Planted Crestie viv build

[Patmufc]

that looks ourstanding!

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Patmufc

that looks ourstanding!

Thanks mate,

Watch out for my next build, I'm making a planted viv now for my hognose I'm getting next month. You might find it interesting

Jay

[yonark]

this may sound stupid, but how do you power the computer fans. and what kind of uv did you use. will this kind of setup be ok for gargoyles

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by yonark

this may sound stupid, but how do you power the computer fans. and what kind of uv did you use. will this kind of setup be ok for gargoyles

Hey mate,

The fans with power packs can be bought from livefoods.co.uk

Or you could check out this topic http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...e-charger.html

I am using a Zoo Med repti Sun 10% uvb tube, and a Zoo Med repti sun 2% uvb. As Gargoyles come from the same area, I don't see why not

Jay

[Pendragon]

Ok,

This is the last pic of the viv, it was taken last Sunday, ant the viv has been up and running for a year since the last pic I showed.





I'm going to add some more Broms now I've seen how good the uve tube is, will post these up when they are in

Jay

[mike10205]

Originally Posted by jabba1967

Ok, where were we?

Oh yeah, the fun bit...Not! The siliconing of the back.

image

This is the bit I hate with viv builds like this, it's messy, it's smelly, and it seems to take forever, I only gave it the one coat, but I have heard of people giving it two coats, I'm not sure if this is stickly necessary, but I supose it wouldn't hurt if you have the discipline.

image

However I do like putting on the eco earth, there is a "job satisfaction" to it, after all the "unnatural" expanding foam, and then the silicon, It's at this point that you can see a viv taking shape!

On this build I made the eco earth too wet, and didn't give it enough time to dry out, to be honest I thought it had to go on fairly wet, but now when I make a batch of eco earth, I use very little water, and then leave it for a week, this means it should be almost completely dry. On this build I put the earth on and brushed off the loose earth almost strait away, now though I tend to throw on handfulls of earth, and then leave it over night, more stays on this way I have found.

The last thing to do is clean off all the silicon that is on the glass.

image

Next we will start on the lighting and heating. If there are any questions on this viv, please feel free to ask away.

Jay

Jay this looks amazing but a different method than the norm

Did you cover the exp foam with silicone sealant?
Also what is eco earth?

Never heard of this but it looks the dogs

Mike

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by mike10205

Jay this looks amazing but a different method than the norm

Did you cover the exp foam with silicone sealant?
Also what is eco earth?

Never heard of this but it looks the dogs

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks

I thought this WAS the normal way of doing it

Unless it is the normal way to do it for frogs and not lizards, (remember this was going to be used for dendro's not lizards, and as far as I know silicon on expanding foam is the norm for amphibs as there is no leaching of chemicals once it's cured, and it's waterproof )

The silicon is "Acetoxy"

This is eco earth, again it is probably better known in the amphib world;

Livefood UK Ltd.

You mix it with water and break it up, try to use as little water as poss. And if you can, make up what you need a week or two in advance to give it time to dry out

Jay

[mike10205]

Originally Posted by jabba1967

Hi Mike,

Thanks

I thought this WAS the normal way of doing it

Unless it is the normal way to do it for frogs and not lizards, (remember this was going to be used for dendro's not lizards, and as far as I know silicon on expanding foam is the norm for amphibs as there is no leaching of chemicals once it's cured, and it's waterproof )

The silicon is "Acetoxy"

This is eco earth, again it is probably better known in the amphib world;

Livefood UK Ltd.

You mix it with water and break it up, try to use as little water as poss. And if you can, make up what you need a week or two in advance to give it time to dry out

Jay

I suppose no way is the normal way or right or wrong way
Maybe there is an easy and hard way or a good or bad way

Anyhow lol most i have seen in the lizard section is the polystyrene covered in grout and varnish approach
Which to me would not look very good having to varish it when finished

I think your way would give a much more natural look to it and will be the way forward for me i think

Thanks for the reply Jay

Mike

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by mike10205

I suppose no way is the normal way or right or wrong way
Maybe there is an easy and hard way or a good or bad way

Anyhow lol most i have seen in the lizard section is the polystyrene covered in grout and varnish approach
Which to me would not look very good having to varish it when finished

I think your way would give a much more natural look to it and will be the way forward for me i think

Thanks for the reply Jay

Mike

No worries mate,

There is another method, you can use Kingspan insulation foam, it carves up better than polystyrene, you can then grout it, silicon it, or what I have done with my next build, Epoxy it , then cover it in sand.

Here's a preview of my Hognose viv build, I will post up the complete build in a couple of months;









The nice thing about this technique is it leaves a very tough and rough surface, good for lizards that have claws and like to climb, like fence lizards

Jay

[mike10205]

Originally Posted by jabba1967

No worries mate,

There is another method, you can use Kingspan insulation foam, it carves up better than polystyrene, you can then grout it, silicon it, or what I have done with my next build, Epoxy it , then cover it in sand.

Here's a preview of my Hognose viv build, I will post up the complete build in a couple of months;

image




image


The nice thing about this technique is it leaves a very tough and rough surface, good for lizards that have claws and like to climb, like fence lizards

Jay

Looks good Jay

My plan was to use styro foam and carve it on a cnc router
You can basically load a picture of anything and it will cavre that into the foam

I have a pic of a dry stone wall which looks great of the cnc

When you say epoxy do you mean the type used with fibreglass matting

How many coats did you give it before putting on the sand

Any type of sand or does any do the job
I have seen some putting pva glue on then covering it in sand and sealing it but again you get an unatural finish i think

New build looks good

Keep it up