R. Ventrimaculatus - 18x18x24 Build Journal

[deranged chipmunk]

Be EXTREMELY careful buying plants from petsmart. A lot of their "aquatic plants" aren't. Items like mondo grass and peacock fern are marginals at best. Mondo grass actually prefers a more drained substrate than they would have you believe


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[LilyPad]

I have written down the 2 different things you suggested. If they don't have them, then I'll skip it completely. I need more small crickets for the piglet red eyes so I'll get them there too, won't be a wasted trip.

[deranged chipmunk]

Bill, I was thinking of getting a Dragon Flame (Hemigraphis Repanda) for the water fall. Do you have any experience with these?

Sorry Paul, I have never worked with that one.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

I just can't bring myself to buy plants from petsmart. Would be different if the employees actually could help with the care of the plant, but most often they don't. The planted tank friend I mentioned earlier in the thread works at Petco and said "Don't buy plants from us" lol.

[deranged chipmunk]

Lol. I am going to hit up my local friends and see if anybody has dwarf sag. I will let you guys know if I can get some

Otherwise, Amy, if there's something I have that you want, don't be afraid to ask.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Thanks Bill, If not I will order some. The shipping is like $15 on that site.. Little steep for ordering $15 worth of plants


I may have to set this tank up and then buy aquatic plants for it at a later date.

[deranged chipmunk]

It's no problem. As soon as I hear something I will let you know. Tapatalk is awesome for multiple forums, so I just popped onto another forum and posted a distress call lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

LoL You are the best!

Hey speaking of the best, Bill. I am going to give the TB III method another shot on this build. Walk me through it again to refresh my memory. Also I am wanting to go for a darker look this time. I want the plants to POP out at you when you look at it. What do you suggest I use to mix with the TB III?

[deranged chipmunk]

Easy peasey. Just mix up a slurry of titebond and your material of choice and paint it on. Once I have a nice couple coats on, I press extra material into the last wet coat just to give it that "fluffy" look. For a darker version, you can mix some peat moss in. Some people claim they get mold from the peat, but I never experienced that. The original mantella tank had a mix of cocofiber, peat moss, some very fine sand, and some sand "dust"


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

Just remember that tb takes DAYS to dry.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

Yeah I had considered doing clear silicon then pressing something onto it, but I don't like the thought of having gaps that can't be covered up later. Plus I have over half a jug of TB III

[DigitalPunk]

Think I will do Peat Moss. That is what I thought you said you did in the mantella build thread, just couldn't find that post again lol. Man I wish Folius had the Hygrolon in stock!! That is killing me, but I can't wait for it on this tank. Maybe he will have some when I am ready for it on my 40B Vert tank.

Thanks Bill!

[LilyPad]

I love the slurry idea and will do that in the future, just read about it the other day.

[DigitalPunk]

Well I did the first coat of TB III Slurry tonight. I mixed it up thicker than I did with my initial attempt at this style and I liked the thicker mixture much better. Here is a picture of the Slurry. I will get a pic of the tank in the morning once the slurry has had a chance to dry some on the foam. I won't do a 2nd coat until I am certain this first coat has dried (Prob 36 - 48 hours).



Pencil stir stick lol

[DigitalPunk]

First coat is nearly dry, here is how it turned out.



And a close up of the first coat in contrast with the foam color



and the first coat in contrast with the waterfall wood.



I used a 1/2 drill bit to boar a hole by hand through the foam and egg crate for the waterfall supply tune. Front and rear view photos below.

[LilyPad]

Wow, that turned out really nice! I love it!

[deranged chipmunk]

It's looking good bubba!! How many coats are you planning on?


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

I am not sure. I like the look it has now. I really like the color the foam has and don't mind seeing it through the first coat. I might do another one just to fill in some thin areas, but I am really pleased with how it is looking

[deranged chipmunk]

Coolio!


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[DigitalPunk]

I was debating with myself on if I should use some clear silicon on the wood and put a few small stones and sprinkle some sand on it to help force the water to spread out some on the way down. I haven't made a decision yet. What do ya'll think?

I will do a test run of the waterfall once the slurry process is done and dry just to see how it looks and if any tweaking will be needed at all.