started my project

[zig3y]

once again I have more questions lol, So I got some great stuff expanding foam and I was wandering about the silicone now. Can I spray the great stuff now and let it dry then add the silicone later? and also will the silicone dry fast and I need to apply the coconut fiber fast?

[DonLisk]

You apply the Great stuff but try not to make it too think since it needs to dry completely and you will find that it will expand up to 50 percent more than what you spray in. you let it completely dry so you can trim, shape, cut it how you want it to look.

For making ledges, cracks and such you exaggerate the size of the ledge ot cracks since the silicone and substrate will fill some of it in. if its not exaggerated then you'll completely fill it in and end up with no crack or ledge :-)

Might take two days or more to completely dry inside but after a day you can get started on the silicone.

Apply the silicone in sections nice and thick. Use rubber gloves to spread it around and don't worry about getting it on the glass, a razor takes it right off after it drys.

Once you cover a section or the whole background thickly, pile on the substrate and you can never put on too much. Press it down firmly into the silicone and get it really pressed in. Allow this to dry and remember that the excess will just fall off and you can dump it out later. Once the original coating is dry, you can do touch up with more silicone and substrate. Remember, mistakes can be cut out and redone with ease but many mistakes look more natural :-)

[DonLisk]

Oh, in thick section you can push a hole into the area with a long skewer after the top layer is nice and hard, to help drying inside and slow down the amount it expands... it will ooze out a lot from areas, but I let it happen and just trim that off when dry.

[DonLisk]

One more....Wear rubber glove because the GS is a mess to get off skin.

[zig3y]

thanks for all the advice once again don! I already found out wearing gloves is a good idea while experimenting earlier .

[zig3y]

Hey just thought I would give an update on how things were going, remember this is my first vivarium so criticize all you want! some advice if I am doing good or not would be great.

The false bottom I got from Don's guide and along with all the other things I have taken from his guides!

[DonLisk]

Hey Steven,
Have you decided on what frogs yet?

Is the cup for a plant? If so make some holes in the bottom of the cup to allow it to drain.
Did you leave a spot so you can slide a siphon hose down in if you need to drain it off? I leave a piece of the substrate screen come out in the corner so I can grab it and lift the corner slightly to get the hose down into the bottom.

[zig3y]

Thanks don,
I am still deciding on which frogs yet, I have herd many suggestions and done some research and have come up with either Dendrobates leucomelas or Dendrobates azureus. Are these good begginer Dart frogs? or do you have any suggestions of another frog that would be good. and yes the cup is for a plant (hopefully a vine plant) and I have already put holes in the bottom for drainage. I think I will use your tip on the hose, that does seem like a good idea.

[DonLisk]

What you choose for plants should be something the frogs will use. Small bromeliads in the cup coming out at an angle would be good. Bromeliads hold water and need no soil to grow. Most of the root can be removed and then placed just about anywhere as long as the center can fill with water.
Cryptanthus also goes good with dart frogs and comes in many colors. I would have this grow up out of the soil straight up so it creates something to climb on and hide under.


More cool accents are:
Monkey Pods hold some moisture and when place on their side so sunk into the soil at an angle provide places for the dart frogs to hide.
Live Oak Leave Liter retains water like little cups, gives the frogs things to climb under, and looks great. You just leave it in the tank and let it rot away and when needed, pile more on.

If your doing darts, I like the Leucs as a starter. Keep in mind that your going to want to cover the top completely for darts to keep humidity at 90 percent and higher. With darts you also want to keep temp in the day around 76 to 82 degrees and never 85 or higher.

[zig3y]

covering the top is one thing I am dealing with, I have read that putting a moist towel over the mesh on top will keep humidity in very well, any other suggestions that may work better?

[DonLisk]

You will want a piece of plexi or glass on the top since you will need to have lighting coming in through the top for the plants. You can take the top to any Lowes and have a piece cut to fit perfectly for about 5 bucks. If you choose glass then it will have sharp edges since they only cut it but you can either put some electrical tape neatly to tape it right in place OR use a plastic molding designed to cover the edges of glass. You want this also to keep fruit flies from climbing out of the top since they will get out of anywhere.

[zig3y]

sounds great, now this leads me to another question...... I really should thank you right now Don, you have been so much help...... but what light bulb should I use to get the right UV rays to my plants?

[DonLisk]

It is not UV as much as color temperature that is important to growing plants.
I buy my bulbs at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes. The package will have the Reveal or GE Daylight brand name and you only want a 13 to 15 watt compact florescent for that tank. The higher 24 watt version I think will be too hot unless you lift the light fixture off th top.

The package has Daylight 6500K on the front left side of the packaging.
About 5 bucks a bulb.

[J Teezy]

if you get your glass cut at a glass shop they can put a safety edge on it for you

[zig3y]

Just an update got my plants in! got some gold spiked moss, a bromeliad and a vine, my viv is really starting to take shape and Im gonna get some oak leaves in there and let the plants grow for a while and make sure everything is working as it is suppose to before I get any frogs. Hopefully I will get some pictures up soon!

[zig3y]

well like i said here are some pics, sorry they are late. This is my first viv and I am pretty proud because I think it look pretty good.