my method of building fake / faux rocks - Page 14

RudeReefer · #**131** 12-23-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinosaurz

Great work! I have a 20 gal long and have three questions...
1. What kind of pump/filter did you use?
2. How is the pump/filter set up to take water out and bring it back to the falls? (is there a small hole in the creek?)
3. The end of the creek, you can see right into it, so you can see fish if you'd put them in. How'd you secure it to the glass so water doesn't leech out?

1-I used a pump that is bigger then the tiny waterfall pumps, and it is overkill... on the new tank, we are going smaller for sure. My pump is turned down on the tall tank, I cant remember exactly how big it is right now. For a waterfall, you don't need much. A big pump will cause splashing all over your vive- which may seem cool at first, but it will eventually soak everything.

2/3- On the front of the glass area, I did use some habacrete to seal the creek to the glass, but, only on the top half... the bottom half is rocks..the same rocks that are covering the front of the false bottom egg crate. This way it does drain out the front still. Look back in the very fist build to see how I do make drains using a drinking straw, it really helps and your creek will not over flow either...

beckdg · #**132** 12-23-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RudeReefer

yo-yo-yo gangsta! I used a mixture of two soils... one was a common reptile substrate.. the other, I cant remember!!! The focus of the soil was strictly for the plants benefit, and not the frogs (from what I know), i'm no expert.. I'll look for the two bags I used, I still have them.

I've been super busy everyone for the holidays! HANG IN THERE! (I'm a jewelry designer and diamond dealer) so this is my crunch time.. there is some progress on the new vive....pix to come later! HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!

so, i assume you need schooling for that. how much and where would one go?

RudeReefer · #**133** 12-23-2009, 10:31 AM

Here's a few updated shots. Remember this time, I'm going with fewer tiny crack details since it is near impossible to not fill them in with Habacrete. I still need to cut in the small pots too for some plants. The frogs LOVE those little caves that are cut in, so we are going with more of them this time around. We are hoping for this waterfall to be a trickle down the center of the rocks, so far so good. After Christmas I can hammer down again. It is very hard to get a perfect contour around the trees.... so, I feel Ill have to fill it in with a runny batch of Habacrete later.

RudeReefer · #**134** 12-23-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckdg

so, i assume you need schooling for that. how much and where would one go?

I went to art school actually (about 6 years in two different schools in Chicago), during my time from grade school up till college, I worked in a high end jewelry store and learned the trade. Instead of heading into the art field, I stuck with it and became a gemologist later. You can take course through the GIA in Carlsbad CA. I've been on my own now for nearly 9 years after leaving the company.

Dinosaurz · #**135** 12-26-2009, 05:59 PM

One more question, where did you get that egg crate from to raise the floors?

RudeReefer · #**136** 12-27-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurz

one more question, where did you get that egg crate from to raise the floors?

home depot

Dinosaurz · #**137** 12-27-2009, 05:43 PM

I lied, one more question. With the drainage, does it all drain into a huge pool under the surface covering the very bottom of the tank with water where a pump sucks it up?

The one here doesn't have it. I'm gonna look at the other one near us...sorry for all the questions, I'm making one of my own for a 20 gal long. My filter system is gonna be slightly different though. I'm taking pictures as I go and will post them later.

RudeReefer · #**138** 12-27-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinosaurz

I lied, one more question. With the drainage, does it all drain into a huge pool under the surface covering the very bottom of the tank with water where a pump sucks it up?

The one here doesn't have it. I'm gonna look at the other one near us...sorry for all the questions, I'm making one of my own for a 20 gal long. My filter system is gonna be slightly different though. I'm taking pictures as I go and will post them later.

All of the tanks have false bottoms, using the egg crate. There is water under the entire forest floor.. like a sewer. there should be threads on here on building them for sure..

Dinosaurz · #**139** 12-27-2009, 09:00 PM

Ok, I understand now...sorry for being annoying lol. Can't wait for youre updates!

platinumtlc · #**140** 01-02-2010, 07:51 PM

Just want to say that is an awesome structure and congrats. I have a question about the habacrete, for anyone, is HerpInvert the ONLY place to get it? I read through your thread and seems like I would not want to support them or go through the hassle they seem to give, but the product is very enticing. I don't have a vivarium, but I have a terrarium for my collared lizard and I'm thinking of building my own waterfall structure (nothing to the extent you've done). I'm more along the lines of the prebuilt waterfalls they have in the petstore made of resin or foam, but I'd rather build it myself and use my own pump and create it the way I want it to look to fit my tank. Now, I've only done backgrounds and used polystyrene/grout to create them without the hassle of having to use it for water. Now that I want to create a waterfall structure (one piece with basin), I am looking into house I can make one with it being safe for holding water and it seems habacrete is the way to go without having to cure and soak for 2 weeks. Any suggestions on how I should do this? GO with HerpInvert for the stuff, or something else? Thanks!