help with background please

[arielgasca420]

So I have been looking around for brown silicone and I have come across the following item. I would like to know if it is safe
GE Silicone II Brown Silicone for Window and Door Caulk
I understand there is brown pond sealer but that stuff is a little too expensive for one small project. I would be more favorable to buy it if I had a few several projects to use it on.

[DonLisk]

GE Silicone II should be available in brown but I buy the black version. Just make sure its the Window and Door version.
I think a dab of Great stuff between the bricks will keep them together. Or Gorilla glue will also and be a permanent bond for the bricks.


When putting soil to the silicone, make sure the soil is dried out and the silicone is put on thick. I cut line and cracks way over sized since the thick layer of silicone will really fill it in.

[arielgasca420]

Thanks for your help donlisk. I applied brown silioneII windows and doors to try and save the current background. It was very difficult to apply because there was soil currently on the background so it balled up. Ill let it dry in the sun for 72 hours, shake off the extra soil and see if the smell is still there.

[mrzoggs]

i applied some eco earth to my 10 gallon vert last night. since it was still a little damp i put it in the over on 250 degrees and left the door cracked. it dried up very well. i would keep an eye on it though so it doesnt burn up.


GE silicone is fine to use, and they make it in brown. Thats all i use for my vivs. Some argue against using I vs II but i use II. not sure of the exact differences. As long as its 100% silicone.

Honestly if you were using soil id bake it anyways. just because i bought a bag of soil and it had bugs in it and a beetle ended up in one of my bug cultures from not baking my soil. Eco earth worked great. Bricks are super cheap. I paid $7 for 3 bricks. 1 brick filled up a 5 gallon bucket halfway.

[arielgasca420]

I used a additive free sterilized topsoil. The exo earth took too long to dry out after expanding it. Ive also heard of eco earth and certain soils turning to dust while baking it. I didnt want a fire hazard so i got something that was sterile

[mrzoggs]

yeah thats why i baked mine. i waited 3 days and it still hadnt dried in the bucket. seemed to work great after drying though. the soil i bought was supposed to be plain soil additive free and everything but it had some beetles in it. maybe from sitting outside at lowes i guess.

[arielgasca420]

thanks for all the help.
mrzoggs: I should have used eco earth because it is softer. the top soil gave me some splinters, but it shouldnt harm my frog because I will be growing moss over the topsoil anyways. made my moss milkshake today and painted it on. it should be done in about two weeks and the background should be completely covered in moss.
If I need to do the background again I will just buy the eco earth that comes in a bag (instead of a brick) and apply that