Budgetts Frog setup

[claymore]

So I started my Budgetts frog enclosure already.... Even though he still has about a month of QT to go.





I'm trying to simulate Banyon Tree Roots... Not sure if its working or not lol...

I'm going to try the Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue finish for this background...

I do need a few questions answered first before I start...

1) What is the mixture for Glue ratio to Filler (aka Peat,sand, etc...) ratio?

2) I mix the substrate right into the Glue and then brush on to background right?

3) Can the finished cured product be painted with non toxic acrylic paints?

Sorry if these questions have been addressed before.

Thanks


Clay

[dart345]

I love the coco mix with the titebond wood glue... A touch of some white sand and I was good to go... Stuff is pretty rock hard.

to save you the trouble of finding the formula, I was told 2 part substrate to 1 part glue.

Here some tips:

The biggest container I was able to get of titebond was 16oz which so happens to be the same size as a plastic disposable party cup. I just used the party cup, filled the the coco to the rim, and bam, I have my measured amount.!

It says you can add a little bit of water, as the coco and glue mixture combined will aide in the water getting absorbed. Here is how I added my water. Sometimes its hard to get all that glue out of that bottle, so I added a little bit of water, shaking it vigorously was able to get even more glue out of the bottle. Then just add to the mixture.

A suggestion, I used latex gloves and just mixed with one hand that way I was able to ensure they mixture was completely mixed. If you have a large disposable container i.e. empty 1 gallon container from a milk. You can use that to mix your patch.

If you want you can do sample runs too, I did this in a 3 day lay out and applied it in 3 sessions. I could of gotten away with 2 but I am being anal and taking my time. I am still going to go over it one more time, but just to add some more pieces to the background.

Hope the info helps

So yes you can use not toxic acrylic paint, which is what I will be using and touching up some spots.

The pics I have showing is what it looks like now, still now ready, and the glue you see glazed on the background, I did was to reinforce the materials. I was messing around with the ratios of the glue mix to see if I can stretch the glue any further.

I hope this info helps. Any other questions I be glad to answer for you, if I know the answer.

[claymore]

Thanks Dart! That helps out a lot!

I'm going to start on it today and see how far I get. Ill post updates as it progresses.

[dart345]

Cool Deal... Oh hey if you are going to be adding more stuff to the background, some stuff that helped me out alot:

Toothpicks: I used it to keep mesh attached to another part, or to attach net pots in certain angles and then apply silcone to hold it on place. Toothpicks seem a great way to help keep pieces in certain spots untill the silicone and titebond mixture cures.

Keep gauging out the ideas and where you think the plants would go.. This is my first terrarium I made, and I realized that in my mind, the tank seems to have more space then what it actually has... So when it came to building it, I realized certain ideas I had, would not work because of it being overcrowded.

I cut out the pieces in the foam , to help form a niche to help the wood pieces rest within the foam. I applied my silicone to the back of the wood pieces and firmly pressed it into the background. If you notice on my pic, the silicone does not look very natural... To help with this, after waiting 20 hours or so for the silicone to cure completely, I made up another batch of the titebond mixture, and touched it up with some of that. Boy did that help, after it dried up it actually look like it belong there and was part of the back ground. I wish I had a pic of what it looks like now, but I am waiting till I get more work done before I make some more pictures, lol.

I hope this info helps, if you need anything else I am here for ya, as well everyone else.. ITs good to have a forum where people can nicely point our mistakes or provide useful info!

[dart345]

Actually I take that back, I did take pics the first two pics shows the patch work over the silicone on the wood pieces...

So yea, you can see the wood pieces, but you no longer see the silicone.... Cheers!

[claymore]

Ok update....

I did use the Titebond Wood Glue III method and, it was a success!

I am so going to use this method all the time! It's so much easier to apply than the coco/silicone method.

And the cure time is shorter too!

Heres some pics... Before Paint...



And after paint....




Let me know what you guys think!

I'm also looking for some ideas for a plant for the middle potter... I already have a "Pearls & Jade" Pothos that I am going to put in the left potter.
I thinking a plant that can be ok if it dips into the water.

[dart345]

Looking nice! I am so glad you like the titebond method.... I think its the way to go.... thats stuff isnt going anywhere..... lol

[claymore]

Oh yeah I am REALLY digging the Titebond Method!!! I am so going to use it on my 29g for some kind of darts!

And thanks for all your help Dart!

I had so much fun painting it yesterday lol! I'm going to go plant shopping today for this enclosure! Wish me luck!

[dart345]

Good luck... yea I did too, I wanted to give a lichen/mold look on top of my already painted to look like rock on the right side of my background.

good luck on finding your plants!

[claymore]

What do you guys think about pitcher plants???