How to build a Tropical Vivarium | Drylock Background Tutorial
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- čas přidán 29. 05. 2021
- How to create a stunning Drylock background you can use for any pet reptile/amphibian's enclosure + how to setup a beautiful planted tropical vivarium! In today's video, I'll be setting up two vivarium/terrariums for some of my poison dart frogs! Hope you enjoy!
Product/Supply Links:
Manzanita Branches, 24-Inch, Natural Brown: amzn.to/3uE91B8
Drylock: amzn.to/3uyJzwZ
Great Stuff Smart Dispenser Pond & Stone, 12 oz, Black: amzn.to/3uuazO4
Exo Terra Glass Terrarium: amzn.to/3wGyoni
Paint Brushes: amzn.to/3wGyoni
Charcoal Liquid Cement Colouring: amzn.to/3c4IOVZ
Brown Liquid Cement Colouring: amzn.to/3p3QFrY
Fish Tank Silicone Sealant, 10-Ounce, Clear: amzn.to/3fw7by2
Hydroton: amzn.to/3wHYFBz
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Troy Goldberg's Tropical Garage: / troyz22
Mike Tytula: / @miketytula
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Music: All music provided by epidemic sounds
Thank you so much for watching everyone 🐸🌿! I sincerely hope you enjoyed watching today’s video! I apologize again for the delay but hopefully you understand why there was so much editing and voice over to add haha. Special thanks to all my Reptiliatus Channel Patrons over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/Reptiliatus for making videos like this possible! Don't forget to answer today's question of the day!
I would love for you to show me how to do one for my 10 gallon leopard gecko tank
I would build a drylok background for MY dart frogs lol 😎
love your video - working on my own background atm - sadly drylock isnt avalibel in germany and I'm lookin for a source to get it from. :/
I have to carve a background today, I never would have thought to use a Dremel tool. GENIUS!
Wick i never new you followed Dion also i love your vids cant wait for the next one
It’s so much easier and looks so much better my friend!
hey dion im almost done with the drawing for your birthday so it should be done by tommorow
Haha did you get that tip from my Instagram jk @mendellmenagerie
My thoughts exactly, I'm doing that from now on when I'm not using @ClintsReptiles gorilla glue method
Here is a tip I learned from Serpe Design, place empty plant pots (one size larger than the potted plants you want to add to the scape (Usually epyyphites like bromeliads) and the top and sides of the bottom of the pot to the glass and once dry foam over them leaving an opening on the bottom for drainage and leaving the top open to place the potted plant into it as a holder. This way if the plant fails and dies you can replace it with something else.
You can make vines from rope by coating hem in silicon and rolling them in coco fiber and again siliconing them to the branchesuse more coco fiber substrate to cover the silicon. You can wrap any climbing vining plants among them like pothos or oak leaf climbing fig.
Great rope/vine idea! I actually came up with incorporating pots into the background all on my own amazingly LOL
You don’t know how excited I have been for this video 😂
I hope you like it Toby! :)
@@Reptiliatus
Got something planned for the future. Making custom vivs for the entire collection, it’s great to see everyone’s take on making backgrounds :)
@@TobysExotics Brilliant!
I am SUPER late to this party but wanted to drop in and say thank you! I've been searching everywhere for DAYS trying to figure out what Drylok to use. You just made my whole day! I'm glad I discovered you today!
Glad I could help! Two year update, I think the method works really well although I've recently decided to start using compressed cork panels/tiles as they are easier to use and don't take awhile to clean/cure before plants will grow on them. In my experience it took months for plants to grow on the drylock (supposedly due to something in the motar paints) so just keep that in mind!
Thank you so much! That is really great to know. So glad I ran across you chanel! @@Reptiliatus
You sir are an artist, if I hadn’t watched this video I would think that I was walking in the rainforest. I can’t tell you how much enjoyment that your channel gives me. This project looks very time consuming but the finish is absolutely beautiful. 👍🏻At my age (78) and health I can no longer take care of even a goldfish 😂😂 watching your videos give me the chance to relive the fun of even keeping animals I never thought about keeping. Thank you so much.😍❤️👍🏻👏🏼 If i was a frog I’d move right in😁
Watched hundreds of builds over the years and have to say, your articulation and the “why” explained on each step is top notch - can’t wait to watch more! Very informative 👏🏼
Thank you so much! Really appreciate it! You may also enjoy this one! czcams.com/video/iLDN9V3e3CY/video.html
Those enclosures look great! As do the froggos. Nice shout outs to Troy and Mike, too
Thank you 🐸🌿🙏🏼! Those gents are good friends!
My lil fat butt White’s Tree frogs would smoosh all of the plants no matter how many months head starts I gave them! Lol. I still just adore them. People just don’t know how sweet and goofy and PRETTY frogs can be. These two enclosures turned out 🤌🏼 *muah* chef’s kiss!!
See? This is why I wanna see all my fav HerpTubers building their vivariums, each person experiences it differently and you get different tips!! So helpful!! Thanks so much Dayyan!! And of course Troy G, Tanner, etc!
