Never thought to mix silicone and substrate first then apply, always spread the silicone in the enclosure then applied the substrate. Interesting…. Loved how it came out. Can’t wait to see it at the show.
I use to breed brown and green anoles in my teens, they've always been my favorite lizards. When I found out there was so many other types of anoles I was happy as hell and always wanted to get them. The smallest anoles species are my favorite tho.
I noticed video is a year old. How is your build holding up? Do you think this built will work for a Bearded Dragon build in a 50 gallon lounge aquarium???
it took HOW MUCH silicon to fill in the foam gaps????? Note to self, never use that method unless there's no other good options, holy hell. And I thought applying the silicon first then pressing substrate into it after was resource intensive... Less than half a tube was enough for me for an entire 50 gallon background in a corner tank, so that's 2 sides. Maybe I had fewer gaps, but for real, this much used silicon is nuts to me. The texture doesn't look very good either, almost stringy, with peaks left where it stuck to the gloves as you pulled away. Compare that to the areas where you switched tactics that has a much more natural texture, I think there's a clear winner. I think mixing the substrate in would only work with a much finer grit size. Maybe silt or clay. I did see someone do that with the kind of clay people will sometimes use like excavator clay, mixed with silicon to keep the texture of the clay but make it water proof. Next time, I might recommend that approach. Need to test it myself though.
Honestly painting the foam with a sanded grout mix would be much faster and easier, with a little bit of acrylic paint to color match the real rocks if needed. Or use that vertical concrete mix that zoos use for making their own displays.
@@byrn Those are good for larger tanks, but for smaller enclosures I'll always encourage using natural pieces for the majority of the space and then filling the gaps with adhesive and substrate. You cannot replicate the look of an actual cliff face any better.
I wonder if sticky feet geckos, new cals tokays, can actually cling to the walls if you mix the substrate with the silicone. They can't really get good purchase if you coat the silicone w substrate. I would like to have a substrate wall enclosure build for a gecko. The one I built was with the drylok method, which works well, looks great, but it'd be cool to have the other as well.
Gecko toe pads are pretty amazing. They stick to things due to literal molecular forces (van der wall). That being said, it would probably be more difficult if its super muddy or gooey. But assuming the silicone actually dries, I don't see any solid material beyond teflon that geckos cant stick on assuming they don't have stuck shed on their feet or something.
@@johnsonjunior547 I know that if you use the method where you spread silicone over the foam and then toss substrate on top of the silicone the geckos can't climb on it. But in this video he blends the abg mix with the silicone, and I think they probably could climb on that. Serpa Design takes pieces of orchid bark and puts them into the substrate he applies to the silicone so they _can_ climb on it, since, but still they wouldn't be able to navigate it quickly at all.
@@LukeMcGuireoides Do you know why they can't climb on it? Is the substrate on the silicone too loose and gets stuck on their pads? I just don't know the mechanism that would cause them to not be able to climb. I could maybe see the seal between the silicone and substrate not being strong enough so the gecko's weight basically just peels off the substrate and they fall but idk what other reason there would be.
@@johnsonjunior547 nah, the substrate is stuck fast to the silicone, so it won't come off on their pads. It's because the substrate is so uneven. A surface has to be sufficiently smooth before the pads will stick. It doesn't have to be that smooth, since mine can climb on the drylok covered foam I have, but the substrate surface is too broken up. Theres too many points of seperation between the particles. At least that's _my_ hypothesis. The grains of dirt are too fine.
Can you make a video on how you keep the micro geckos please sphaerodactylus elegans spices or other ones thank you I could come help you shoot it 😉 anytime just let me know
I like the scenery but I do not like the egg crates just thrown together at the bottom. That could have been better. I've definitely seen egg crate stacked better.
Just came into his channel was asking my self the same question that’s why I won’t even waste my time asking a question I just go to another channel that do respond back to my questions don’t even give the materials being use then saids at the end to ask any questions for what if don’t even respond back how many people asked the name of the rocks what plants were used 🤦🏻♀️
Nice build! I've never seen anyone premix sand into the silicone before.
Cheers,
Chris
Thanks for the tip mixing silicon and sand! Awesome work on the build
Never thought to mix silicone and substrate first then apply, always spread the silicone in the enclosure then applied the substrate. Interesting…. Loved how it came out. Can’t wait to see it at the show.
first time seeing this as well , think he mention its take more silicone , dont think it stick well
It's better if you use wood glue with tree fern fiber
I’ve tried it before, it doesn’t stick as well as just straight silicone. Has more of a “gummy” texture
Ya can probably safe to say thats already started falling off!
I use to breed brown and green anoles in my teens, they've always been my favorite lizards. When I found out there was so many other types of anoles I was happy as hell and always wanted to get them. The smallest anoles species are my favorite tho.
What a super awesome collection you got there... I was watching ER Bros channel and got intro into your channel.
Looks great!
Perfect. I was looking for advice on the idea of replacing the coco with sand for a background. I didn't know of itd work as well. Now i know!
Sweet build!
