[mossyfrog]

Everyone makes fancy vivarium backgrounds.....is it ok to keep it simple by coating the back with a layer of silicone, and then putting eco earth, rocks, and moss on top of it, or would I create a mess? <---- doesn't know what to do. Everyone else seems to be using cork bark (too expensive) or a layer of foam or great stuff (from where do I obtain great stuff?!)

What I'm thinking 4 background: Silicone+dirt+moss

[bwoodfield]

Yup, that should be fine. There are others that have done similar with silicone and coco peat or kitty litter. Just make sure you let the silicone sure for at least a full day or two. Also watch the consistency of your silicone. If it looks chunky or gritty you may have a bad batch and don't use it, it won't cure and you'll end up having to wipe it all off.

[mossyfrog]

Oh ok, Thankyou! I just made a bakground using thin cut bamboo poles and moss, it looks awesome

[rhachic]

You can get great stuff from Home Depot or Lowes.

[AeroWRX]

Lowes/Home Depot been pushing that foam stuff alot recently. It's like everywhere. There's a Youtube video of someone building his vivarium background with it and he coats it afterwards with a paint.

The hardware stores sell silicone cheap and you probably need a gun for the silicone tube as it's a pain to squeeze it by hand.

I believe this video shows what you described. Just watch through all the days he has documented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJaF3SkTZkk

[mossyfrog]

You guys have been really helpful, thank you so much! (That's a great video btw)
I made my first background by cutting thin bamboo poles with garden shears, and laying them in horizontal rows on the back of my tank, (putting silicone sealant on first of course, squeezing it by hand is a pain) and then filling the spaces with natural moss, it's dried now and has an awesome chinease forest look for my Fire bellied toads....1 down, the leopard gecko, fire bellied newt, hermit crab, and vietnamese mossy frog tanks to go...LOL!! Any ideas you guys?

[rhachic]

pics of the bamboo tank???
Cork bark rolls are an easy way to go and you can buy them by the pound if you need a lot. The cork holds up awesome in water and would be great used for your frogs and/or newts.
Another one i've done is rock formations with styrofoam. You can do something quick and simple and just eat out striations with paint thinner and a paint brush on a flat sheet or get complicated and cut out each piece in rock shapes and glue them together to get the stacked rock look. These would probably look good for your leo.

[bwoodfield]

Not sure about the others, but leopard gecko's natural environment is rock and baked clay. Depending on your tank size and shape you could build come rock walls and caves with a clay and slate substrate.

[mikelawson]

i hate lizards

[mossyfrog]

You guys have really awesome ideas, I'll used them. I will definetely post pics of the bamboo tank A.S.A.P Thanks a million <3 (I don't know what I would have done for my background w/o all the help from you guys...I probably would have made a mess or something