Sooo exited :D

[CrystalReptile]

I just got a wonderful 40 gal. tank for my big girl!!!! I'm just so happy she finaly gets a bigger tank. :lol: (right now she is in a 20 gal) She is moving in tomorow!! Yay!!
Ok, anyways...to the point, hahha.
I might be building her a nice fake rock/hide. I cant wait to see if i can do it. I'm a big art person and love big projects. If so, how would i go about doing this? Any tips on what to do/use? Thanks!!!

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I am not a builder but if you look around here their is plenty of info! Good luck and hope we get pictures!

 

[beardieaddict]

alot alot of grout i have herd of people using concrete too like thinset concrete idk though personally i hate the building its time consuming and the last thing i made my dragon tore it to shreds in a month so ill just stick with the real stuff good luck on ur new project and post pics of what u make k?

 

[subfighter]

just get some foam shape it up.. and put about 5 - 10 layers of grout.. depending on how thin you make it... but the more the better your not hurting nothing.. the lower amount no good and if you try to put on to thick at the beginning coats..

you need to a base down on it for the first couple of coats so make it the thin. and then you can make thicker the more coats you move up.. i did not get any shell cracking or anything like that.

i did try to put on thick and got some shell cracking.. also no cement with playground sand.

just go by a pound of colored grout no sand.. but i tried and used both.. without sand and with sand.. and i saw no difference.

the difference i did see was make it thin at first and get some base coats on the foam then i went thicker and it work great... also thinner it dries faster at the start and you just keep putting it on after it dries.. if your in the sun it goes pretty quick..as i used the make mix i made for about 5 or 6 coats..

and its usually will get thicker because of the time between coats gets longer.. so it worked out good.

then later i made the texture of the grount more think like chocolate melt so it would make the shell thick.. but the lizards are light.. as i had for a year with very little wear.. there is a couple of spots i need to go back over but maitenance really

 

[CrystalReptile]

Thank you....i start tomorow!!! I'm soo exited. Any tips on the painting?

 

[CrystalReptile]

Well, got everything done up to the point to the first coat of grout. Tomorow, i do another.

 

[CrystalReptile]

Pics!!!
(i made 2 sets for when jessica gets her 40 gal)
Styrfoam part 1:

Styrfoam part 2:

Backrounds:

Finished!:

Close up on paint job:

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Looks great!

 

[CrystalReptile]

Thanks! Alex really loves it. She's been exploring all day!