Sweet build.
i was wondering since u use alot of heavy rocks.. was it able to hold up just by using the foam to stick it together? or did u glue it to the glass?
foam is strong
Agree. Foam may be strong. Still worried about using heavy rocks that are ultimately anchored to glass.
Thats amazing!
Found your Snapchat videos fell in love so had to come check out the videos
Absolutely incredible enclosure!!! Looks great!!! Thank you for sharing.
I like how ghetto that false bottom is
Awesome build!! What kind of rocks are you using?
what kind of rocks did you use here/where did you get them? id love to do this!!
Awesome!!!
good stuff
Nice 👍🏻👏🏻
Using such heavy rocks you don't worry that they will loosen, fall off, and hurt your reptile?
How do u get zoomed to just "give" u enclosures
where did you get those rocks and what are they called? they look so nice
i know it’s dumb but i’m nervous it will fall on my gecko
U cn jus carve out the same structure with the expandin foam
Can you list everything you used
I noticed video is a year old. How is your build holding up? Do you think this built will work for a Bearded Dragon build in a 50 gallon lounge aquarium???
I have done this, it works but it does deteriorate over time from climbing and scratching
Cool method with the premixing. I just did my first application of silicone and it stinks so bad.
it took HOW MUCH silicon to fill in the foam gaps????? Note to self, never use that method unless there's no other good options, holy hell. And I thought applying the silicon first then pressing substrate into it after was resource intensive... Less than half a tube was enough for me for an entire 50 gallon background in a corner tank, so that's 2 sides. Maybe I had fewer gaps, but for real, this much used silicon is nuts to me. The texture doesn't look very good either, almost stringy, with peaks left where it stuck to the gloves as you pulled away. Compare that to the areas where you switched tactics that has a much more natural texture, I think there's a clear winner. I think mixing the substrate in would only work with a much finer grit size. Maybe silt or clay. I did see someone do that with the kind of clay people will sometimes use like excavator clay, mixed with silicon to keep the texture of the clay but make it water proof. Next time, I might recommend that approach. Need to test it myself though.
Honestly painting the foam with a sanded grout mix would be much faster and easier, with a little bit of acrylic paint to color match the real rocks if needed. Or use that vertical concrete mix that zoos use for making their own displays.
@@byrn Those are good for larger tanks, but for smaller enclosures I'll always encourage using natural pieces for the majority of the space and then filling the gaps with adhesive and substrate. You cannot replicate the look of an actual cliff face any better.
I wonder if sticky feet geckos, new cals tokays, can actually cling to the walls if you mix the substrate with the silicone. They can't really get good purchase if you coat the silicone w substrate. I would like to have a substrate wall enclosure build for a gecko. The one I built was with the drylok method, which works well, looks great, but it'd be cool to have the other as well.
I can see it working well with sand, but seems iffy to use an abg type mix.
Gecko toe pads are pretty amazing. They stick to things due to literal molecular forces (van der wall). That being said, it would probably be more difficult if its super muddy or gooey. But assuming the silicone actually dries, I don't see any solid material beyond teflon that geckos cant stick on assuming they don't have stuck shed on their feet or something.
@@johnsonjunior547 I know that if you use the method where you spread silicone over the foam and then toss substrate on top of the silicone the geckos can't climb on it. But in this video he blends the abg mix with the silicone, and I think they probably could climb on that. Serpa Design takes pieces of orchid bark and puts them into the substrate he applies to the silicone so they _can_ climb on it, since, but still they wouldn't be able to navigate it quickly at all.
@@LukeMcGuireoides Do you know why they can't climb on it? Is the substrate on the silicone too loose and gets stuck on their pads? I just don't know the mechanism that would cause them to not be able to climb. I could maybe see the seal between the silicone and substrate not being strong enough so the gecko's weight basically just peels off the substrate and they fall but idk what other reason there would be.
@@johnsonjunior547 nah, the substrate is stuck fast to the silicone, so it won't come off on their pads. It's because the substrate is so uneven. A surface has to be sufficiently smooth before the pads will stick. It doesn't have to be that smooth, since mine can climb on the drylok covered foam I have, but the substrate surface is too broken up. Theres too many points of seperation between the particles. At least that's _my_ hypothesis. The grains of dirt are too fine.
I would have liked to know about the plants you used
i dont know how to explain this but u look like every guy ive met morphed into one person
nice
Are those coral stones?
Can you make a video on how you keep the micro geckos please sphaerodactylus elegans spices or other ones thank you I could come help you shoot it 😉 anytime just let me know
What are the smallest anole species you own?
What are those rocks called?
I like the scenery but I do not like the egg crates just thrown together at the bottom. That could have been better. I've definitely seen egg crate stacked better.
Looks good, but personally I'd rather silicone the foam then sprinkle the sand one. 1 tube of silicone would of been more than enough
So does this guy even respond to any of anyone's comments??
Just came into his channel was asking my self the same question that’s why I won’t even waste my time asking a question I just go to another channel that do respond back to my questions don’t even give the materials being use then saids at the end to ask any questions for what if don’t even respond back how many people asked the name of the rocks what plants were used 🤦🏻♀️
He said in the video that it’s best to instagram or email him.