I’d love to build a more natural enclosure for my beardies, as well as one for Whites tree frogs, I got a soft spot for them as I had some when I was younger
I loved this video, it was well worth the wait.
Seeing these setups with small plants and miss gives me a sense of relaxation and happiness.
I’m glad!
I absolutely love your videos because of how precious you and your animals and intentions are 💕💕💕🙏
Thank you so much! ☺️🙏🏼
I love the way you just do it. Your creations are so natural looking.
Thank you!
Using the Dremel tool is a great idea! I’ve never seen that done before but it gives your background an amazing texture!
The frogs are just so cute and the vivarium is an artistic masterpiece of nature.
Thank you so much!
it looks so good!! i would live in it ❤️ 🐸
haha thanks so much!
WHAT! Had no idea Exo Terra made this new line-up! Now I know what I am using as my enclosure for my next build! Thanks, Reptiliatus!
8:02 woah bringing out the big guns haha
awesome video! I definitely learned quite a few things that i'll be applying to backgrounds I build in the future! :)
Thanks so much my friend! ☺️🙏🏼
Bro you killed this!
Thanks so much my friend! Did my best! ☺️🙏🏼
Really good video. I enjoyed watching you
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!
This looks so FUN! I bet you had a blast. I like the different look of both. You have done a fantastic job! Feel free to pat yourself on the back. You explained very clearly and succinctly what had to be done. It did not have a confusing or an overwhelming feel to your direction. You are an excellent teacher, Sir!
I agree! Sometimes the amount of details and directions can feel overwhelming. Dayyan is great at keeping it to the basics while still making sure you have all the info you need to succeed.
@Reptiliatus the first tank you setup (the cobalt dart frog tank) is one of my favorite dart frog vivariums I have seen in my life. I love the Java moss accents and the plant cuttings. Well done, man!
Wow thank you! That’s so flattering buddy!
u srsly have the best subscribers 😂
u deserve more
Thank you so much! Too kind!
Incredible step-by-step build. Thank you for the tips and useful information.
I am going to be doing my first builds very soon, and this really helps build a little confidence.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed my video!
The dremel tool look AWSOME!!! I love the rock so much. I did not know dry log was safe for reptiles
Wow! Great video! I wish I could have tons of cool reptiles and amphibians just like you!
Thanks for watching! Haha yes, it's wonderful but keep in mind this is my full time job too :). Keeping this many animals properly is a lot of work!
I love the way you carved the background, it looks like rock does after eons of water dripping on it. I've got a couple of new cal geckos and a leo who will be getting upgrades soon; this will be a great texture to incorporate!
Thank you very much!
Looks great
I absolutely love your channel. Great info delivered in a nice, kind manner. I love that you also mention other channels you enjoy!
Okay, just before I watched today, I watched Adam's (Wickens Wicked Reptiles) piece also on Dart Frogs. I guess you both saw the wild frogs on a recent trip. Way cool. I enjoyed his suggestion of keeping Mourning Geckos in with the frogs. I like mixed species... Thanks again for your really informative videos!
The long hair safety advice is a great addition. Long hair can be super sneaky about finding stuff to tangle with.
🙏🏼
I agree! I figure my long hair that has gotten stuck into anything just adds to its "natural" look lol.
Along with that tidbit, I'd also suggest starting the foam application, as well as dry foam cut-away or sanding, beginning in the very back or furthest away areas first. This helps prevent stuff getting in/touching wet foam or accidents happening.
you are an artist
😅🙏🏼 you are too kind!
I'm actually working on getting the stuff to build a vivarium, for my Iguana. And I like the way the dry lock looks.
Thank you, this was a neat video.
Thank you!
Awesome video
Thank you!
Sorry i didn't see the video when it came out i went out to a camping trip to ride four wheelers with my family. But i cant wait to see the entire video right now and see what the tree & dart frogs new enclosure and knowing you i know its going to look amazing
So happy you put in another frog video! You should do more😁
Thank you for watching! I certainly shall 🐸!
@@Reptiliatus your vivariums always look sooo good and natural. But im here making it look like a prison😭
Thanks for shouting out your inspirations!
I am not familiar with either of the CZcamsrs that you mentioned, and I reckon I will go check out their pages before I actually start the process.
I have been watching a lot of Serpa Design videos aswell as Biotope Gallery lately, taking plant cuttings and putting together a list of materials in preparation.
I want to design a paladarium for a frog I know, but I can also see myself very frustrated and feeling in over my head trying to incorporate housing for the pump.
Very cool to see your first build! Great content as always (:
wish i had enough space to casually add 5 vivs to my collection XD great video dude thanks for all the tips :)
Hi, I really liked the frog videos🐸🌱. I want to see more...
Thank you! You bet!
Great video!! I’ve been so excited for this and am very happy to see it! Can’t wait to see you set up 3 more tanks. One plant that I really like for high humidity tanks is a Waffle Plant, they provide a lot of cover, grow easily in the right conditions, and have really pretty coloration. They would be great for a dart frog tank. :)
And for the Question of the Day, I would make a drylok background for my crestie or a dart frog if I get one in the future. I wonder if a drylok background would be suitable for a crocodile skink.
