Unhappy Rookie Mistake-Great Stuff Background failing!

[MarcNem]

I plan to let it air dry out for a few days then start the rehab. I will keep you posted.

[beckdg]

dude that sucks... all is not lost though... there are a few good suggestions here... none really fool proof though i think....

1) i'd say first step... pull your plants... it SHOULD be easier than deciding where they go in the first place.
2) pull it forward more... as far as you can
3) wipe glass as clean as possible
4) dry dry dry... starting with scooping water out... then wiping down... then put it in a small room or large closet with a space heater in the room and aim a fan inside the viv (the space heater is a substitute for a dehumidifier so if you have one use it)
5) add a couple gobs or a thick bead of silicone or liquid nails or random gobs of both
6) prop it in place and clamp it tight (you can use anything you got that works... not just clamps... you might want to place a board in there for something to clamp on or put pressure)
7) while it's clamped/propped silicone the edges... you can add moss NOW if you like
8) let it cure and remove clamps

because of the weight of your bg i will suggest against gs... if it decides it wants to expand well it might push the whole thing out more or crack your glass... and 2 way tape rarely works on a surface where any debris or dirt are present... at least not for long... considering your bg is gs... i would not even try... it will be a headache attempting to remove it from the glass in that tiny space if it fails... sorry frog

you can always add another piece of wood that will help prop it up to keep the weight from pulling it down again

i might put some gs UNDER your wood to support the weight regardless... further towards the front will be most effective (leverage might want to push back instead of forward that way)

you can always wedge something between the sides of your bg and the front glass to hold the corners back, but i'm afraid that will only let the center sag until the whole thing needs to fall apart for it to come forward anymore

they make a replacement for velcro and sell it at radio shack... it's clear plastic with like little hemorrhoid pimple thingy's that interlock... if you can staple or sew some into your gs and attach some to the glass it should hold it forever if needed... once attached to both surfaces you just snap it into place like velcro... then, if needed it will still be detachable, but a permanent bond until you need it removed... it's just an option, but it's strong stuff!!!

dude, i am so sorry... good luck!

EDIT: NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A DEHUMIDIFIER YOU CAN GO ONE FURTHER AND COVER THE DEHU, FAN AND VIV WITH PLASTIC AND TAPE IT TO THE GROUND TO CREATE A TEE PEE THAT AIR CANNOT GET INTO... THIS WILL REMOVE THE WATER FROM A MUCH SMALLER AREA THUS REMOVING MOISTURE FROM THE VIV WAY MORE EFFECTIVELY... IF YOU CAN PUT THE VIV ON ITS SIDE AND AIM THE BLOWER ON THE DEHU DIRECTLY INTO THE VIV FOR THE DRIEST AIR POSSIBLE TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS... THIS WILL MAKE YOUR TEE PEE SMALLER THUS MORE EFFECTIVE, ELIMINATE YOUR FAN AND SPEED UP THE PROCESS OVERALL.

[MarcNem]

I allowed the tank to dry out. So, now there is no condensation between the glass and the GS. I put a good amount of silicon between the two and clamped the back together. I will post pics tomorrow.

[beckdg]

i hope you waited long enough that there is no moisture in your gs... that's what will make it fail... not condensation... well that too, but the other is the silent killer... cause you don't see it... i'll cross my fingers for ya!

[froggsong]

Doesn't silicone cure faster with moisture? I'm asking, not trying to say anyone is wrong. I could have sworn I read somewhere to mist it lightly if the humidity is low to help it cure faster. I KNOW misting GS will make it cure faster, am I mixing the two together???

[beckdg]

ok... we'll not get into that right now... but i will say i don't give a damn how fast it cures if it doesn't bond

[froggsong]

OK! lol. That certainly makes sense.

I feel like I should hang my head, say in a hushed tone, "yes, daddy" and then slink away...

[beckdg]

yeah, i thought about it after i posted... that's more of a how i'd say it in conversation post... so of course written it came off with the wrong tone... sorry

[froggsong]

lol, it's ok! It was funny. I knew exactly how you meant it, but I thought I'd share that it seemed like I was being scolded, lol.

[MarcNem]

This is how I repaired my Exo 18" cube, after the back started to separate from the glass. I added a huge goob of brown silicone to the space, then coated it with my coco fiber special mix (dried coco fiber, tree fern root, and bark) and clamped it. I allowed it to dry for a week, and this is how it came out. Seems ok. I plan to put a pair of El Dorado pumilio in there.

I goobed the silicone in the space between the GS and glass.


I coated the silicone, then covered it with coco mixture


View of the front of the tank


Close-up of the viv floor


Regards,
Marc