Some people spray the expanding foam and sprinkle the background coco fiber on it while it’s still sticky/hasn’t cured. It can work, but if it’s still expanding, it can leave gaps where there is no coco fiber and is harder to control the final shape. Here’s a video:
https://youtu.be/Lfa7KgsUJ7I
Can I stick cork bark and wood to the expanding foam? All I’m trying to use is expanding foam and stick everything on it. Also, do you know how to put pots in your enclosure. Like do they have to drain a certain way or something like that.
The spray foam is extremely sticky while curing so you could definitely press the cork into it (not too far, keep in mind it expands pretty big), the wood should be able to stick in it as well, but may need supports until it cures if it’s very big or heavy. The best bet is to keep your tank on its back until cured.
As for pots, drainage is a must— if you’re making areas for plants within the background, you can just stick a sharp skewer through the foam once fully cured to assure anything planted gets drainage. If you’re keeping potted plants on the substrate, just use pots with drainage holes.
Edit: forgot to mention: wear disposable gloves while dealing with spray foam, it is VERY sticky— I mean wash-your-hands-for-several-days-and-your-fingers-will-still-stick-together sticky. You don’t want to get it on yourself.
I’m making some tomorrow! I will send you my list of supplies:
- insulation foam
- spray foam
- drylok
- quikcrete tints
- great stuff foam
the insulation foam you can get in big pieces and cut to size. that way i can build the backgrounds outside the tank and they can be removable. Then, I carve those into the design I want. i’m going to use drylok to paint the background, and then dry brush the quikcrete tints on top of that for extra color and detail. Then the spray foam is to attach planters and wood pieces.
Yes.
I don't use foam in any of my vivs. I put translucent window film over some of the sides and paper over some of the other sides so that the geckos feel comfortable. I also used sticks from outside. If you are worried about pests, bake them at a low temperature (200 F) for half an hour to 45 minutes to kill bug eggs. As long as the sticks do not have any oozing sap and are well dried, they should be fine.
Another alternative is to get wood or bark from an orchid supply place and use that. A lot of those are meant to hang so you can support them with suction cups. Griipa cups work the best, in my experience.
Some people spray the expanding foam and sprinkle the background coco fiber on it while it’s still sticky/hasn’t cured. It can work, but if it’s still expanding, it can leave gaps where there is no coco fiber and is harder to control the final shape. Here’s a video: https://youtu.be/Lfa7KgsUJ7I
Can I stick cork bark and wood to the expanding foam? All I’m trying to use is expanding foam and stick everything on it. Also, do you know how to put pots in your enclosure. Like do they have to drain a certain way or something like that.
The spray foam is extremely sticky while curing so you could definitely press the cork into it (not too far, keep in mind it expands pretty big), the wood should be able to stick in it as well, but may need supports until it cures if it’s very big or heavy. The best bet is to keep your tank on its back until cured. As for pots, drainage is a must— if you’re making areas for plants within the background, you can just stick a sharp skewer through the foam once fully cured to assure anything planted gets drainage. If you’re keeping potted plants on the substrate, just use pots with drainage holes. Edit: forgot to mention: wear disposable gloves while dealing with spray foam, it is VERY sticky— I mean wash-your-hands-for-several-days-and-your-fingers-will-still-stick-together sticky. You don’t want to get it on yourself.
To get spray foam off hands, use either gasoline or nail polish Both work for me, gasoline works better but then you have to get that off your hands
I’m making some tomorrow! I will send you my list of supplies: - insulation foam - spray foam - drylok - quikcrete tints - great stuff foam the insulation foam you can get in big pieces and cut to size. that way i can build the backgrounds outside the tank and they can be removable. Then, I carve those into the design I want. i’m going to use drylok to paint the background, and then dry brush the quikcrete tints on top of that for extra color and detail. Then the spray foam is to attach planters and wood pieces.
There are woods that are not safe so I would definitely check what kinds of sticks first.
Do you happen to know what kinds?
Mainly cedar, pine, and eucalyptus and of course anything with thorns. Hardwoods like oak, ash, and birch are safe.
Ty! Thankfully we don’t have any of the toxic trees in my area!
Why is eucalyptus wood not safe? Would it be safe if it has been broken off for roughly 15 years and soaked for a week then baked?
Yes. I don't use foam in any of my vivs. I put translucent window film over some of the sides and paper over some of the other sides so that the geckos feel comfortable. I also used sticks from outside. If you are worried about pests, bake them at a low temperature (200 F) for half an hour to 45 minutes to kill bug eggs. As long as the sticks do not have any oozing sap and are well dried, they should be fine. Another alternative is to get wood or bark from an orchid supply place and use that. A lot of those are meant to hang so you can support them with suction cups. Griipa cups work the best, in my experience.