Rocky vs Woody.

[teslas intern]

Title says it all. I have an idea for a basaltic columns themed vivarium, covered in vines and tillandsias, and a dripping mossy waterfall, but I'm unsure if it will be more comfortable for tree frogs to not sit on concrete... In the wild I find them on concrete all the time, but still, in the opinion of forum members, would I be better off using tree bark for the background? Thoughts appreciated!

[deranged chipmunk]

The frog isn't really going to care. If it doesn't like the texture of the background, it will find other places to sleep. Concrete is nothing more than rock, not much different than rocks they encounter in the wild.
I will add this bit of caution: if you use concrete, and I mean real concrete, you need to put it through a thorough, 6 week curing process. that is a 6 week minimum.


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

[teslas intern]

I was going to use acrylic fortified stucco. Since the active ingredients are the same I guess 6 weeks it is! Can I use drylok concrete water sealer to waterproof it? Supposedly it is safe for ponds... I don't know if anyone on here has experience with it, and if it is frog safe. I can always use epoxy, but drylok is way cheaper.

[hroney]

I used hydraulic cement I got at Home Depot. It's been great! Cures fast.

[deranged chipmunk]

Why not just carve foam and paint with drylok? You can get the same results. Is there any reason you have your heart set on some form of mortar? Even non sanded grout would do the trick and not require the lengthy curing process.


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

[teslas intern]

Why not just carve foam and paint with drylok? You can get the same results. Is there any reason you have your heart set on some form of mortar? Even non sanded grout would do the trick and not require the lengthy curing process.


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

Only because I have stucco left over... I was planning on coating foam with it, I actually already have the foam. But If I really can just do drylok over foam, that makes my life WAY easier! I shall ponder this carefully...

[Krispy]

We use fiberglass reenforced mortar. Its what thay hand make shower floors from around here. My build tank we are lining with ceramic tile(wood build). I think its more to personal preferance. But cure time needs to be a few weeks at least. I would be leary on regular concrete mixes due to such high amounts of calcium and other chems that seep as it cures. But lots of people have success. I wanted to use hydraulic as well but an ornery old dude im very close friends told me not to. And hell show me the good way to do it lmao. He suggested the fibreglass reenforced because it is more like an epoxy. We shall see... but its good to see what other options i have.