Canada Day Weekend Build! : Clay Background Method

[Greg H.]

See that is one of the reasons why I don't like the idea of using clay for background ( heavy, need to maintain or repair/replace it, susceptible to mechanical degradation ), and why I tend to opt for a porous cement background.

It doesn't matter if it gets wet or dries - it's still going to offer good mechanical stability for years, and is going to be lighter ( either wet or dry ) than clay.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by beckdg

looks like it has great adhesion to glass. how do you think it'll hold onto say gs or pink foam board?

Im not quite sure. You would have to try it out for yourself. It seems to stick to everything so I dont see it being an issue. Having a thinner coat would definately increase the chances of it drying quickly however.

Are you worried about the extra weight Beck? For me I dont really care how heavy my tanks are...I'll only be moving them during the construction, after that, they will not move.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by Greg H.

See that is one of the reasons why I don't like the idea of using clay for background ( heavy, need to maintain or repair/replace it, susceptible to mechanical degradation ), and why I tend to opt for a porous cement background.

It doesn't matter if it gets wet or dries - it's still going to offer good mechanical stability for years, and is going to be lighter ( either wet or dry ) than clay.

Im not posting this thread to show that clay is the one and only way to make a background, just as an alternative....But I'll tell you one thing, there is a reason for this method being the most popular new methods of today for dart vivariums. Once you try it for yourself after having experience with other methods, the pros greatly outweigh to cons and you wont want to do anything else.

Edit: Also, I have experience with the Titebond method. This is very similar to Concret/Binder background method because it creates a rock hard background....Im almost certain that the Titebond method, even though expensive, has an easier and quicker application process then concrete and can last just as long.....I prefer clay by a long shot to this. Plus, this background cost me less then 10$!

[beckdg]

not worried about the weight at all. i have this little scheme running through my head on how to get some air movement in a 10 gal i'm doing up for mom. unfortunately i don't have the money (nor does she) nor some of the tools necessary to justify doing everything the easy way. i was also tossing around making a waterfall or a drip wall with a waterfall pump i found just laying in her burn pile i fixed up. i'll need some structural integrity, cavernous areas as well as an area to access the pump. the clay seems a great alternative and it would save me some headache maybe if it will work the way i envision things. i doubt it though as it might have to be pretty thin to do so. for only a couple bucks, i may give it a go anyways and see how things turn out.

[Grimm]

Haha, sounds.......Original!

Better make a thread when you start that little badboy of a 10gal

[beckdg]

i'm already taking pics.

[froggsong]

Wait till you see the plants I'm sending him for it.

[Greg H.]

Originally Posted by Grimm

Im not posting this thread to show that clay is the one and only way to make a background, just as an alternative....But I'll tell you one thing, there is a reason for this method being the most popular new methods of today for dart vivariums. Once you try it for yourself after having experience with other methods, the pros greatly outweigh to cons and you wont want to do anything else.

Edit: Also, I have experience with the Titebond method. This is very similar to Concret/Binder background method because it creates a rock hard background....Im almost certain that the Titebond method, even though expensive, has an easier and quicker application process then concrete and can last just as long.....I prefer clay by a long shot to this. Plus, this background cost me less then 10$!

Please do not get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that one method is better than another for all set-ups.

Just stating that for various reasons my preference was for another method ( LOL ...... then again I prefer natives and moving water over dart's as well ), and the cost for my last set-up was about the same - $6 for a 80 lb bag of cement and $5 for a compressed bag of aspen animal bedding and 10 lbs of free newspaper for the background in my 80 gal tank ( and had plenty left over ).

I did consider doing something similar to the clay method ( as well as painted GS and polystyrene foam ), but after taking everything into consideration, moving water, weight, mechanical strength of the material, animals in the Viv ( some larger tiger salamanders ), looks and the fact that I would most likely be moving the tank my self from time to time, I finally opted for the method I used.

As for popularity of the method, I never was one for doing something that was different, just because it was different, or because everyone else was doing it. I like the idea of a clay based substrate, and it has enough merit for me to try it in my next set-up ( as long as I can work out the water feature to go along with it to my satisfaction ), but I am not comfortable with the use of clay for a background material, especially where it has to be kept damp/wet to look decent - I just can not get past the poor mechanical properties and weight of wet clay but that aside, I have no doubt that a clay background will work in some set-ups, especially when one is trying to do it in a minimum amount of time and the weight is not going to be an issue.

[Calebrez]

Grimm bravo once again you never cease to amaze me lol! This has inspired me to try this in my new tank! Do you think broms will do well just stuck into it? or should i stick to putting them on wood?

[Grimm]

Thanks Calebrez

Um...As far as I can tell from other peoples experience is that broms do well stuck into the clay. In some cases the broms will rot but only due to lack of air movement in the tank itself. In other cases they will root very quickly. Since I dont plan on having any type of circulation for now, I will let you know how they do without it. Broms are farely thick and robust so it may take a few months to notice any negative effects on them. Im heading to a guys house within the next few days to take a look at some broms he has for sale. If they are to big, I'll have to make an online plant order.