Silicone and Styrofoam background?

[Braden]

Hello. I want to make a background for my T out of Styrofoam + dry coco fiber. Can I use aquarium silicone on the foam or will it melt/mess it up?

 

[moricollins]

Hello. I want to make a background for my T out of Styrofoam + dry coco fiber. Can I use aquarium silicone on the foam or will it melt/mess it up?

Yes, you can (and should) use aquarium silicone.

I'd be wary of using regular styrofoam (like from a tv box)

 

[Dorifto]

You can use aquarium safe silicone, avoid any kind of super glue, because it melts the styrofoam.

You can use PU foam too, but I'd paint the glass before aplying the polyurethane foam.

I did mine out of PU foam.

Foam background enclosure tutorial

Hi guys, seeing that some people are asking about how I made my setup, I´m going to make a litlle tuto about it. It may look difficult, but It was more easy than I thought. The tools: - A propper enclosure, I choosed the European style glass enclosures, since they are cheap, they have a great...

arachnoboards.com

You can cover the entire foam with topsoil or coco fiber like stuff

 

[viper69]

Hello. I want to make a background for my T out of Styrofoam + dry coco fiber. Can I use aquarium silicone on the foam or will it melt/mess it up?

Definitely visit the dendroboard web site. They have this down to a science

 

[Braden]

Definitely visit the dendroboard web site. They have this down to a science

Do you have a link? The site is kind of confusing

 

[Frogdaddy]

Styrofoam custom background how to?

r.tapatalk.com

However you might want to rethink styrofoam. Apparently it can leach chemicals and is am endocrine disruptors.

 

[Braden]

What would you recommend?

 

[Frogdaddy]

I would go with the spray foam. Either Great Stuff in the red can or if you can find it there is a foam people use on fish ponds. That foam is black, so if you miss filling in an area it's not as noticeable.

I've always used Titebond 2 or Titebond 3 wood glue. It's food grade, so safe for animals and it cures quicker than silicone.

I put my foam on in a THIN layer because it expands. You can stick cork bark in the foam for a different texture or more natural look. Give it 24-48 hours to cure. You can carve it if you like to make it more even.

Then I spread a decent layer of glue on the background using a 1 inch paint brush, working a section at a time. Press coco fiber or peat moss into the glue. Smash it in there to get it in the glue. Coco is easier to work with, less dust too. Let that dry for 24 hours then go back and touch up the bare spots.
It's really easy.

Tomorrow I'll get on my PC and post some photos of the entire process start to finish. Don't have those pics on my phone.
Hope that helps buddy.

 

[viper69]

Do you have a link? The site is kind of confusing

Link to what? Just google

 

[DaveM]

Link to what? Just google

@Viper, we should try to be more helpful. Here you go, @Braden, you can click this link --> www.google.com



Here's one relevant result:
https://www.dendroboard.com/forum/b...0522-great-stuff-silicone-background-diy.html

 

[viper69]

@Viper, we should try to be more helpful. Here you go, @Braden, you can click this link --> www.google.com



Here's one relevant result:
https://www.dendroboard.com/forum/b...0522-great-stuff-silicone-background-diy.html

Have no idea what the person wanted. And you know I don’t spoonfeed people

 

[Braden]

@Viper, we should try to be more helpful. Here you go, @Braden, you can click this link --> www.google.com



Here's one relevant result:
https://www.dendroboard.com/forum/b...0522-great-stuff-silicone-background-diy.html

lol

 

[Frogdaddy]

@Braden I didn't have as many good pics as I thought. But here's what a Great Stuff background looks like under construction. Because this was a dart frog vivarium I included net pots for plants incorporated into the backgound.
Laying the tank on it's side and pressing in the peat moss onto the glue.
Finished product.

Planted.

 

[Braden]

@Braden I didn't have as many good pics as I thought. But here's what a Great Stuff background looks like under construction. Because this was a dart frog vivarium I included net pots for plants incorporated into the backgound. View attachment 358064
Laying the tank on it's side and pressing in the peat moss onto the glue. View attachment 358065
Finished product.
View attachment 358066
Planted.
View attachment 358067

WOW! That is absolutely stunning!

Styrofoam custom background how to?

r.tapatalk.com

However you might want to rethink styrofoam. Apparently it can leach chemicals and is am endocrine disruptors.

OK! Here is the stuff I got, look right?

 

[Frogdaddy]

Yep that's the stuff!

 

[Braden]

Thanks again, I really appreciate it. Ill let you know when I finish, an Ill show you!

 

[Frogdaddy]

I can't wait to see photos. Take your time.

@Braden any updates or pics on your project?

 

[Braden]

Oh yeah! Glass is all put together, next im gonna do the background. I'm gonna stick some fake plants in it to look even nicer. Flowers too since the Ts are both ladies

 

[Dorifto]

They look awesome! Are you going to add a front grill? It will increase the ventilation dramatically.

Regarding to the background, I'd put a black adhesive film or paint the glass before spraying the foam. It will give you a better look, and in the case that you need to remove the background it will be much easier to clean the glass.

 

[Braden]

They look awesome! Are you going to add a front grill? It will increase the ventilation dramatically.

Regarding to the background, I'd put a black adhesive film or paint the glass before spraying the foam. It will give you a better look, and in the case that you need to remove the background it will be much easier to clean the glass.

Thanks! Are their any paints that are 100% safe that you know of, if not ill just research it?