GRIMM's Vivarium Build #2

[herp35]

How is the titebond III/coco peat method holding up through your test runs? I should be able to test my new palu in a couple of days once the bg cures...I think my coco was too wet in my first batch because I still have some wet spots after 48 hrs. But I thought of a new method to dry the coco peat that works so much better than an oven. I took 2 airconditioner filters and a box fan and sandwiched the coco in between the 2 filters. Then I bungee corded the filters to the fan and propped it up on high speed. My coco was completely dry in about 4 hours and without the risk of burning it.

[little98dime]

Grimm, I just read through the thread and the first thing that hit me was the first picture with your completed tank in the upper background. How do you keep the water from becomming brown, murky, and overall, gross looking? I have been thinking about doing another tank with a water feature and for the life of me, I can't figure out how one would have a planted tank with a false bottom and NOT have poo brown water.

[D3monic]

Mine is drilled with a 10gal sump underneath. I have a filter in the sump. Eventually I want to turn my sump into a little planted tank with some cherry shrimp.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by herp35

How is the titebond III/coco peat method holding up through your test runs? I should be able to test my new palu in a couple of days once the bg cures...I think my coco was too wet in my first batch because I still have some wet spots after 48 hrs. But I thought of a new method to dry the coco peat that works so much better than an oven. I took 2 airconditioner filters and a box fan and sandwiched the coco in between the 2 filters. Then I bungee corded the filters to the fan and propped it up on high speed. My coco was completely dry in about 4 hours and without the risk of burning it.

Its held up good for the 3 days I had it running. I started to plant my BG then noticed a fairly large problem...When the mixture dries it reduces in size a lot. This size reduction "pulled" the foam from the sides off of the silicone. I removed the plants and now I am waiting for the BG to dry before I fill the gaps with more slurry.

One thing is for sure though, this background will last a loooooong time.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by little98dime

Grimm, I just read through the thread and the first thing that hit me was the first picture with your completed tank in the upper background. How do you keep the water from becomming brown, murky, and overall, gross looking? I have been thinking about doing another tank with a water feature and for the life of me, I can't figure out how one would have a planted tank with a false bottom and NOT have poo brown water.

That IS the difference though Dime...I dont have a false bottom in that tank. None of the substrate water will ever leach into my water area because of my land/water barrier. Both sections are fully contained from eachother.

[herp35]

My BG is not pulling away but I do have a problem. It's been almost 72 hours and my glue/coco mixture is still soft and squishy. I made sure the coco was bone dry before I mixed it using the fan method but I don't know whats going on. It is a pretty thick layer but I would assume it would be dry by now. I am afraid to fill it up with water while it's still soft. Any advice?

[grius]

Looks great so far!

Nice thread! i shall follow this one.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by herp35

My BG is not pulling away but I do have a problem. It's been almost 72 hours and my glue/coco mixture is still soft and squishy. I made sure the coco was bone dry before I mixed it using the fan method but I don't know whats going on. It is a pretty thick layer but I would assume it would be dry by now. I am afraid to fill it up with water while it's still soft. Any advice?

It actually shoudnt have mattered if the co-co was dry or not...I ended up adding water to my mixture to increase its viscosity to get into the smaller cracks and it solidified fine. Maybe the glue was a bad batch or something? Id just put a fan on it and see how it does over the next few days. Mine did only take about 12 hours to get hard so maybe something is wrong.

[grius]

I will not say a word about what you just wrote and how i interpret it, but parts of it made me laugh pretty "hard"!

[little98dime]

Got ya grimm. I looked at your first build and see what you mean now. The GS is water proof? Or did you silicone over that?