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Post by Syble on Jul 31, 2007 21:02:02 GMT -5
Some of you know that about 3 weeks ago or so, I came accross an exoterra tank for a steal. Well ever since I got it I've tried to decide how to set it up. Well I finally decided on a custome background instead of the preformed styrafoam that came with it. So I did my research, and asked lots of questions and decided to go with the standard Great Stuff (foam) background, with a twist, I did it on eggcrate (light cover grate) so it's removeable and easier to work with. Now this took longer then I thought, but next time, because I have learned so much at the school of hard knocks, will go alot smoother and quicker. First I cut the eggcrate to size, made it a bit smaller actually so it would have some "wiggle" room. Then I cut a bunch of pots various sizes and shapes, and placed them where I wanted. I played with them alot because I kept ending up with really ordered areas, when I was going for informal but lots of growing area. Once I was happy I just stuck em in place with some tape then coated the whole think in a layer of foam.... then came the waiting... Next day was a chance to see what I had to work with now that the foam was cured and hardened and fully expanded! So then came shaping it, and evening off the back, oh and also cutting down the sides so it would fit in the tank.... Next day was time for the magic!To turn a bright creamy yellow thing into a realistic dark jungle background. So I chose brown silicome and peat. smeared all over it, and it's curing as I write this! I'm so stoked to see how it turns out. My hope is to plant up the tank tomorrow (maybe not cause it's a birthday) or the next day(more likely). I have a good varriety of ferns, nepenthes, and other odd ball tropicals that are slatted to be put in there! it's either gonna look awsome or horrible, I'm hoping for the first! Thanks, Sib
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Post by lloyd on Jul 31, 2007 23:18:05 GMT -5
I'm sure it will be worth the effort.
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Post by sdeering on Jul 31, 2007 23:32:21 GMT -5
Picks we neeeeeed picks.
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Post by vraev on Aug 1, 2007 11:07:33 GMT -5
don;t worry syb. It will look fantastic. The whole beauty in nature based terrariums is the "DISORGANISED" looking growth...becos it makes it natural. ONE THING: MOSS is your best friend . It can make anything look fantastic and natural . Thats the advice of the century lol! lmao! I really want to make myself a nice moss collection. lol! I also want some of that star mosses. Damn! I am going off topic again .
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Post by Syble on Aug 1, 2007 20:54:40 GMT -5
LOL, worry not there will be pictures!!! you will rue the day you asked for pictures! hehe I like moss as well vreav, will have some in there, worry not, plus a bunch of CPs, ferns and even a brom! Plan on planting it up tomorrow providing I haven't melted! Sib
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Post by vraev on Aug 1, 2007 21:34:06 GMT -5
I KNOWW.... OMG!! its horrible. I was awaaay all day...came back...checked the temps in evening...and OMG...it was 88F. :S ... that means the bical shelf must be nearly 100F :S . Insanity. The bical must love it though. About the rajah and ramispina?? meh...I am tired.... I have other things to worry about right now.
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Post by Syble on Aug 3, 2007 19:20:44 GMT -5
Bum bumpa dom!!! Drum roll please! Just kidding, I'm just stoked cause it's now finished. Didn't take as long to plant it up as I thought it would, but then again, I'd been fidleing with it for the last 2 nights trying to decide what would go where. There are 4 nepentes, 3 sundews, 2 broms, 3 clumps of flame lily, 1 orchid (phal), 4 air plants, 4 clumps of baby's tears, 1 ficus, and like 4 kinds of moss. No doubt I'll be tweaking this for the next couple weeks and likely forever hehe. I plan to let the plants settle in a bit before I set the frogs loose on them. Now of course I can't wait to do a background for the other tanks hehe. With out further stalling, heres the pictures! step one, cut a varriety of pots of diferent sizes and shapes and tape them in place. This was honestly the hardest part for me I had to redo it a few times. I wanted maximum growing area but an informal look, which was apparently harder to set up then you'd think hehe. Covered in great stuff, looks like a lumpy mess hehe, this was just a bit tricky, required steadier hands then I expected, but fortunately if you missed a spot it would expand over it, and if you put too much on you could shave it off later. All carved up, I decided to carve out some vines/root looking bits, may use them to attach things to later, haven't decided yet. Once I carved it then I spread brown silicone all over it and pressed peatmoss into it while it was still wet. this is just a top view to give you an idea of the 3D nature. Finished planting the back, everythings secured, airplants are stuck in place. Finished tank! lots of topdressed moss, and what not, there was a moss I recieved that I was told to powder and spread on the soil, and so I'm also waiting for that to make an entrance. but theres also the 2 kinds of moss I collected this spring, and a couple odds and ends sent to me aswell as some of ricks NZ sphagnum. Thanks, Sib
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Post by Sawchuk on Aug 3, 2007 19:28:27 GMT -5
WOW sib i never knew you could go this extreme wiht the whole thing plants n frogs?? you just gave me a wild idea, and as if i need more projects that looks truly amazing SIb very nice setup very nicely put togehter
i liked it unshaved, will the moss grow on the back wall?? thatd be dope how do you plan on lightin evertyhing
and also what is the bright red n orange plant growin in the front?
