New Project

[froghobbiest]

Okay, I got a 40 gal breeder thursday so my new set up will begin tuesday since most stores will be closed tomorrow and monday. But I do have 2 cans of GS foam, 2 clear 100% silicone tubes with a caulk gun, 30ft roll of fiberglass screen, and a lil paint brush. All I have left to get is some pvc pipes and egg crates and a lil more eco earth for the back ground along with a filter. Still debating on what kind so if you know a good one to use to make a waterfall leading into a creek that would be great.

[John]

Zoo med sell some pumps that would be ideal. You could also skip it and get one of those Exo terra water falls. You're using clear silicone, which tells me you may not have done this before - the clear stuff is hard to mask when you stick the eco earth on it. I use the brown GE II silicone. It contains mold inhibitors but I have no issues with my frogs and neither has anyone else I've talked to who have used it for years for this purpose.

[bshmerlie]

Check out blackjungle.com, they have a couple of really good slide shows on how to build steam beds and backgrounds. They are step by step and don't look that difficult.

[froghobbiest]

Cool thanks. Yea this is my first time doing something like this and I only got clear because I didnt see any other kind but I did get it from wal-mart so that may be why but since I still have to go to Lowe's Ill look to see if they have any

[froghobbiest]

Ok I have all my supplies which are
my 40 gal
GS expanding foam
2 tubes of clear silicone
1 tube of brown silicone
5in PVC pipes
egg crate
florist foam

[froghobbiest]

So far all I've done tonight is apply the GS and cut my egg crate to the size and design I want and created my river (still have to get some rocks to silicone on it..here are pictures

[froghobbiest]

I forgot to take pictures of it but I also have some fiberglass screen and another bag of eco earth along with a repti-filter

[John]

I would leave the Great Stuff for at least 3 days before going any further. If any of it is thicker than 1.5 inches I'd wait another 3 days after that.

Regarding the screen, I find it's helpful to put a layer of coconut husk over the screen to help keep the "real" substrate reaching the screen, since the screen isn't perfect at keeping debris out of the drainage layer.

Btw, you're making me feel lazy - I still haven't started on my Zoo Med conversion :/.

[froghobbiest]

Yea Im going to let it sit a couple of days while I work on other things plus I still gotta get some more hydroballs so when I go get them ill get some coco husks. Im just glad petco and lowes was open when I got off work lol Yea im pretty tired I had to go to work at 8:30 this morning and didnt get home till about 6 so I was pretty tired when I did this But I think its going to turn out great. I know I need to get some nice size gravel and some hides

[John]

If you want Hydroballs (aka Hydroton and LECA), see if there's a hydroponics store in your area - they sell the stuff like crazy for all the home-based exotic tobacco farmers (which, judging by the number of Hydroponics stores, must number in the 10s of thousands).

[froghobbiest]

Only place I know of around here is petsmart so thats where I get mine from. I need to look for a nursery so I can get some plants. I hope their open tomorrow because I know some places wont be. And I cant order anything online right now because I just opened a checking account so I dont have a debit card yet

[froghobbiest]

Ok here is a update of the progress I've made within the last couple of days. I have the background done now


as i was almost done covering the foam with the silicone this happened
I also got my egg crate finished an here is what it looks like

I got the rocks on my florist foam for the river this morning so its still sitting in the living room curing

But I have the tank in my room almost set up, basicallly have the water circulating until everything else is done
only thing I have to add now is the river, rocks, substrate, plants, and my FBTs
not bad for my first big viv

[froghobbiest]

So I have been really busy with school and work and havent been able to take pictures but here is the updates. I had to take the moss out because it started to grow mold so I have reptibark as the bedding for right now and I only have water plants so far beecause the others died

[John]

Thanks for keeping us updated .

[froghobbiest]

no problem