the future.

You can see the female in some of the pics.

What do you think?

for what it's worth, i think it's beautiful!

i'm also a tropical lizard person, so would seal the rocks for the moisture factor. but wondering - i thought i've seen people mix the paint right in with the grout/cement to cut out a step. is that possible? looking to make a few fakes rocks myself and was planning on just mixing the gray paint right in to the grout... should i not do that?

[archiecrain]

You can mix the paint in with the cement, just takes longer to set. Done that on one of my newer projects. takes an enourmous amount of paint though.

[Kisber]

ahh, ok thanks for the info!

[artbyc]

the viv looks awesome and i agree with the others how it doesnt go to the top gives it added dimension and wont feel so closed in. A couple of questions though: is the rock making process any different for cresties since i will have more moisture than your desret herps? and where can ifind polystyrene sheets (Lowes hardware and Home Depot dont carry the stuff?)

thanks

C

[archiecrain]

The process would probably be exactly the same, only thing I would do different is cure the concrete for longer and do a PH test just to be on the safe side, spraying with vinigar will nutralize the PH the quickest.

[brp4e.]

i want to cover the GS backround im going to make with concrete but i dunno what concrete to get that isnt toxic. Any ideas?