Western WA Native Tank 20G - NEW BG TECHNIQUE

froggsong · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 08:26 PM

So, I put my native guys into a 20G. I had to tear down the ten gallon they were in for parts, even though I loved it so much. It's ok though, I transplanted the BG from it and made it even better.

I used a new technique to make the BG in this tank. It was VERY easy, and maybe around 4hrs from start to putting in critters, counting prep time and tear down of the ten gallon.

Here is a pic, it's the best I have right now, sorry about the reflection.

I'll try to get better pics Friday or so. I'll also post the construction pics and the how-to on the new technique then.

Until that's done, I'd be amused by your speculations as to how the background was done.

First person to get it right gets 33 rep points. (my favorite number

)

EDIT: and yes, that's all live moss.

HewesHort · #2 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 09:10 PM

That looks great, froggsong! Hmm...lets see... did u sew sheets of moss to the eggcrate + screen with fishing line?

Is that a real mushroom in the left foreground? or did u make that?

froggsong · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 09:25 PM

Thank you! I'm QUITE proud of it.

This is my best work. I thought the ten gallon was good, but this one looks like a piece of our yard.

The part of the background that I took from the ten gallon has moss sewn to open cell foam, but that doesn't count for the prize, lol... I guess I should elaborate which part of the BG is made with the new technique. It's the part that is on the back of the tank. The part on the side is the BG from the ten gallon, cut in half and stacked on top of each other.

Yes, that is a real mushroom. I cut it from a tree stump just in front of our house. None of the others had that perfect shape, but there are quite a few more I could cut off, if anyone wants one (just PM me if you're interested). Unfortunately, it must be quite tasty for the mold bloom currently running rampant in the tank. The small branch that comes forward to the glass is covered in white mold, as is the tree mushroom.

EVERYTHING in this tank is native, other than the non-living supplies I used to put it all together. Most of that was collected the day before I put it together, though I did go find a bit more when I didn't have enough moss for the entire back. I still didn't cover the entire back, I left part in the middle down near the substrate open. The back of that tank is painted black, so it adds depth to the tank and makes it look like there's a cave in the back.

beckdg · #4 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 09:54 PM

tank looks absolutely fantastic froggsong.

did you sew everything onto eggcrate?

froggsong · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 10:01 PM

Other than the bit I didn't bother to rip off of the piece of the old FB I made for the CWD that didn't work out, there's no eggcrate in the entire thing.

There's no FB, no drainage layer, there's no pond (not even a water dish). I mist once a week and fog every few days. I might throw in a small water dish if I see the frogs getting dehydrated.

Remember when you're guessing, that this took 4 hrs (maybe less), and that was counting the tear down of the other tank and the prep of this one (it had my crickets in it, so I had to get them out and clean it up). There was nothing that needed alot of time to cure, and nothing terribly tedious.

DazzleDiscus · #6 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 12:19 AM

Sorry guys, but I must "correct" something or it'll drive me crazy lol. One of my pet-peeves I suppose... call something by its real name

The "mushroom" is commonly called tree shelf fungus, and technically isn't a mushroom. There are so many different kinds of this fungus that it's like moss- you have to really know your stuff to determine exactly what kind it is. Here are two links that have a few pictures and overall info:

berbarium.usu.edu - shelf fungi

This one has a picture of tree fungi that are more commonly used in vives because they are stronger and thicker:
Life Form of the Month: Shelf Fungus

beckdg · #7 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 12:56 AM

dazzle, how did you not get this one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

"I laid out my moss the way I wanted it and then sprayed the GS underneath it."

from here: Yay! idea from 2008 finally coming to light!

froggsong · #8 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 05:33 AM

You jackass... Humph... You don't get the points... Well... I'll think about it, lol.

I was thinking I had actually said how I did it, but I was hoping I hadn't... Oh well.

It was still fun while it lasted. :P

It worked amazingly well. I didn't press the moss into it, I just sprayed the GS underneath, so it expanded up into the bottom layers of moss. As the GS expanded and I wanted to limit how far it came out into the tank, I pressed and molded it gently. I've done that before with GS after it skinned to keep from having to break the skin by carving.

This isn't something I've seen done, so as far as I go, I made it up. Has anyone else seen this done before? I'm just curious. I bet you could do this in alot of ways... You might even be able to spray GS underneath sand or peat/coco fiber and see how that works. Of course, you'd have alot less control over shaping the foam if you did that... Hmmmmm... I might have to experiment.

DazzleDiscus · #9 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 07:29 AM

Beck, hey I already got points from a previous thread, I thought I'd let someone else get the points lol.

beckdg · #10 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 11:22 PM

well, if i'm a jackass then a great big wet :P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P to you too.

i could live without points anyway. heck i just gave away all my darc points too. i never can seem to redeem them for a prize on the way out anyway.