36x18x36 Exoterra 100g rebuild, post as I go.

Since I cannot move further at the moment because I am waiting for my submersible filter to come in the mail, I started tweaking the layout of things and came up with this design. I think I like this one better because it adds more depth. Let me know what you guys think.

Haha I went a little crazy with the tape, your going to have to use your imagination. The void in the bottom right will be a small water feature that I think will end up being made out of spray foam (can't find a nice piece of wood for it). I bought a minijet 606, thinking that I would have a tall waterfall in this tank but I don't want to deal with water splashing on the glass and having to clean it so I decided on a short feature. I think that pump is going to be too powerful so I may have to downgrade.

A few quick questions:

I am going to use an egg crate "step" to try and get a tiered look, what is the best way to adhere the eggcrate to the glass?

Should I fill the void in the middle of the eggcrate with spray foam just to be sure frogs cant get in there?

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I finally got my submersible filter and got started on spray foaming the background. I still have much to do but i figured i would give a quick update.

I decided on doing the titebond III method and did a test run with about 2 parts titebond and acrylic paint to color it and 1 part exoterra plantation soil substrate. i think it came out looking pretty good, almost like wet clayish looking. The picture is a small area i did on the background with just the substrate/titebond paste. I am unsure if i am going to add another layer of substrate on top of the paste on the final product.

I plan on doing a little experiment by spraying 3 small areas of spray foam on cardboard and using silicone as and adhesive on one, gorilla glue on another and titebond III on the last. On each one i will apply three seperate ways. One area will have just the adhesive sprinkled with substrate, one that will be just substrate "paste" (substrate & adhesive mixed) and one area that will have substrate paste sprinkled with substrate on top. This way anyone who is unsure of what they want to use to cover backgrounds, can see what each one looks like when it cures. Keep a lookout for that thread.

Anyway, i added a few more corkbark rounds to the background for more surface area / visual barriers. I am going to try and make it so that you can view inside the corkbark where it meets the glass on the right side.

Still not 100% sure on how the water feature will be made but i have some ideas and will post some pictures when i start it.

Here is a little picture update of where i am at. Im done with titebonding the background and decided i didnt like the way my water feature came out so i covered it with titebond since these pictures were taken. I tested to make sure the water will go where i want it to and every thing worked out. Sorry for the bad pics, I will get some better ones when i get it into my room and get it covered with contact paper and (fishtank)background. I also managed to break the notch off the door so i will have to fix that aswell. I am using some plants i had left from my last build but the new plant list I ordered is as follows:

From New England Herpeculture:
Neoregelia 'Eoz'
Neoregelia 'Victoria'
Neoregelia Ampullacea
Neoregelia 'Chiquita Linda'
Neoregelia 'Wee Willy'
NE Herp terrarium moss

From BlackJungle:
Tillandsia ionantha
Tillandsia ionantha rubra
Rhaphidophora pachyphylla
Seemania sylvatica
Cissus amazonica
Bacopa aff. monnieri
Anthurium scandens
Ficus salicifolia
Salvinia natans
Bird's Nest Fern
Achimenes erecta
Stylidium debile
Gynura aurantiaca

And the following from Hydrophyte:
Hygrophila corymbosa "giant hygro"
H. corymobosa "temple plant"
H. salcifolia "blue hygro'
Bacopa monnieri
Ludwigia peruensis

Substrate will be abg mix and leaf litter on land, white sand and gravel in the water feature. I will be seeding this tank with white and pink springtails + purple and giant orange isopods.



Let me know what ya think!

Here are a few pictures of the hardscape as it is now, unplanted. I will do the first round of planting this weekend so lookout for an update. In addition i will seed the tank with some bugs and let it settle in for a few weeks before introducing the frogs.

So this is the first time iv used the titebond III and peat method and I have to say (so far) i definitely like this way more than any other. Its alot easier to apply, holds more dirt, looks better and seems stronger. Only time will tell though but from what i heard this stuff lasts. Anyway if it holds up, I will be using this method in future builds.