Help guys

[_kai_]

Hey guys , can anyone tell me what are the stuff needed to make a nice background for a viv? Im looking to make a rocky or wood coloured background.

Can anyone tell me where i can get great stuff foam and non toxic, waterproof paints to paint the background? Thanks a lot .

Also, what plant farms are there that sells exotic orchids, bromeliads and tillandsias?
Thanks guys! .

[_kai_]

Cant anyone help me? .

[kaganesti]

Homefix at Marina Square used to have Great Stuff. Last month I went they say out of stock.Maybe you can call and check.
Orchids and tillandsias can try Woon Leng or Song orchid at Choa Chu Kang area; not too sure how exotic they are though but they have quite a variety.

[eddy planer]

Hi kai

Its great to see you has enthusiasm to DIY vivarium or paludarium , I like that!!!

Have you see my 2 postings http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...9-6ft-vivarium and http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...rnal-Pictures!
This will help you step by step method of creating what you really want your project to be. If you want a smaller tank like 2 ft or 3 ft or even 1 ft tank , the method is still the same and from this project is how you like?

The materials for creating this vivarium/ palu i can help you along but do tell me what exactly that you like? I will try my best to help you here and there as I've been very frequent on biz trips.

hope to hear your thoughts!

[_kai_]

hi eddy, i am still reading ur threads but i am enjoying them so far, im planning to convert my 3FT into a terrarium. Idea and conrtuction wise i pretty much have that covered, just need to know where i can get the materials. I just need GS foam and Black silicone, that is all .

My idea is a deep pond for shrimps(sulawesi) and land for broms and other plants, with a nice backdrop that will be covered in peat moss/coco fiber substrate using black silicone. It is that simple . But it will not be a vertical tank tho. The scaping i will be happy to do myself becauuse i have always loved scaping my tanks and designing it, thanks for helping me .

[eddy planer]

Hi kai

You may find GS foam and black silicon in any hardware shop but please tell me where are you locate so that I can recommend you the list of hardware shops. Actually as for GS foam is actually can be only find in Fixup DIY hardware in any shopping malls but i dont recommend you this as this GS foam is pricy than other brands. So I used other as you can see what brand I had been using for my projects in my postings.

As for nice back ground i suggest you to used corkbark and it will help to maintain the water's PH level than using either cement or any other plaster powder as they are known to increase and even always maintain high PH level of 8-9 that will kill your shrimps eventually.

let me know your thoughts

[_kai_]

I see. Ok i live in Tana Merah. I went to home fix but they didnt sell either.

Oh so gs foam is not a good idea huh...Well, where can i get corkbark? Becuase i dont know how to use the cement/plaster method. I feel that GS foam and silicone is the easiest method so far, plus its light. I was planning to put rocks into the GS foam to redirect the water into a stream, than silicone gravel onto the rock "path" where the water flows to cover up any white spots from the GS foam. But if the foam affects my ph than its a no for me, i dont want my shrimps dying out on me... Actually ph of 8-9 is perfect for sulawesi shrimps though, i'll see which is an easier method, i may very well not add shrimps in the end too haha.

[eddy planer]

Hi kai

GS foam is okay will not affect the water PH but what Im trying to tell you cement /plaster method isnt a good idea for your shrimps. As for corkbark you may try to source them at either serangoon North where all the LFS are locate and NA LFS at thomson road just opposite Thomson Medical hospital.

Since you are staying at the east side, you may try hardware along Changi road which is just past Bedok to Geylang serai. If you are taking a bus from Bedok toward geylang serai, try to look for the all in one hardware by your right .I will try to source the name of the Hardware and its address.

hope this will help you.

[_kai_]

Oh i see, than im sticking to the GS foam method. Thanks a lot, it has definitely helped! I may head down there next weekend . Thanks again, i keep searching all the wrong places in singapore haha.

I have one more question, do i need to cure the foam or anything? I see a lot of threads, people cure their cement or soomething by soaking it... Do i have to do that? Or will drying and lettting the foam sit already cure it? Thanks again

[eddy planer]

As for the foam method, actually it best to let its cure for 24hrs but the the curing is take about 4-5hrs. There will be a lot of foam cutting to your preference. Anyway have fun , bro!

[_kai_]

Ok i see, Thanks! I will def have fun haha .

[David Moses Heng]

for background, i suggest using cork bark with plastic drainage tray like this:
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...2-DIY-Backdrop.

The cork bark can get from woon leng as it may be of better value. The drainage trellis, I got my from far east. Use a bit of imagination, cable tie, sweat and time and you can get the backdrop you desire. Alternatively, you may want to approach New Katong Aquarium at Roxy Square 2 for the cork bark.

Also to share a recent palu that I did with DKK08 and Thio from Biotope services:

Enjoy.

[_kai_]

Oh thats a nice backdrop u did there! Really natural looking, but i think im sticking with the GS foam, or maybe half half. Or i can also make the waterfall out of GS foam. But thats a really nice backdrop, i may try it. Thanks for the pic .

[eddy planer]

hi kai

I'm still waiting, waiting and waiting to see your creation, leh.

[_kai_]

I posted the pics of my plan on my other thread alr leh haha. But excuse my drawing using paint an free hand. Was very late at night when i did that. I dun think ill fare any better when im fully awake anyways. I jusy need to know where to get the non toxic and waterproof paint that will not alter my ph. U got any names to suggest? I can than at least start sourcing out . Im actually on the way home to continue my vivarium build.

[eddy planer]

Hi Kai
You may obtain any brand of acrylic paint from bras bash road or popular bookstore. Please be aware acrylic paint dry up very fast and your hand will almost permanent stain if you handle without paint brush.Hence you need to work quickly mixing colour to meet your desire then paint on your build,okay.
Hope this will help you.

[_kai_]

Thanks eddy bro! But i read that a lot of people coat their paint with epoxy. Does acrylic paint need to be coated with epoxy?

[eddy planer]

hi kai

no need for epoxy , too much work!

I'm using glaze spray for this to coat and protect the paint from being fading. Moreover this glaze spray give the shining coating( a wet look) after spraying.
oops
the brand i'm using is FolkArt, Extra Thick Glaze, 786. I got it from Bras Basah Road, 2nd or 3rd floor , the huge Art shop.
hope this will help you.

[_kai_]

Thanks so much eddy, im on my wayh there right now . Ill be sure to post pics when its complete, so stray tuned!

[eddy planer]

Okay dude

I'm waiting and waiting and waiting!