vivarium construction supplies

[UncleChester]

Great idea Bill. You've been pretty thorough but I'll add a few things

"Hydroton" is a brand name and if the store doesn't know what you're talking about try asking for LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate), or 'little clay balls', or 'balls of clay'. If you still get funny looks, leave the store and try someplace else.

A couple other Backgrounds:

Cement: Quikrete "Quick Set Cement" mixed with Acrylic Fortifier and tinted with concrete pigments over carved styrofoam makes an indestructible background. Non-toxic acrylic craft paint also works to tint the cement as you're mixing it, but isn't supposed to be as colour fast (3 years and running with no problems in one of my vivariums though). This needs time to cure, especially if it's involved in a water feature as cement will raise the pH. Materials at any hardware store come in relatively large quantities making this very economical in the long run. Tile grout is another related option that I've never tried.

Bare Glass with Exterior Paint: 'Reverse paint' on the outside of the vivarium using Craft Paint made for painting glass. Makes for an extremely easy to clean interior.


Excellent article about suitable choices for wood and how to prepare it for the vivarium Caudata Culture Articles - Wood in Vivaria
.
Shelf Mushrooms: Great to silicone to the glass for ledges. Best to collect ones that turn hard and woody. Can be boiled and baked like the wood above.

Safe and Cheap Silicone for the Canucks: Home Hardware - 3 Pack 300mL Multi-purpose Clear Silicone II Sealant

Plastic Zip Ties: Smaller versions of the kinds the riot police use for impromptu handcuffs. Any hardware store has them. Mentioned by Bill with regards to building a false bottom but since they are immediately frog safe (unlike glue/silicone) they're also great for instant impromptu repairs inside an already running vivarium, or adding branches, tying back plants, or handcuffing a misbehaving frog.

[deranged chipmunk]

Thanks brian. I knew i missed stuff, that's why this is THE BEST frog forum around don't go too far, i'm going to do lighting tonight

[BadKat]

I was lucky enough to find a 50# bag of leca at a local hydroponics store. Unfortunately, it may become very hard to find soon. Apparently the clay is gathered through a process similar to strip mining and many people are refusing to buy or use it (understandably).

The gentleman working at the store had a recycled glass alternative, but he wasn't sure if it would be animal safe. I may have to go back in and ask if he's asked the manufacturer about that yet.

[coastal20]

I just got the hygrolon this morning, Thought I would post a couple pictures of it.

[deranged chipmunk]

I just got the hygrolon this morning, Thought I would post a couple pictures of it.

how does it feel Chase? is it stretchy and soft? like could i say, um, wrap it around a limb to have mosses and orchids growing from it???

[coastal20]

how does it feel Chase? is it stretchy and soft? like could i say, um, wrap it around a limb to have mosses and orchids growing from it???

Yes it is very flexible, there would be no problem wrapping it around any limb. I have not tested it yet because I have no new plants to replant yet. It is also very soft, nothing like ecoweb which is very coarse looking.
I will be using hygrolon on top of ecoweb for my mossy tree frog tank, and see how much the moss, plants, and orchids grow on it.

[deranged chipmunk]

I was lucky enough to find a 50# bag of leca at a local hydroponics store. Unfortunately, it may become very hard to find soon. Apparently the clay is gathered through a process similar to strip mining and many people are refusing to buy or use it (understandably).

The gentleman working at the store had a recycled glass alternative, but he wasn't sure if it would be animal safe. I may have to go back in and ask if he's asked the manufacturer about that yet.

i hadn't heard about that. i'll have to ask the next time i'm at my hyrdo shop.

as long as it's inert, which it should be, the recycled glass should be fine. after all, it's way too buried to be eaten.

[UncleChester]

as long as it's inert, which it should be, the recycled glass should be fine. after all, it's way too buried to be eaten.

I'd agree. Assuming it can't be eaten, isn't sharp, or isn't accessible to the frogs, glass should be problem. I've seen marbles used as a drainage layer, kind pretty, but also kinda heavy in case you need to move things.

I just got the hygrolon this morning, Thought I would post a couple pictures of it.

So, where did you get this and how much was it? It looks like interesting stuff.

[coastal20]

I'd agree. Assuming it can't be eaten, isn't sharp, or isn't accessible to the frogs, glass should be problem. I've seen marbles used as a drainage layer, kind pretty, but also kinda heavy in case you need to move things.



So, where did you get this and how much was it? It looks like interesting stuff.

Folius
This is this first place that I have seen this product carried outside Europe. They shipped the product the same day and it arrived in three days.

[Tom Highum]

Ever since I started reading this thread I have been simultaneously reading about Epiweb and Hygrolon. They were created by a Swedish company called "Dusk Tropic" and are mainly sold in the EU. That being said, on their website Epiweb they have links to retailers and I do believe that the UK retailer that is listed will ship to the US and they carry the full range of the products including the Epiweb IIS (comes with an irrigation system) but also the prices for shipping are extraneous.

What I can tell about Folius is that it is a brand new company (only weeks old) with only one real product, Hygrolon and this is semi limited compared to what Dusk Tropic has created (so far, again weeks old). I did like their website layout, I hope they pick up some more interesting products.

[BadKat]

Folius
This is this first place that I have seen this product carried outside Europe. They shipped the product the same day and it arrived in three days.

Thank you for the link. I've been curious about it but too lazy to find it stateside.
I just checked the site out and a lot of products are out of stock.

So if anyone wants some they probably better get on the stick.

[Eric and Stitch]

A couple other Backgrounds:

Cement: Quikrete "Quick Set Cement" mixed with Acrylic Fortifier and tinted with concrete pigments over carved styrofoam makes an indestructible background. Non-toxic acrylic craft paint also works to tint the cement as you're mixing it, but isn't supposed to be as colour fast (3 years and running with no problems in one of my vivariums though). This needs time to cure, especially if it's involved in a water feature as cement will raise the pH. Materials at any hardware store come in relatively large quantities making this very economical in the long run. Tile grout is another related option that I've never tried.

I couldn't find an exact "Acrylic Fortifier" on the label of anything at Menards, but this is described as an Acrylic bonding agent, just wanted to make sure its safe before I open and use it.
Concrete Bonding Additive - 1 Quart at Menards