3d background (my first)

[TAPDart91]

[TAPDart91]

I used morter to cover the foam. Does anybody know if I need to seal it or if it is safe for dart frogs. What I read online says that it is. Anybody back that up?

[DigitalPunk]

I have not personally used mortar in my tanks. If it does need to be sealed you will want to use something similar to Drylock.

[TAPDart91]

Thank you for your insight. Everything is appreciated. I just recently ordered 4 blue Malibu tincs and 2 green aratus. They are all currently housed but iv gotten very addicted to this dart frog hobby

[DigitalPunk]

The Vivarium design and construction is extremely addicting to me. I also love just watching these little guys and glass go about their day. Sooo relaxing!

The back ground looks good so far. Will be interested to see it progress. I have heard mortar tends to crack, so be on the lookout for that. Though I think the cracking is related to how thick the first coat is. If it was really thin it has a higher chance to crack on you.

[TAPDart91]

Darn i made the rookie mistake of a thin coat this far. So would you recommended just going ahead and covering with drylock the morter was a cheap and accessible item i was a bit anxious. And inpatients may have got the better of me. I tried my first attemp in this 15gal hex because. It has a crack i was trying to cover while trying something new. I planned on useing it as a display tank for two D. Aratus

[DigitalPunk]

I would wait for someone who may have more experience with mortar (I have none, but have read about people using it and watched videos). If you are worried and don't want to wait you could continue and seal it. Get the tank setup and let it run for 30days without frogs in it. See how it holds up. If it starts cracking a lot you can then make the decision to break it down and start over. You've made the first move in starting a thread on this site. Keep posting your updates or questions. There are several very knowledgable people on this site that can lend their advice or tips to help you along the way

[TAPDart91]

Heck yes sounds good. My GF is going to kill me because ever since i got my frogs all I do is research and now that I have found this FORUM where I can ask any ? To experienced hobbiest i havent put my phone down. Thanks again for your insight I think it makes good since to try what you said atleast then I can get some plants growing and have the visual aspect to enlighten me .

[DigitalPunk]

Best way to learn is to try something and then watch it. See what is working and what isn't and then start thinking of ways to improve the design, even on things that worked. There are a LOT of build threads on this forum in the Viv section. Read through them. That is how you learn. Steal from what others have done and combine ideas together to make something new

[TAPDart91]

Good idea. Iv already found tons of useful. Info on this app. Its genius

[deranged chipmunk]

Depending on the mortar used, it will need up to 6 weeks of cure time before it will be ready for Inhabitation. Most cement products will alter the ph of the water supply to dangerous levels. There is a curing process you need to go by, but I am not 100% sure what the procedure is.


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