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Post by Syble on Aug 3, 2007 20:02:42 GMT -5
Thanks! Well you've got to maintain a good plant balance for the critter in mind. Like I wouldn't dare put a B52 VFT in there, my luck I'd come home one day and see some blue legs hanging out of it or something. I'd be more concerned if I was working with thumbnails, but these are full sized darts and shouldn't have a problem with any of the preditory plants, I'll be surprized if they even get off the ground hehe. The problem with it unshaved is that there are quite alot of extreams that the pictures cant convey. it tends to look a bit funny when you put the peat moss on it afterwards, I've seen it like that in other peoples tanks. it's more textured then it looks, the pictures just can't seam to convey it. You can add extra texture when you're in the silicone part, I have hear that some people use marine epoxy. Theres a moss that I had to powderize and spread round, if it comes alive like it's suppsed to then I will be trying it on the back. The plant you speek of is a bromiliad. As for lighting I picked up an exoterra twin light fixture with reflectors, have a jungle bulb and a desert bulb, but will likely replace that one with another jungle bulb. I've got to cut a peice of glass to go on the top (it orriginally came with a screen top), then the light just sits on top. it's not supposed to produce like any heat, which will be good! Thanks, Sib
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Post by lloyd on Aug 3, 2007 22:03:32 GMT -5
If I come back in another life, I want to be one of Syble's frogs. What a set-up.
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Post by vraev on Aug 3, 2007 22:11:00 GMT -5
hmm...I remember correctly...I thought i already posted here. lol! I must have forgot pressing "post reply". lol! In either case, Fantastic tank syb. I was wondering....don't frogs need a good amount of water? Also, is that foam and silicone not toxic to the plants and animals? Is that a n.burbidgeae ??
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Post by lloyd on Aug 3, 2007 22:33:57 GMT -5
Aquarium grade silicone is safe once it cures. I'm sure the same is true for the foam.
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Post by Syble on Aug 4, 2007 9:01:40 GMT -5
So long as the silicone dosne't have an antibacterial or fungicide added to it, once they fully cure they're completely safe. Same with the foam, once it's cured, it's completely inert. Sorry vreav, noting nearly so interesting, its a young maxima, but I put it in there anyways, I figure I'll just take it out when it gets too big. Also not all frogs require a pool. many such as darts who lon longer posses webbed feet get what then need from leafs and what not, thats a very humid environment. Thanks for all the kind words, Sib
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Post by barvinok on Aug 4, 2007 13:31:16 GMT -5
Very well done! Frogs will definitely love it
Do you have any drenage holes in pots?
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Post by Syble on Aug 4, 2007 14:08:08 GMT -5
most don't no, seing as I used mostly CPs which are bog plants to begin with. It's easy to put the holes in though, I would just put them to drain out the back.GS is really easy to work with, I can't wait to work on my other tank! but it will have to be less 3D as it's only about 10" deep That one will require some extra thought I think, and maybe I'll need to build it on something thiner then eggcrate, a trip to home depot is in the works now hehe. I did install the light today and man can I just say that the lighting makes all the difference! It should be looking great for the get together in like 2 weeks I'll post a picture once the better camera comes back. Thanks, Sib
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