Mossy Frog build

[deranged chipmunk]

yeah, i haven't used it since......LOL in fact, with the exception of my mantella tank, all of the substrates in my tanks have been black for a long time. in fact, for the longest time, i used to use Black Diamond Sand Blasting Grit. it's black as coal (basically volcanic rock smushed to smithereens) and it's only $8 for 50Lb at tractor supply stores. i KNOW you have to have one of them around you......LOL

[deranged chipmunk]

i actually saw a guy's tank who used mineralized top soil only as a substrate. no cap. just dirt on the bottom. i was thinking about doing that for the 125, but if i do, i wouldn't be able to put substrate in the pond until early summer.

[NatureLady]

Ummm...Yeah I have a healthy amount of tractor supply stores in my area. Black might work...

Ok I have an issue unfolding in the viv...I put silicone on the glass where I was to spray foam. Yesterday I noticed that one area the foam was separating from the silicone. This just so happened to be an area where I had removed some foam that was a, "hey I have more foam in this can let's use it...um, here!" decision, that turned out to be a bad idea in hind sight. But today I noticed it was separating from the other side. Both happen to be the side glass not the back. What should I do to fix this? Smear wood glue into the cracks?

[deranged chipmunk]

GS does make a black colored foam called Pond & Stone. From what I have read it is less expanding and some said it didn't go as far as the gap and crack GS.

As for my experience...I waited about 30 minutes, give or take, and then I pressed (it was still tacky, but it easily came off of my bare hands) on it lightly until I got it to was happy with it. A few places I pressed it flat and a few places I just pressed some of the air out, because it was expanding to places I didn't want it to go.

I have a build going called Mossy Frog Build. Go there and I'll tell you which parts I pressed the foam.

this is why you encountered shrinkage. when you press of the foam, it pops all the air bubbles inside, which aid in it's curing process. when you took away the volume, it became liquid underneath and actually started pulling on the rest of the material lessons learned during building are so fun, aren't they?? LOL

[deranged chipmunk]

oh, and great stuff also makes a fire proof foam, which is black. it is a bit more pricey than the regular, but much, MUCH cheaper than pond foam, which is about 5x the cost of regular GS. at least where i buy it. Walmert has GS for $3/can, my local fish store has pond foam, same size can for $16/can

[NatureLady]

this is why you encountered shrinkage. when you press of the foam, it pops all the air bubbles inside, which aid in it's curing process. when you took away the volume, it became liquid underneath and actually started pulling on the rest of the material lessons learned during building are so fun, aren't they?? LOL

Yeah yeah Smarty pants. You will never be able to tell when I am done! I like to break the rules to get my way...bwahahahahahA!

[NatureLady]

Oh and today when buying more Titebond III, I sweet talked the lady who was marking plants down to give me 3 weak little plants for $1.50 total. They will go into one of the upper planters they are Purple Passion, Gynura aurantiaca, cute little fuzzy dudes. Any experience with them?

[deranged chipmunk]

nope.....but here's a link for ya.... Gynura aurantiaca - Purple Passion Vine - Asteraceae . i'm not sure what purple passion is and i'm pretty sure there is no plants named cute little fuzzy dudes.....LOL


edit: just saw it was all the same (i'm a dumb a$$) you bought 3?????

[deranged chipmunk]

my score today was a nice, stout little philodendron, a juvenile diffenbachia, and a nice, large robust red veined fittonia for $9

[NatureLady]

LOL! I almost bought a bright red veined fittionia, but it was in a highly over priced container. I did buy three, because they are on deaths door step and after reading the article I will be trimming the blooms off as they happen. Yucko, but very cool fuzzy purple leaves. I need more pops of color in the plantings.

[NatureLady]

Update...5 days ago I put the final layer of titebond and crammed as much coco fiber into as possible and then zoomed out of town for a few days for work. Today I got the shop vac out and cleaned out all of the extra stuff and put the finishing touches on the back ground. I walked away and came back to it several hours later, turned it right side up, and found more places to touch up. This phase of the build is finished...about damn time!


