RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

[deranged chipmunk]

Looks good so far. Failures are part of learning and I am glad you showed them. Just remember, you need to be patient with spray foam and allow it to cure for at least 24 hours before moving the tank. If it is a heavy applications, 72 hours. You wouldn't believe how long it can take to cure all the way through when it is very thick. This prevents it from shrinking as you go along.

As far as the outside if the tank covering the foam and such, I use black contact "shelf paper" I get from Home Depot to cover my tanks, so you cannot see the foam from the outside.

The vine you made was pretty inventive, except, unless you removed the copper core from the coax cable, with the humidity inside the tank, the copper is going to slowly corrode and poison the tank, no matter what you do. Water vapor has a tendency to get in places you wouldn't believe.

Otherwise, keep up the great work, it's looking great!

[DigitalPunk]

Bill,

I had thought of that bit about the coper and used a piece of Coax with Aluminum in the middle as well as power cords with Aluminum wiring.

I started Painting on the glue today. I have pictures I will post after this. I tested the glue on the Silicone and I don't think it is going to stick. The backup plan incase I am right is to use a thin layer of spray foam on the sides to give me a surface to apply the Titebond III

[DigitalPunk]

The recovery form last nights mistakes is complete.

I did what little trimming I wanted to do and vacuumed the inside of the terrarium out. I cut the wholes for the 3 pots I will put on the back wall and got them inserted. I am using a mesh pot normally used for a hydroponics setup. the two pots in the top corner of the tank will be for Pothos plants and the one lower in the middle is for a Bromeliad. There will also be a Snake Plant planted in the substrate.

Next I laid the tank down on its back and began painting on the Titebond III + Cocoanut fiber. Once I covered a section I would press more coco fiber into it. Rinse and repeat until the whole thing was covered. Plan is to let the back dry for a day or 4 then check it. I also did a test patch on some silicone to see if it would adhere. If it does not than I will be cleaning off that patch and applying spray foam to all the remaining side and back glass of the terrarium.

[Mentat]

...The vine you made was pretty inventive, except, unless you removed the copper core from the coax cable, with the humidity inside the tank, the copper is going to slowly corrode and poison the tank, no matter what you do. Water vapor has a tendency to get in places you wouldn't believe...

Good tip Bill !

[DigitalPunk]

Spray foam was applied to the exposed silicon on the sides last night. I'll stick it with a tooth pick when I get him to check for gooey parts. If everything goes good I will begin applying titebond 3 to it tonight.


Also on the list tonight is getting quarantine ready for the two baby RETF that will be delivered on Friday and getting a container setup for the 500 crickets that will be delivered tomorrow morning.