I messed up

[Unnar Karl]

I got impatient and messed up big time!

I am making a Great Stuff background and i just siliconed the whole background and but the coco fiber on it, but it seems the coco fiber wasn't 100% dried. Is the background ruined or can i touch it up ?

[deranged chipmunk]

When it comes to using silicone, it's a case of "it is what it is". You can put more on, but it will eventually peel off. And you'll still be stuck with a bare spot. If it's not too bad after it cures, work with it. Attach moss to it or cover it with a plant. If you barely get coverage, you'll have to peel all the silicone off and do it over.


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

[Unnar Karl]

Just vacuumed the coco fiber off, it has a bunch of bald spots. Should i silicone the balds spots and add more fiber or should i silicon over the whole background again or is that guaranteed to peel off ?

[deranged chipmunk]

Any silicone you add now will just peel off. Either work with what you have or strip it all off and redo it. Sorry.


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

[Unnar Karl]

Exhausting way to spend a evening! I peeled off 99% of the silicone and am going to try again. How can i make sure the coco fiber is dried?

[deranged chipmunk]

You can bake it in the oven at about 250* until dry. Otherwise, I suppose a hair dryer would work, but could get messy. Lol


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

[LilyPad]

Otherwise buy a bag of loose - already dry - coco fiber instead of expanding a brick and then waiting for it to dry thoroughly. That's what I did with the last GS background I made.

[deranged chipmunk]

That's just another reason why I use titebond. No need to dry the cocofiber out.


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

[Vivariums In The Mist]

Something I do also (which might seem crazy), but DRY is best when using silicone method - I lay out the coco fiber in a tray and put it by my dehumidifier. Works great - bone dry!!

You can bake it in the oven at about 250* until dry. Otherwise, I suppose a hair dryer would work, but could get messy. Lol


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

[deranged chipmunk]

That's not crazy at all. Provided you have a dehumidifier. I sometimes use silica gel packets to dry my garden seeds out. But you would need a butt load of silica packets to dry out cocofiber lol


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

[Vivariums In The Mist]

Umm, I include a dehumidifier in every vivarium kit we sell. It is vivarium building 101.....lol
Anyway, it does really work.

That's not crazy at all. Provided you have a dehumidifier. I sometimes use silica gel packets to dry my garden seeds out. But you would need a butt load of silica packets to dry out cocofiber lol


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

[Unnar Karl]

Thanks for the replies, i baked the fiber and it worked fine. The silicone is still drying so i´m hoping for the best
I got a follow up question, what can i use as a divider between the LECA and the substrate in the drainage layer?

[deranged chipmunk]

You can use something as simple as landscape fabric, or fiberglass window screening. I stole an idea from Lynn (flybyferns) and started using polyester quilt batting. You can get it in the craft section at Walmart. It works really well.


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

[VAnative]

I have a food dehydrator, takes a while, but works. Though it takes less time tan air drying and doesn't get hot like an oven.