My terrarium build journal

[RedHed]

I have 3 WTFs and wanted to design a terrarium optimal for their arboreal life style. I took the 35 gal hex tank and decided to fix it up. First i looked at doing work with styrafoam and layering it horizontally and "carving" out a background this way. Then i thought that i could silicone styrafoam pieces together and then grout over them and seal with a silicone sealer. Like How to build a waterfall for a terrarium great website to give you some ideas for what you want. Finally i decided to experiment with the tank and great stuff foam in the background and cover it with grout. Then i will seal it with Sheilds all ( Waterproof Sealer Clear for wood,masonry,roofs,metal ) this is the first time i have used this in my amphibian tanks, so i cant vouch for it being safe for frogs. It does say that it is nontoxic to animals, humans, and plants.
First i foamed in the 3 back sides of the hexagon. To do this you have to spray in each side separeately then allow for it to harden before you can start on the next panel. Since i wanted to grow live plants i used this time to foam in starter organic pots. After everything had hardened i forced in the wood (grapevine) branch and foamed in around it. {BEFORE YOU DO THIS BE SURE TO BOIL THE WOOD TO PREVENT IT FROM RELEASING TANNINS IN THE WATER} When i got done it looks like this:

Since i didn't like the "bubbly" look i took a knive and carved out rock like edges. Be careful when you do this. (duh) Then i wanted a waterfall so i put the tank on the counter by my kitchen sink extendable hose on the "rock" where i wanted the waterfall to be and carved it out paying careful attention to how i wanted the water to flow over the "rocks". I have done this in the past without the water and i picked too much the first time so i advise it. Then i set up my waterfall pump to make sure everything worked. I am using a canister filter that i wasnt using. ( Eheim 2215).

Since i didnt want to foam my intake tube into the tank and gunk it all up i went to my LFS and purchased some Lee's tubing. Be careful when you buy tubing the one's at homedepo may be cheaper but they can also release toxins into the water. I made that mistake and luckily corrected it before putting my frogs into the tank. I foamed in the tubing and attached the intake tube to that. I had been worried that increasing the intake tube would cause problems for my canister but everything is running fine. The out take tube is what i use to power my waterfall.

I added a few cuttings from my pothos plant (rubber banded together at the end to keep them all together)
Right now im currently mixing up some watery grout and "painting" it on my foam. The slick part (the outer layer of the greatstuff foam) of the greatstuff must all be peeled away in order for the grout to stick. Otherwise it will just run right off. more to follow.....
thanks for reading
Amy

[DonLisk]

Nice. Can't wait to see it completed and the water feature running :-)

[RedHed]

So I FINALLY got everything grouted in ... It took forever and there are some spots of great stuff showing through but they are hard to reach places and I'll prolly just foam in grey ( fake reptile rock) over them.
After letting the grout dry for a couple days ( the waiting almost killed me) I used the shields all and coated the entire back ground several times.... Then I changed my mind on a few things and added in more branches for the frogs to climb .....

Let me know what yall think... I'm slightly worried about the grout causing rough edges that might scrape the froggies so I might do some sanding before siliconing the waterfall area, drilling plant pot holes, and building a screen top. Lots more to go

[ndame88]

Amy,
Couple of questions:
1. Sanded or unsanded grout? What color grout is that?
2. After you apply shields, go you have to silicone it?

Thanks, looks great.

[RedHed]

Sorry didn't see your reply .... I have sanded grout ( it was all I could find in my small town) ..... And I silicone because I have noticed the great stuff absorbs water even after the shields all

hope that helps

[DonLisk]

I would like to recommend you look into some type of way to create airflow inside your tank.
Many vivs have a low and high ventilated area to allow air flow in and then expel usually from the top. Tree Frogs usually should be provided some air circulation.

I have seen this from Zoo Med which may work and there are also some good topics on DIY fans using a fan from a computer.
Aquarium Cooling Fans: Zoo Med Aqua Cool Aquarium Cooling Fan AA-13

[J Teezy]

unsanded looks better if you are going for a rock look

[RedHed]

I donno it turned put really good and in certain places I rubbed in some Eco earth to add to it a little bit

[J Teezy]

Amy,
Couple of questions:
1. Sanded or unsanded grout? What color grout is that?
2. After you apply shields, go you have to silicone it?

Thanks, looks great.

Sorry didn't see your reply .... I have sanded grout ( it was all I could find in my small town) ..... And I silicone because I have noticed the great stuff absorbs water even after the shields all

hope that helps

Shields All is water resistant not water proof. What i did on my background is grouted > painted > several coats of shields all > then you should put silicone over areas that will be constantly wet. I like to keep my vivs wet so i go ahead and just cover the whole thing in silicone. If you are sealing with Shields All correctly water shouldn't really be getting through the sealer into the Great Stuff. How many coats of Shields did you use? I usually do 3-4

[RedHed]

Right .... What you said is what I'm doing....?