Starting my very first Dart frog tank.

[chellabella]

Okay so I have decided to just go with the great stuff and silicone that I have already purchased. I am okay with not being able to remove it once sprayed, I just thought it was how everyone was doing. Once I start foaming is there anyway to be able to you use the can the next day so that I can add more foam? I have heard once you start a can you can't really use it a second time, is that true?

[DartEd]

Okay so I have decided to just go with the great stuff and silicone that I have already purchased. I am okay with not being able to remove it once sprayed, I just thought it was how everyone was doing. Once I start foaming is there anyway to be able to you use the can the next day so that I can add more foam? I have heard once you start a can you can't really use it a second time, is that true?

Usually the foam clogs the tubing. I soaked the tubing in warm water and was able to use a fairly new can a week later. I should tell you that they don't usually work after a couple of days. I think my good fortune was due to the can being nearly unused. I only sprayed it to fill in a few holes on another build.

I would ensure that you have plenty of time to build when you start spraying. To build up, the foam doesn't need to cure completely, it just has to harden a bit to stay put. You can also shape the foam a bit with a gloved hand after about 20 mins. The foam is initially sticky but the outside becomes less tacky and more pliable.

How many cans did you get? It will probably take 2-3 for the size tank you're doing unless you're adding cork, tree fern or some other filler. And 2-3 tubes of silicone. I've learned I go through about one can of GS and one tube of silicone per 12 by18 inch section of tank. Don't forget to leave off about 2-3 inches from the bottom or the background will wick water up into the substrate( No Bueno). This will cause boggy conditions and cause substrate to decompose more quickly.

[chellabella]

I will be using other things besides the foam, one side of my tank will the cork bark sheet and the opposite side is being left just glass although I may change that to just rubbing on the silicone and coco on the glass so I can attach mushrooms up the side of the tank. I also am using a waterfall kit to create dripping down a piece of Mopani Wood. Do you guys usually foam that piece of wood into the back or let it just sit in the tank? As far as the tank floor I am using hydroballs on the bottom with the screen and then coco, is there anything else I need to know that people sometimes forget? I am really hoping to eventually make this mostly self containing.

Thanks for everyone's help. This weekend super busy so I was not able to start until last night but I have now applied the silicone to the back of the tank and will start foaming today. Wish me luck! I will post pictures soon

[chellabella]

I am using a waterfall kit to create dripping down a piece of Mopani Wood. Do you guys usually foam that piece of wood into the back or let it just sit in the tank? As far as the tank floor I am using hydroballs on the bottom with the screen and then coco, is there anything else I need to know that people sometimes forget?
I am really hoping to eventually make this mostly self containing.

[chellabella]

I think I am done foaming at this point, well unless you guys think I should foam in my piece of wood for the water feature? What do you think so far?

[deranged chipmunk]

that all depends on how you plan on adding it in with the waterfall. i always preach test, test, test, and when you are done testing, test some more...lol it's amazing how many people throw a tank together, then find out about technical errors after everything is done. i think i took several days of testing before i got the water feature in my mantella tank where i wanted it. and then i had some tweaking to do after all was said and done.

[DartEd]

If the piece of wood is stable and won't move, you can just place it. Mopani is very heavy so I doubt any dart could move it. I have a hard time lifting the piece I have. You can always silicone it in place if you decide you'd rather have it affixed.