The pieces of paper where on the tank for me to get an idea of what plant is getting planted where. I ordered plants today and I didn't want to have to many plants or not enough...

In a few days I have a few places that need to be siliconed and covered with coco fiber. Maybe, just maybe, one day soon I will be ready to plant.

[Heatheranne]

It's looking fantastic!

[Eric Walker]

Amanda. I have a purple passion in one of my 40vert dart vivs stuck in a nook of the stump about 2/3 of the way down. Its doing pretty well for about 3months plus. Lower light will make it loose its purple shine. Make sure not to let it stay saturated where it is planted. and it should do ok. Mine has thrown alo of aerial roots. Not just from the base. Very cool little plant that adds a nice color. That background looks awsome btw.

[deranged chipmunk]

Well, it's about time you got something done.....lol it's gonna look awesome once it's planted. Don't worry about those touch ups, vines will grow over those spots.

[NatureLady]

It's looking fantastic!

Thanks Heather. I'm getting excited to see it finished.

Amanda. I have a purple passion in one of my 40vert dart vivs stuck in a nook of the stump about 2/3 of the way down. Its doing pretty well for about 3months plus. Lower light will make it loose its purple shine. Make sure not to let it stay saturated where it is planted. and it should do ok. Mine has thrown alo of aerial roots. Not just from the base. Very cool little plant that adds a nice color. That background looks awsome btw.

Lowe's almost killed them and while I was away for a work trip I managed to kill them dead. lol. Yes I was gone and killed them. Talent. And thank you

Well, it's about time you got something done.....lol it's gonna look awesome once it's planted. Don't worry about those touch ups, vines will grow over those spots.

I did the silicone portion of it today, because it has to be upright and out of work by Wednesday, and I noticed a few more spots that needed touch ups...What I didn't smear with the black silicone and more coco fiber I left alone. I do after all have a desire to finish this project once and for all.

OH...and our next expo is Feb 10th and guess who just confirmed that the breeder is bringing more mossy's...MEEE!!! So excited. I am going to try to pay for them so he will save them for me and I don't miss the chance to get them. I have turned the reptile expo into a family outing. My brother, his family, and mine are planning on making a day of the expo. lol <3

[Heatheranne]

Thanks Heather. I'm getting excited to see it finished.



Lowe's almost killed them and while I was away for a work trip I managed to kill them dead. lol. Yes I was gone and killed them. Talent. And thank you



I did the silicone portion of it today, because it has to be upright and out of work by Wednesday, and I noticed a few more spots that needed touch ups...What I didn't smear with the black silicone and more coco fiber I left alone. I do after all have a desire to finish this project once and for all.

OH...and our next expo is Feb 10th and guess who just confirmed that the breeder is bringing more mossy's...MEEE!!! So excited. I am going to try to pay for them so he will save them for me and I don't miss the chance to get them. I have turned the reptile expo into a family outing. My brother, his family, and mine are planning on making a day of the expo. lol &lt;3

Me too!

The messy silicone step...I'm not looking forward to the step. I'm still debating silicone vs grout. Have you ever tried the grout method? I'm betting its looking great!

Ooh! I hope you find another mossy .

[NatureLady]

Drum rolllll...it is planted. No one is calling home just yet, but it is beautiful to look at.


I have replanted the aquatic section again....and may do it again before it is all said and done.

[deranged chipmunk]

that looks GREAT Amanda!! you did and awesome job, it looks killer. it will grow in very nicely. Love the 'shrooms!! hate the duckweed though, but it's your tank, you're the one with aquatic herpes now.....LOL

[deranged chipmunk]

and that last pic is my favorite picture. i love the view of the waterfall

[NatureLady]

ACTUALLY, that is the azola and when I purchased it was my favorite plant that I got. I hate it too!!! It had better turn purple and be lovely, but my hopes are not high. My mossy will be covered in it and that is what I hate.