29 gallon build log

[J Teezy]

worked on sanding the inside where the pots go a bit. My plan is to make it so there is some play in the holes for the pots to sit because i'm probably going to grout the inside of the holes as well. I may not even use the pots either since once grouted should make a nice spot to just throw some substrate in there and plant.

The straws you see sticking out are drain pipes for the planting areas. Once everything is grouted they will be cut down to size to where you wont be able to see them. Should a straw happen to get clogged for some reason i can stick a bbq skewer through it to unjam it. I may make a 2nd drain hole in each potting area as well.

i just stuck the background in the tank to get a little visual. The final product will be up off the bottom of the tank to where the top of the background is flush with the inner rim of the tank.

My plans for the pots at this point from left to right are something along the lines of neo brom, some kind of viney plant probably a wandering jew, anther brom possibly a crypt, fern of some type, brom, and then pothos coming down the right side to cover the section on bare glass on the back wall.

as you can see there are alot of ledges on this background. I'm going to attempt to try and get some moss going on those ledges. My hopes are to have a majority of the background covered in moss

Probably going to have a small drainage pond in the front right corner for siphoning off excess water.

you can see the two caves in the back left corner, one big one at ground level, and then a smaller one above it.





closer look at the caves



Hopefully i'll start the grout process in the next couple of days

[greene]

Looks great! Are those black things for plants?

[J Teezy]

yes they are 2" net pots

[J Teezy]

did some work today on the background. I decided that my drain holes with the straws in them were too small to allow me to get some grout over the foam in there so i took the straws out and will leave them out. I took a grinding stone attachment and put it on a drill and bored out the holes alot bigger for adequate drainage from the pots and to allow me to coat the foam with grout. Also took the grinding stone to the pot areas and made them slightly bigger to allow a couple layers of grout in there and then for the pots to be able to still fit. Using pots would allow easy removal of the plants, but i may not use the pots and just plant directly in the spots, i'll decide when it comes time for that.

put a layer of grout on today to the front top bottom and sides. Tomorrow i'll do the back and give the front another day to cure up good and then start the 2nd coat on the front thursday. I had to make the first layer pretty runny to allow me to get into all the cracks and crevices. 2nd coat will be runny as well to get into the cracks again. I found it easier to just pour the grout in the hard to reach spots with a spoon and then dab it around with my brush instead of trying to get in there first with just a brush. The pics are of the background laying on its back drying so it looks a little different than what you'll see when its in the tank but you can at least see how the grout applied.

[J Teezy]

with about 4 layers of grout i think i'm done grouting. Waiting on my Shields All to arrive so i can seal the grout then paint it and seal it again.

[J Teezy]

stood it up to get some better pics











the 2 leucs that are going into this are going to love climbing this thing. I swear they think they are tree frogs

Here's a video that shows the caves a little better and my drainage for the pots

[Shibumi]

Really nice work. I like the simplicity of the drainage compared to straws. Plus those holes will never clog. I would use the net pots though. it's better to be able to move your plants around to suit them.

[purpleturtle89]

Hey, what type of grout do you use? Do you add paint to it to get it that grey colour, and what paints should I use, you've inspired me and I don't wanna kill my frogs lol thanks