Just started my build, 1st timer :)

[mariebaby21]

I got a 12x24x16 glass tank. I'm super excited about this as it's my first time ever doing this. I will post pics as I go. The first two are just of the tank itself and then the application of the silicone. You can see I have the Great Stuff next to the tank, and will be using that when the silicone cures.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

What frogs do you plan on keeping.
And welcome to the forum.

[mariebaby21]

I'm going to keep D. leucomelas. I love how the yellow stands out and I read they are pretty easy keepers. Thank you for the welcome

[fluffypanda]

Very exciting! keep us posted

[Heatheranne]

Welcome to the forum . Can't wait to see your creation!

[mariebaby21]

since i have already put the silicone on the back of the tank without attaching any of my mopani wood, will i be able to attach the wood into the great stuff at the time i apply it? or do i need to press in the wood to make an indentation and then when the foam cures, silicone the wood to the foam?

[J Teezy]

since i have already put the silicone on the back of the tank without attaching any of my mopani wood, will i be able to attach the wood into the great stuff at the time i apply it? or do i need to press in the wood to make an indentation and then when the foam cures, silicone the wood to the foam?

Great stuff should hold the wood

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

[flybyferns]

Great stuff should hold the wood

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Josh ! It's great to have you back !

[mariebaby21]

Ok, so here it is with the Great Stuff applied. I used the 2" pots to create the places where I will be putting plants on the background. How long do I have to let this sit before it's dry enough to carve out?





I'm really hoping the foam holds the manzanita wood in place, since I didnt silicone it in first.

[deranged chipmunk]

so far, so good i let mine sit 48 hours, sometimes longer. the foam will hold that piece of wood. no worries.

[mariebaby21]

So I started to titebond the background today. First I tried a mix of titebond and coco-fiber... it was thick and pastey and a little hard to work with. So then I decided to just paint the titebond onto the foam and then pack on the coco-fiber. That was so much easier! I took a couple of pictures but they are hard to make out because the tank is not standing up right now and there is coco-fiber dust all over the glass. I'm not going to clean it until I'm completely done making a mess LOL
I can already see some bare spots I'm going to have to touch up in a couple of days. I'm pretty happy with it so far
I'll post pictures of this step after I have done the touch ups and have cleaned the glass

[deranged chipmunk]

i've done it both ways. but i do prefer mixing it. like you said, it's a little unruly to work with, but you just have to play it by ear. but one thing is for sure, it beats the Krap out of silicone

[mariebaby21]

I just bought a bunch of plants, lighting, substrate etc from Josh's Frogs! Should all be in by wednesday I hope. I can't wait to get this going to I can post pictures of my progress!

[deranged chipmunk]

Nice choice. Josh's has great stuff. Did you get the kit? Or did you choose individual stuffs?

[mariebaby21]

I got the plant kit. If I don't get what I want.. there is a fern I want and I added moss to my order... I'll just buy more
It will be about a 3 weeks to a month before I add frogs just to make sure everything is going well. So I'll have plenty of time if I need more plants
I also got springtails. I got the ABG mix and the substrate divider... but I have a hydroponics store right by my house for they hydroton (sp?) and they sell it pretty cheap. I think I could have bought a new puppy with all I have spent on this LOL

[J Teezy]

may want to look into using growstones instead of Hydroton.

check this out Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

[deranged chipmunk]

Those plant kits are nice if you aren't sure what plants you want. They are really helpful for beginners. I think it's great idea they came up with on that one

[deranged chipmunk]

may want to look into using growstones instead of Hydroton.

check this out Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

I watched this video a couple times now and i'm not seeing where growstones would be more advantageous than LECA in out application of it. Am i missing something?

[J Teezy]

absorbs the water instead of repelling it. Higher humidity. I personally don't like excess water just hanging out in the bottom of my tanks, hence why i use drains, but if i wasn't going to have a drain i would use growstones personally. Plus if you can see your drainage layer i think growstones looked better to the eye than hydroton

[deranged chipmunk]

If using it in it's intended application, i think it would be brilliant. But as a drainage layer, i think it would be detrimental. First off, no matter what their claim, it doesn't "absorb" water. Wicking allows the water to reach all it's pores. And underneath the substrate, i would believe that would be a wonderful place for nasty anaerobic bacteria to grow. And a lot of it at that. I agree it would look more appealing than hydroton. But j disagree that it would create more humidity, except in an application like yours where it is constantly drained.