Sorry in advance, I feel this might be a long post by the time I am through with it.
I realized I really missed having a vivarium. Although mine will sadly never see frogs I have started the purchasing process of a new one!
I made a few tanks a few years back with probably not the worst but not the best methods. I have always done greatstuff backgrounds with silicone and coco fiber. Doing a bit of research there are so many more options for methods. A big part of what I want in constructing the background is to have luscious plants and moss growing on it. For this reason I have decided I will be running a waterline up the top to make a drip wall.
My first question is which background method would you all suggest?
I struggled with greatstuff in the past because I was very impatient with it. It's a long process carving it out and quite frankly I don't want to do it. the layers and cure time is just a lot and I was hoping there was a better way. I am now looking into the differences between matala, epiweb, and hydrolon. I know absolutely nothing about how they would actually work as a background. I will probably be using epiweb as a drainage layer as well (see next question). I am a bit concerned with how the finished product will look with these as a background. Since it will be a display tank for plants the aesthetic is very important to me.
Some methods I have read about and am interested in knowing more about:
Great Stuff and drylok
Cork bark tiles
Tree fern panels
the cracked cork mosaic method
the silicone/foam/Titebond III method
epiweb and hygrolon (possible matala?)
Okay my next question is how to even do the ground layering with a euro drain slanted bottom. I am super excited about this tank and want to really put my best foot forward on building it right the first time. I bought the insitu tank and I am getting in my head about how it actually will work.
From my understanding there is a trough area that the water will drain from and then a raised slanted base. I was looking at the best drainage layers and found some research that charcoal as drainage provides a great environment for the buggies (isos and springtails). I was originally planning on using that. then I started all this research on the epiweb and ended up buying that as a possibility. since it has the drain though the drainage layer doesn't need to be very deep, correct?
What is a good way for me to layer the drainage and how does that work? what would be best? I am assuming i would then put ABG mix over that but is that the case for epiweb?
Other info- I will have a mistking set up and I am very excited about adding in wood 'shelves' and creating a very exciting hardscape so any tips of wood types to use are appreciated as well.
As much as I don't want to just be throwing money at this tank, I really have the intentions of building it to be as good as it can be. I don't mind spending extra if something has a practical advantage and would be much better in the long run.
I realized I really missed having a vivarium. Although mine will sadly never see frogs I have started the purchasing process of a new one!
I made a few tanks a few years back with probably not the worst but not the best methods. I have always done greatstuff backgrounds with silicone and coco fiber. Doing a bit of research there are so many more options for methods. A big part of what I want in constructing the background is to have luscious plants and moss growing on it. For this reason I have decided I will be running a waterline up the top to make a drip wall.
My first question is which background method would you all suggest?
I struggled with greatstuff in the past because I was very impatient with it. It's a long process carving it out and quite frankly I don't want to do it. the layers and cure time is just a lot and I was hoping there was a better way. I am now looking into the differences between matala, epiweb, and hydrolon. I know absolutely nothing about how they would actually work as a background. I will probably be using epiweb as a drainage layer as well (see next question). I am a bit concerned with how the finished product will look with these as a background. Since it will be a display tank for plants the aesthetic is very important to me.
Some methods I have read about and am interested in knowing more about:
Great Stuff and drylok
Cork bark tiles
Tree fern panels
the cracked cork mosaic method
the silicone/foam/Titebond III method
epiweb and hygrolon (possible matala?)
Okay my next question is how to even do the ground layering with a euro drain slanted bottom. I am super excited about this tank and want to really put my best foot forward on building it right the first time. I bought the insitu tank and I am getting in my head about how it actually will work.
From my understanding there is a trough area that the water will drain from and then a raised slanted base. I was looking at the best drainage layers and found some research that charcoal as drainage provides a great environment for the buggies (isos and springtails). I was originally planning on using that. then I started all this research on the epiweb and ended up buying that as a possibility. since it has the drain though the drainage layer doesn't need to be very deep, correct?
What is a good way for me to layer the drainage and how does that work? what would be best? I am assuming i would then put ABG mix over that but is that the case for epiweb?
Other info- I will have a mistking set up and I am very excited about adding in wood 'shelves' and creating a very exciting hardscape so any tips of wood types to use are appreciated as well.
As much as I don't want to just be throwing money at this tank, I really have the intentions of building it to be as good as it can be. I don't mind spending extra if something has a practical advantage and would be much better in the long run.