The ultimate clay-based substrate thread

[Bcs TX]

Ed,
What is your technique? So you do not use the clay all the way up the back of the tank?
Any pics?
-Beth

[Ed]

In the tanks where I am working with it as a background (like the 29 gallon), I stopped the background about three inches or so from the rim of the tank. I try to do this regardless of the background as prefer to have areas where I can tell the frog(s) are not located.. but the tanks that have it as background are/were drip walls.

Ed

[Bcs TX]

Ed do you have any pictures?

-Beth

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by Bcs TX

Ed do you have any pictures?

-Beth

red clay substrate

[Bcs TX]

Thanks!
Have some ideas for my new tanks.
-Beth

[froggerboy]

what about the idea of spraying with a watered down solution of the clay on to a fiberous background like tree fern roots or coco fibers( much like the ones used to make hanging basket liners).The clay eventual builds up to form a soil layer, no noticeable cracking, and plenty of space for thing to grow and hide in.
I'm currently clay substrate but I don't mind the cracking dry clay on top of the background. I'm trying to study how the moisture gradients effect the micro fauna and frogs. I'm trying this is a small 1ogal tank but I don't think it will react the same way in a larger tank.

[Bcs TX]

Very good idea. Hummm...need you to put it through the test.
My concern is with the pums breeding that one of the froglets may slip into some of the cracks and get stuck.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by froggerboy

what about the idea of spraying with a watered down solution of the clay on to a fiberous background like tree fern roots or coco fibers( much like the ones used to make hanging basket liners).The clay eventual builds up to form a soil layer, no noticeable cracking, and plenty of space for thing to grow and hide in.
I'm currently clay substrate but I don't mind the cracking dry clay on top of the background. I'm trying to study how the moisture gradients effect the micro fauna and frogs. I'm trying this is a small 1ogal tank but I don't think it will react the same way in a larger tank.

Blend it into a slurry and try dipping it like a candle as opposed to spraying it (I think it will rapidly dry and clog most nozzles). At least then you'll get penetration of the pores but this will also reduce the different ferns and mosses you can get from the treefern fiber (if you use treefern fiber as part of a drip wall, you get an interesting variety of growths) and the coating will be more even which will reduce cracking. In addition you can let it dry somewhat and redip it to fill the cracks. If you then press it to the back of the tank while still damp (and it remains moist/damp) the clay will adhere the fiber to the back of the tank. This will reduce the need for silicone or greatstuff and make breaking down the tank easier (if it ever becomes necessary).

Ed

[Matt Mirabello]

I finally broke down my "IAD 2007 Soil tank"

Frognet.org Gallery :: Untitled :: DSCN1218

It was a Staten Island soil amended with iron oxide and pushed through a screen to make small spheres of soil.

I let the soil completely dry out. After drying out I crumbled it in my hands and it felt very similar to soils in Panama I had done this too. One area of the tank where the soil compressed was underneath the rotting log where the frogs stayed. I am not sure if I may have compacted this myself when I set it up (to make a depression for the frogs) or if it had to do with the frogs or being under a log. The dried soil from there was compacted and broke in flakes and chunks instead of collapsing into lots of smaller aggregates.

[ab1502]

anyone have any testimonials that would lead me in one direction? I can't decide if I want to make Brent or Matt's recipe, and I don't really want to go through the trouble of making both.