Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First, hay gang, it's been a long time since I posted here.
I hope everyone is well.

So, I have a 75 gallon I want to make into a vivarium or something along those lines. I've had a very old idea I hope is unique. I'm well versed in construction and all that. But I have a topic I'm not to knowledgeable so here I ask.

I want to use some 5" stryo I have left over from my house. I'll cut, burn, melt and carve to what I need.

What I need it a good paint? Or better a dye. Something safe. I do not want to use paints that will become to stiff as if I fix something I may crack it as the Expanded stypr will give under it. This stryo is not the cheaper home depot type, but a higher density version, but not expanded.

I have a LOT of this stryo. So lot of room for tests.

So pain types or some top secret other methods?

Oh yes, the styro has to create a good seal against the glass.
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Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

I want to use some 5" stryo I have left over from my house. I'll cut, burn, melt and carve to what I need.

What I need it a good paint? Or better a dye. Something safe. I do not want to use paints that will become to stiff as if I fix something I may crack it as the Expanded stypr will give under it.

Someone on the Cichlid Forum made a large styro background for a 300 gallon tank and painted it with tinted gray drylok. I gather it has held up well. I painted some drylok onto a piece of 1/2" styrofoam and now months later I can still bend it without the drylok cracking. And the natural texture of the drylok looks good.

Another idea is to use an acrylic concrete bonding agent. ACE distributes a cheap one. These can be tinted etc. and seem to have the characteristics you are looking for. And they would probably be easier to apply than drylok which is tough to get on highly textured surfaces.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

We are talking the "drylok" hydro,, er hydra,, errr cement based paint that expands for basement walls?

Old stuff is oil based. I used 4 5 gallon tubs on my interior basement as I finished it. A little extra protection, and a big BUZZ.

Is the oil based safe? Or is there a newer water based?

Nothing to special going in the tank. Guppies, maybe a baby turtle (for bonifide educational purposes of course) and a few toads. The lay out is something I wanted to do for years.

Also interesting stuff to use. Using cement in it, it has a texture that may add to the effect on the styro.
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Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

Use the latex based masonry waterproofer (yes, the hydraulic cement paint). I have heard the oil-based version is absolutely nasty.

Fish people have used it to seal plywood tanks up to several hundred gallons in size. Not something I'd trust to hold water in my basement but they have held water for over a year. Regardless, if it will seal a plywood box it will seal your styrofoam.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Malaysian locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Thanks Chris, you were help years ago. I never would have thought that stuff to be safe. Now to get started. Wierd project idea I have had for a long time.

Thanks
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Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com