Terrarium and Table

[DigitalPunk]

ColleenT,

If you are getting the thing I think you ordered it is actually real cork bark that has been glues to a manufactured cork backing. I used the same think in my Mantella and Red Eye tanks. Just a heads up. All of the ones we got had a sort of natural arch to them so they didn't sit flat. I took some silicone and smeared it all over the glass and then laid the panel on the glass and weighted it down so it layer flat. I let it sit like that for for 24 hours. This not only flattened it out, but ensures Flies, Crickets, or frogs can not get in behind it.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

[ColleenT]

ColleenT,

If you are getting the thing I think you ordered it is actually real cork bark that has been glues to a manufactured cork backing. I used the same think in my Mantella and Red Eye tanks. Just a heads up. All of the ones we got had a sort of natural arch to them so they didn't sit flat. I took some silicone and smeared it all over the glass and then laid the panel on the glass and weighted it down so it layer flat. I let it sit like that for for 24 hours. This not only flattened it out, but ensures Flies, Crickets, or frogs can not get in behind it.

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

which silicone did you use, and how much?? how would you have to get it off in the future? scrape it off with a paint scraper?

[LilyPad]

Razor blade cleans silicone right off. My grey tree frog tank has a background siliconed in. I went around all the edges carefully and made sure there were no holes or crevices that crickets could get into. I do not intend on taking out the background anytime in the near future though, so I'm not overly concerned about needing to scrap out silicone.

[DigitalPunk]

Just use a razor blade to scrap away the silicone. Clean the area with an alcohol base cleaner and let it air dry for an hour or so. Then use aquarium safe silicone (or 100% silicone from the hardware store). Just make sure the silicone doesn't have any anti mold properties and it will be frog safe.

Apply a generous bead back to the area you scraped and with a gloved hand (latex, rubber.... anything you don't mind ruining) press your finger into the corner and smooth out the silicone (but don't remove all of the silicone). Let the silicone cure for 24 hours minimum. Add water back in and let the tank sit for a couple days. Look for leaks. If no leaks than you are good If you see a leak you have to repeat the whole process until the leak is fixed.

[ColleenT]

just got my background. i have to say i am totally impressed. it looks and feels like tree bark. it is very thick, almost an inch thick, but i don't think i could make it thinner without destroying it, so i'm fine with it. CLeaned the back wall, siliconed it and placed the background. no tweaking needed. fit like a glove. i have some big rocks on it now holding it flat for the next 24 hours.

the white you see on the far right is just reflection on the plastic wrap i had not removed yet.


you can see how thick it is.

[DigitalPunk]

Colleen those are great backgrounds. I have used them on 2 of my tanks so far. They look and feel like bark because they are that is the bark from a cork tree laid flat and glued to manufactured cork panels. You are doing it right by siliconing them on and putting something on them to press them down.

You will want to let the silicone cure for 24 hours before you remove the rocks

[ColleenT]

thanks. i am trying to be patient. my husband is tolerating me and all my froggy stuff taking over the dining room and living room. Once i get this set up a bit better, i'll be moving at least one frog in there. the other one is still not eating great, so i want to get him eating like a piggy before he joins his friend. of course my 2 speck-sized baby frogs in the 24 tall might get lost on me..waiting for 2 deliveries of stuff from LLL. light bulbs, a cricket container, and some more fake plants.