Finished a 75 gallon with a prefab rock wall and sides. Decided to do a DIY backround and sides on my own. I studied so many vids on DIY rock sculpting that my head is about to explode. Have the foam cut and installed in the new 75 gal ... find myself with "writer's block" so to speak. Watching you carve into those foam walls so aggressively has inspired me to jump in and just do it. Found a smokin' deal on the same wire cutter you used. Thanks for the inspiration ... I think our beardie is tired of waiting for me to get my butt in gear ... cheers!
Hey, Ich fände es super wenn du/Sie auch Videos auf deutsch machen würdest/würden. Tolles Video, würde mich über mehr freuen. 😍👍 Beste Grüße und schönen Tag
Great video thanks, very helpful. Can I ask what you say at 5:35 which I guess is what is the blue bucket before you add the colouring. It sounds like 'tile sand'. is that correct? I would be grateful if you would let me know what the mixture is exactly. Many thanks.
@@TheReptileHun yeah for example I can't find a full setup for a hot wire cutter like yours for under $100. Also the type of foam board the clay ect would all be helpful to someone who hasn't built to this detail before.
Great video! Can you tell me what’s n the larger monitors do they scratch up the background or does it harden? I wanna build for some Savannah’s and water monitors . Thanks
Thanks buddy ☺️👍 the background is rock solide, no way to scratch them out however if you plan to build this for bigger species, make sure to use at least 5 thick layers and you won’t get any problems 😉
Hey Jessica, i`m going to include the Link here, but i'm not sure, if you can get that exact same one :/ www.amazon.de/Proxxon-27082-Hei%C3%9Fdraht-Schneideger%C3%A4t-Thermocut-Schneddr%C3%A4hten/dp/B001DXMF9M/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=proxxon+styropor&qid=1612967223&sr=8-4
do you have a link or know what specific brand of clay you used for the substrate at 8:40 ? i know it says color clay on the bag but i dont know what brand also i loveeee this definitely gives me some inspiration for my next build !!
Interesting. Most others using bioactive substrates always say to keep it light and airy to keep the CUC well oxygenated, promote "good" bacteria growth, and consequently prohibit the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Seems like the clay would keep it compacted, which I think you said. Will have to try this type of substrate, looks a lot easier to do and maintain. Never thought they sold handheld wire cutters, great tip there for sculpting the foam!
DrakeDragonheart yes but since these setups are pretty arid, you should use a partial area covered with leaf litter, underneath that and also underneath the plants areas should be a little bit more moist. The destruction crew will hide there at daytime and come out when the lights are shut to clean the setup ☺️ that’s how I keep it for many years now ☺️👍
@@TheReptileHun seeing this finally made buy some isopods and springtails to convert my gilleni over to bioactive. Hopefully I got the substrate mix right and colony becomes established. And that he doesn't eat them all too
DrakeDragonheart that’s the way to go imho ☺️ they will, they even did. in one of my driest setups and if they eat them... they’re excellent feeders with a lot of calcium and other nutritions 😊👍
That substrate is for a more tropical or even subtropical environment that houses plants and animals that like/need a more humid climate. He is making an ard/desert type set up which requires very little humidity other than what would normally get out in nature. Some types of isopods and other cuc species prefer dryer conditions and will do just fine as long as you provide the little moisture they require. You're right about this type of substrate being easier to make and keep up on. This is definitely a good starter type set up that costs far less money and effort.:):)
Greeting I just saw your video, I am very interested of the brand of this hot wire, the tool looks very professional. Can you send me a link if can be bought online?
Huhu die Rückwand wird mit Fliesenkleber und Abtönkonzentrat beschichtet, in der letzten Schicht mische ich oft noch etwas vom Substrat bei… hier ist es Sand, Lehm und Erde gemischt im Verhältnis von 3:1:2
So do you think this rock type set up can last for a lizard life time if I have something smaller like a collard lizard? Will it stand up to heat. I’d love to know your experience with these and heat tolerance
When worked properly and used enough layers this will survive us in fact 😉 I have used these with all kinds of reptiles and even with turkish painted agamas which require extreme basking temperatures and never had any issues 👍
I had trouble hearing the list of ‘ingredients’. The “paint” on the styrofoam and the soil mix. I’m 70, and hearing impaired. Please add them in the description or as a reply to this question.
In my country, the stuff he painted on the foam would be called grout (he calls it tile cement). He mixed in a cement pigment for color. For soil he did play sand (probably quartz sand), red colored sand, coco peat (aka coir, ground up coconut husk), powdered clay (used to make pottery).
CD ROM Since the setup is bioactive I don’t need to do a whole lot of cleaning, most dirt is flushed from the background through spraying and the rest is taken care of by the isopods 😊👍
The Reptile Hun Yes but they are sufficient! The odatria hatchlings are so small. And if it gets a little rowdy, small cork bark tubes solves it all. Great and inspiring work! Do you offer any?