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Snake rack to RETF vivarium conversion 2

Matt Campbell Nov 20, 2006 08:14 PM

Made some headway on the interior by applying Great Stuff spray foam to the walls and around plastic pots. Plastic pots were hot-glued to the walls of the vivarium depending on where I wanted plants. Some plants are broad leaved and will grow upwards and outwards to hopefully provide egg laying locations over the lower aquatic portion of the cage. Smaller plants and those with a trailing habit will be placed in smaller pots higher up on the walls.

Here is the vivarium after the first couple applications of foam. Note how I've tried to create a trailing almost vinelike appearance with the foam. Later layers will be built up to achieve a multilayered look. Rather than going for a bubbly look, I'm hoping that applying the foam to different depths will ultimately acheive a more naturalistic look.

Here is yet another day and more foam applied. This day also saw the addition of three more pots bringing the total to 8 pots altogether. The three pots just are smaller pots placed higher up for the most part.

Here is a close up of one of the smaller pots that was added later. Once the foaming has been completed the drainage holes in the bottom of each pot will be punched through to allow water to drain out of the pots normally. Of course besides potted plants there will also be the addition of bromeliads which can be attached to branches with moss surrounding their roots thus allowing more live plants without needing more pots. There will also be live moss of a couple different varieties which will be grown on the larger surfaces around pots and on branches.

Right now construction is at a standstill because I have to wait for a drip irrigation manifold to arrive. This little piece will allow the addition of several water seeps throughout the vivarium. However, I can't move any farther forward because I have to lay in water lines of 1/4 inch vinyl tubing which will then be covered with foam.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

Replies (8)

liquidleaf Nov 21, 2006 03:53 PM

That is going to look SWEET when it is done! Thanks for posting the update. Sorry if you already answered this in the other post, but what are you going to coat the foam with when you're done building it up?
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com
1.0 Ball Python, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 Green Tree Python

Matt Campbell Nov 21, 2006 09:42 PM

The foam will be coated with a thin layer of 100 percent silicone - aquarium-specific - to which I'll apply a mix of sphagnum peat moss and regular long fiber sphagnum moss. The mix will be pressed into the tacky silicone and the excess vacuumed off. Once the whole thing has cured a second touch-up layer could be applied to any bare spots.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

chris_harper2 Nov 22, 2006 10:30 AM

Matt,

Thanks for the continued updates. I'm enjoying this.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Matt Campbell Nov 22, 2006 05:59 PM

>>Thanks for the continued updates. I'm enjoying this.

Glad to oblige. I'm sure it's a nice change from the usual 'rack this, rack that' and various wood sealer questions.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

HappyHillbilly Nov 22, 2006 11:06 PM

Very interesting, Matt! Thanks for sharing.

It's coming right along and looking good, too. Have you done one of these before or is this your first time? Just curious, that's all. Applying silicone to that ought to be fun.

Have a good one!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Matt Campbell Nov 23, 2006 10:59 PM

This is the most elaborate cage of this type that I've built, however virtually all of the features of this vivarium have been part of other vivaria that I've built. As for the silicone - I can't say that I'm exactly looking forward to that but there's no other easy way to do it. There are similar approaches to lining vivarium walls like using tree fern or coconut fiber panels or even slabs of cork bark, but I chose this method because it seems lend a somewhat more natural look right off the bat. Other methods of lining the walls like coco fiber tend to take a LONG time for plants and such to grow over thus making them look less uniform and 'manufactured'. Spray foam tends to allow more organic looking results and/or if done properly can allow you to create a certain look as in this case something like an eroding bank above a small stream or pond. I'll be posting some more pics in a couple more days.
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Matt Campbell

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

HappyHillbilly Nov 24, 2006 10:34 AM

Anything worth having is worth working for!
Oh, the pains I've gone thru just to get the "right" result.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

Take care!
Mike
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

railrider1920 Nov 27, 2006 10:48 PM

>>Made some headway on the interior by applying Great Stuff spray foam to the walls and around plastic pots.

It is really cool looking so far. I hope it all turns out like you are planning.

Something I have heard about great stuff, you may have heard the same thing or have had it happen to you. When it appears to be dried or cured, if heat is applied to it, it will still expand. I don't know if it is true, but maybe you might want to test it in a corner?

Again, very nice looking. And thanks for updating us.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn
0.1 Creamscicle corn
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine
1.1 Bearded Dragon

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