[Raf]

I don't think it's in bad shape, it still has that original natural look. In fact, all those roots (what plants make all those roots by the way?) make me like it even more. Anyway, excited to see what your plans are!

It isn't very visible on photo but up close the plastic pipes are so exposed it's so obvious how it's made.
I started to collect mosses and even bought a nano aquarium so I can grow mosses and tiny plants on hygrolon as test. The most obvious exposed pipes will be covered with hygrolon. I hope as I gonna get rid of the most biggest plants (or trim more often) I can get the moss growth back as in the more earlier photos.

The roots are from Philodendron and Cissus Amazonica

 

[Raf]

Today I finished the restoration. I installed an external filter to keep the pump outside of the vivarium. The drip wall and waterfall are up and running. Alot of the background is covered with hygrolon.

 

[Lucano]

Today I finished the restoration. I installed an external filter to keep the pump outside of the vivarium. The drip wall and waterfall are up and running. Alot of the background is covered with hygrolon.

Awesome! I bet all that hygrolon will be covered in moss very soon.

 

[athiker04]

It's great that you are still keeping this awesome build alive. Really cool. Definitely one that inspired me when I first became interested in building vivariums.

How did the fake vines made with rope and silicone hold up over the years?

 

[Raf]

It's great that you are still keeping this awesome build alive. Really cool. Definitely one that inspired me when I first became interested in building vivariums.

How did the fake vines made with rope and silicone hold up over the years?

The fake vines hold up just fine. They don't get as wet as the background so you can't really compare.

 

[oS3R0o]

Out of all aquariums/ vivariums/ paludariums, this build has been the biggest inspiration for me over the years. Your ideas and fixes are priceless!! 😎

 

[CTM75]

this post taught me my favorite technique...years later people are always like "how did you makes those roots and vines?" thank you much

 

[Nathanael]

Hey Raf, question, you said you went with hygrolon on this viv over the old root system. Did you re-cover the old roots with epoxy first and then apply the hygrolon? if so what brand epoxy did you feel safe using? If not what brand would you have used if you did it all again?

Also hows the moss coverage now 8 months later? Did it work the way you wanted/expected?

 

[Raf]

Hey Raf, question, you said you went with hygrolon on this viv over the old root system. Did you re-cover the old roots with epoxy first and then apply the hygrolon? if so what brand epoxy did you feel safe using? If not what brand would you have used if you did it all again?

Also hows the moss coverage now 8 months later? Did it work the way you wanted/expected?

Hi Nathanael,

Sorry I totally missed your reply.
The hygrolon is not covered with Epoxy. I just attached the hygrolon with stainless steel nails into the background.
The brand of epoxy some use is mr. Boat. I believe this is a good brand of epoxy.
I certainly need to update this topic asap. The moss doesn't cover as quick as I thought (had a lot of issues with algea instead).

I updated the opening post so it shows the pictures again. I try to update the rest of this topic also so it's easier to read.

Grts
Raf

 

[TS33]

Hey Raf, how is the PU foam doing soaked over the years?

 

[DocScott]

I recently constructed the background of my new vivarium.
I thought it could be useful so here it is:

I used heated pvc pipes with prolypropylene rope.

View attachment 296492

I covered it with a compaktuna(/flevopol)-and peat-mixture. I finished with sealant and peat.

View attachment 296493

I made the background in pieces and afterwards I placed it in the vivarium .

The corners were made with Polyurethane foam and finished the same way as the pvc/rope.

View attachment 296494

After drying a few weeks I could begin planting the vivarium.

View attachment 296495
View attachment 296496

Result so far:
View attachment 296497
View attachment 296498
View attachment 296499
View attachment 296500
View attachment 296501

Edit reinserted broken photos

Is it wrong that your pics turn me on? haha just kidding, but you did an amazing job. One of the best back walls I have seen.

 

[Raf]

Latest update on the viv. It still lives!
A while ago I begin to use rainwater and what a difference it made. The mosses finally begins to grow.
I used hygrolon to make baskets for the plants (Monstera, Ficus Punctate, Solanum, peperomia prostata,...).
They all do well. I hope the vivarium turns out as green as I always wanted it to be.

 

[puppiesplantsandpreemies]

That is amazing!!! I’m so glad you shared the process. Incredible.

 

[jarteta97]

I'm getting back into the hobby after an 8 year hiatus, so it's really nice to see that a viv that's been an inspiration for a long time is still doing really well and looking amazing. Can't wait to peruse this thread about 50 more times before I start building again,