substrate on background

[gillenws]

alright so i'm about ready to put substrate on my BG (which i used GS for). im planning on spreading black silicon over the GS as they did at black jungle. i bought the substrate that came compacted and it says to soak it in water. my question is this: i dont feel like the substrate will stick to silicon while it's wet, so do i need to soak it and then let it dry out again?

[Vivweaver]

That's correct. You can't use wet co-co fiber (sp?) and have an adhesive hold it. So once it dries, you can add it with a second layer of silicone. Notice in this picture how dry it is:



I wondered the same thing. I also wanted to recommend making a hidden backing because it's really hard to get great stuff off glass. If you are upgrading your waterfall, as Black Jungle is using a low pressure system for this demo, then make sure you have room to upgrade to bigger hoses or a bigger pump. Black Jungle builders are really good and make things look way easier then they actually are. : )

Note: Michael Wallitis, if you are reading this, I want you to know that I truly love that vivarium, and enthusiast of Black Jungle. I just wanted to warn this person of the water fall, as I made my first vivarium using the same pump and tubing that you did, and I didn't leave room to modify it. This caused me to eventually have no water feature, and build a new viv. : )

Now, if you've already put on your layer of silicone, then you could make a second layer, and use that as a matting, so if it got to gross, then you could just peel it off, and walla! Add a new sheet of silicone and peat moss, coco bedding, or whatever you prefer.

[gillenws]

great thanks viv! substrate has been expanded and is now drying so i can silicon it on tomorrow

[gillenws]

i've got another question that i guess i can just pose in this same thread... is there a reason to use silicon to glue substrate to the BG instead of just putting a bunch of substrate on while the GS is still wet?

[beckdg]

1) there are one or two forms of spray foam which are still questionable about their toxicity when submerged.
2) if the gs does not cure completely due to a defect or layers that are too thick most forms will still be toxic as they will readily leach voc's.
3) the silicone is not only used for a glue, but also as a sealant at this point. this helps for several reasons one good example is that wet gs can fail and the bond between it and the glass can be broken due to it's properties when it's wet.

i will add that stuffing some in the gs while it is curing is not a bad idea to camouflage the gs before applying silicone and substrate. this way when the substrate breaks down the gs might not be so unsightly.

i must also add that when done correctly if the can is good gs usually is not toxic and sometimes (especially under the right conditions) will last considerably long under water without failure. this means applying thin enough to dry, giving it ample cure time, not making tall front heavy structures and some other things that may be specific to your build.

[Paularium]

I've put it on wet without a problem.

[beckdg]

notice i realized that although i was merely answering the "Q" my post may have been misleading. so it was ammended. it is possible to do, but considerations should be taken. many have done it successfully!

[Paularium]

Originally Posted by beckdg

notice i realized that although i was merely answering the "Q" my post may have been misleading. so it was ammended. it is possible to do, but considerations should be taken. many have done it successfully!

Ah ok.

[gillenws]

the stuff i'm putting on the BG is exo-terra coco husk... it looks different than what some people have used (chunkier). is there something that may be less chunky and easier to glue to the BG? like what does black jungle use on that big front-opening one they have that appears to be their signature vive? (Front-Opening Showcase Vivarium How-To) maybe it's the same stuff and they're just much better at it than i am? :-p

[beckdg]

coco husk should be chunkier than coco fiber.
the husk is the entire outside of a coconut whereas the other should just be the fibers. eco-earth should just be the fibers. you can also get coco fibers from hydroponics places as well as some of the better gardening stores. finding eco-earth should prove easier though unless you search online.

you can get the coco fibers in mats also like the guy used in the b/g of my favorite link.