Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
Definitely a very cool build. A couple notes, although I may have missed points since I read through the thread rather quickly.

First, thanks for your comments! Answers under each comment.

A) Terribilis and RETF have quite different requirements since one habitates the forest floor where humidity is high and air thick and heavy, and retf live in the canopies where there is more air circulation and less humidity. How are you planning on combating that? I assume youÂ’ll be adding fans at the top of the enclosure?

Yes, I totally considered this. Humidity is not an issue on any level of TRE (The Rainforest Exhibit). If you look at the exhibit, you will notice the 2 side fans, one on each side approx. 12" from glass bottom.
These are set on High WHEN the fogging unit is not running. since these fans blow out the fog. The top of TRE has small slits, along the glass and under the stainless steel mesh on the ceiling.
also there is a 1/8" separation on both front doors. When fans are on full the air is pushed through the top slits and the door slit. TRE is fully ventilated. The humidity levels range from 50% (no rain/no fog) to 99% (full rain misting system), however, the average is 75%(drops between rain and fog system, including waterfalls and streams). The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is thriving and we are adding just one to two more.

B) as far as your aquatic area, you state 55-60 gallons, but what is the usable area for the fish. Since most folk determine their stocking limits by gallons, in paludariums, we donÂ’t have that luxury. We lose usable volume in the form of backgrounds and such. Obviously planting heavily and the use of a sump as you are using helps, but they still need that all too precious room.

The usable aquarium area is approximately 35 to 40 gallons (my original calculation of 55 to 60 gallons was incorrect).
Hence why I will only keep 8 fish in it at any one time. So far they are all doing well and the water quality is well within safe limits (now that everything settled down).

The thing that I really like about the build is your mention of using commercial expanding foams and epoxies. I was getting into using them prior to leaving the hobby, so I find it exciting to see someone actually using them. IÂ’ll definitely be following along to see how you use them

As I said before, I used mainly High Density Foam from DUNA USA. Much of it is actually structural, meaning unlike expanding foam, it can hold a lot of weight. I am 6'2' and 240lbs, and I have stood on it with no breaks, compression, splits.
Any expanding foam I have used, was only used for filling cracks (small cracks, or filling space around lighting wires, some plumbing pipes).
I think I used about a can and a half of minimum expanding foam. I did not use silicone with coco fiber or soil spread on it. I actually did some of that in the 90's when no one was doing this, however, after awhile it degraded and easily peeled off.

I use Drylok mix, tinted to color and then SOME acrylic accents colors, then sealed with a matte spray that when dried, was harmless to livestock and plants. However, it must be washed and run through clean water for awhile before adding fish.
I actually think my original fish kill (3 fish, but still, one death is too many) was caused by the ph levels rising from the leaf litter/driftwood.

I hope this answers your questions? If you want to know more or would like pics of anything specific, please contact me here or on the website at www.therainforestexhibit.com Contact Page.
Please ask any questions you want. I am an artist with a background in zoo exhibit fabrication, sculpting, shotcrete/gunite/concrete, wire framing/rebar, welding/framing, and small scale design.


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My answers are above under each comment.