vivarium construction supplies

[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.

[Tom Highum]

Also, from what I have seen these materials work very well, both Epiweb and Hygrolon, for growing many plants, primarily epiphytes and mosses. But they both, specifically Epiweb, have a tendancy to dry out, so with them a good misting system is essential. Dusk Tropic has also come up with a product that is pre-seeded to grow moss,( http://www.epiweb.se/epiwebiis3.htm more details on the middle of this page) a handy thing to have.

Sorry for the double post

[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.

[coastal20]

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.

I think that they probably under estimated demand for the product in the USA. I would hope the next shipment would include more stock and it would be great to get some of the moss mix dusk tropic has.

[coastal20]

I just received an email from where I bought the hygrolon. They said that the moss mix would be in stock in about 2 weeks, Im excited. Probably by then they will have more stock of everything.