Whites Tree Frog Vivarium Build Thread

[mpmistr]

I hope you are planning on more that 4 total supports. That sucker is gonna sag bigtime!!


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

There are 6, I've cut a section for a pool so 6 should work, I will test it out to see if the support with 6 is enough.. If not back to Menards tomorrow..

Something I don't think I've seen but seems like a good idea... I have cut the egg crate for the background. I am thinking I will make the background outside the tank and then add it in. This will allow the background to be removable in case I need to ever do a break down of the tank.

Here's a picture of what I've come up with..



I can't find my zip ties at the moment so I am looking for them to complete the pool section. I have cut out some fiber glass screen to separate the egg crate from the substrate.

Next step, down to the basement to begin my foam background! This will probably be the most difficult part.. I am going to cut more screen to cover the back of the background too to keep it sticking to the plastic as I lay down the foam.

The egg crate has been easier to work with than I thought. I am very happy with what I have so far.

Any missteps I may be making by all means let me know! This is my first time around on this lol..

[mpmistr]

Uhhh yeah, wound up working on this throughout the night and then some..

I took some pictures but they didn't come out that well, but here they are.

I needed a way to access my filter and heater... I luckily had a flat stone from an old aquarium wood decoration, I used this to make a trap door of sorts.. should work for what I need.


So this is what the tank looks like right now, I haven't added substrate yet. I figure I will mess with that when I have a fresh mind.


The background is still a work in progress. I woefully underestimated how much foam you get in those cans, it's not a lot. This background took 4 cans. I was able to adhere it to egg crate, so now the background is completely removable. I also ran out of silicone but I don't think it will be all that noticeable once the plants and moss are in. I was able to do 4 'holes' to rest my planters in, I will take more pictures of the background tomorrow because it's really not near done yet. I can say the absolute worst part is spreading the silicone, what a mess!



I have a box fan blowing on the background right now. I assume it will need at least one day to cure. I don't think I will be putting this all together until Monday night at the earliest, I used a lot of foam.

Hopefully it will come together nicely!

[mpmistr]

I really newb'd it up on the background, mostly from being impatient. The foam expanded more over night, did not anticipate this. I had to shave excess foam off to get the background to fit. Tested it out, fits OK but the back did warp a little, so the back is not perfectly flat.

I will need more silicone to fill in the gaps and then add more peat moss. Once the background is finished and cures I should be able to slap this all together. Heading out to get more silicone now..

[Lija]

Looking good! As far as can tell going to follow this and learn more.

[mpmistr]

Looking good! As far as can tell going to follow this and learn more.

Thanks! This has been a bit humbling. I am good with egg crate but I really did bugger up the background. I am trying to fix it, hopefully I will be able to. I picked up some more silicone to fill in the gaps of exposed foam. I added more peat moss to it to adhere.. I will check back on it later today. I was REALLY hoping to have this cured and ready to go by tonight or Monday morning, I am shooting for Tuesday now (unless I am really under estimating the time to cure the foam and silicone).

My only other real concern is, I may have over estimated the size of my tank.. it's starting to look pretty cramped with the background and wood pieces in!

I will hopefully have some good pictures of the background tonight.

[Lija]

Darn. I might get the same problem too. No more shopping for plants for me until start. And the store people just called that they just got in new shipment of terrarium plants (((
And i cant find any wood that i like

[mpmistr]

I finished touching up the background. It came out okay, I would have used less foam in retrospect. Hopefully once I add plants and moss the warts will not show on it.