I love the use of bromeliads in these tanks
Thank you!
Hi Dion! Love ya man!
Thank you so much! Hi!
I have a pretty big bivarium that has been done with spray foam and dry lock pro tip silicone little droplets onto the back of the glass and silicone in popsicle sticks on their side. This will give the phone something clean and adhere to the first time attempting it might spray foam. Came completely off the glass. Best to give it plenty of anchors the rest on and hold on to on top of siliconing the edges when dry
QOTD: I would make a drylok background for my corn snake since his terrarium doesn't currently have any kind of background. He loves climbing so having a rough uneven background with lots of crevices and maybe even a cork tunnel on it would be a great upgrade for him.
I have seen a whole lot of similar things with ledges and other stuff carved out of foam. Looks quite good!
There's also tons of videos on 'snake enrichment boards that look pretty cool. Making sure to give them lots of wooden pegs to climb up and around the cork tubes too.
Amazing
thank you so much!
I like that you added springtails, but you canalos add some dwarf isopods as well which will help break down any leaf litter and animal poop and are free food for the critters.
Definitely going to try this out for my dart frogs. Unfortunately, I purchased the older version of these Exoterras.
I'd definitely create a drylok background for my whites tree frog, he's my baby and deserves the very best😌
Awesome!
I love your videos ty. Making the tanks are by far my favorite part of everything. However I take the doors off when I'm working on my vivs. If you do it right you can take the doors off and put them right back on no problem. Not sure why I didn't think of using the shop vac at the same time! My face is going to be so much happier now lol
I have a little 1 gallon shop vac with a shoulder strap that works perfect!
This is so cool it looks like mars
Thanks!
It would be awesome if you would do a bioactive vivarium update video, showing how all your vivs have established and grown in, and maybe some tips on maintenance
Once i go bioactive for all my critters i'd love to try this. I'd most probably try it for my cresties and if i ever get ackies i'd love a huge display vivarium with a similar background!
WOW !
Thanks!
Omgggg this looks so natural and gorgeous!!!! ive been bingeing videos for inspo bc, while i dont want to put my almost 15 year old corn snake into bioactive, i DO want to give him a large removable ... prop? Furniture? Jungle gym? But seeing all these gorgeous vivariums just!!! My next animal is gonna get bioactive for sure
Why don't you want to put your corn into bioactive? I'm swapping my 10 year old corn to bioactive soon
@@reesep9095 because he's my first and only actual baby and I'd kms if I made a mistake/didn't identify a problem in time with him :'^) I'd rather take a risk with a new animal than one that I've had for HALF my life and for his life to middle age. So for him, I've only been doing disposable props or removable props that can be cleaned.
I’m hoping to upgrade all my enclosure pets with amazing backgrounds one day. As an artist, I care very much about the appearance of an enclosure. Serpa design makes me jealous. Lol
Hello great video information Dayyan
Thank you for watching as always!
Wow! When I did mine I struggled with the carving part. It was so tedious and so many tiny spaces. I was going to look into a foam cutter tool for next time but this is a great idea. Never co sidereal sidereal dremil tool :D thanks for the awesome video!
It's a great idea to use the tool he did. You can find rotary tools pretty cheap, and what he uses was one with a pen-like attachment that helps getting into smaller spaces (decent generic versions w/ the attachment are only about $25-30). This idea also helps make the foam look more natural.
After cutting away alot of foam myself with various blades/tools, the time & effort saved is definitely worth getting a rotary tool w/ that extension attachment like he used!
Great
Thanks
I‘m on my first build right now. A big enclosure for my two corn snakes. Carving with the dremel is working pretty well but it takes so long. :,) And it’s messy af. But I have to say that it looks much better than cutting with a knife!
Great video
How about the bacterial bloom that normally occurs in the first 4 weeks of a tank establishing?
Did the video come out about the other three species?! I would love to see it! These enclosures are fantastic! I’d also love a later update on how they grow in. I’m curious to see the moss spread. Especially their cute lil huts!
It has not yet haha. If you follow me on insta I’ve been hinting at the fact I’m working on several more enclosures. 😉
Your enclosures look amazing! I never knew about drylock until just now. For my pacman frog I made a bioactive tank and used silicone to cover the foam, then put coco fiber ontop of that.
For a drylock enclosure I would love to make one for my crested gecko when she gets big enough 🥰
Thank you so much! Yea i have used this method as well but I really think this works better and will hold up a lot longer :).
Best wishes!
@@Reptiliatus you are welcome! 😊 please post a updated video of your vivarrium in the future so we can see how they are doing. I love to watch the progress of bioactive tanks. And thank you! It will be quite a bit until she is bigger, but I have ideas for her tank.
So awesome! I just finished my first viv build...just a few more little things to fix. I used a Dremel as well, works so well! I'm just wondering...I want to throw my chameleon in right away, its' been almost a week since the dry lock was done, but it's still smelly. Should there be a waiting period for it to off gas or whatever that's called? Or will he be fine? Thanks in advance!
I would love to build one of these for my Mangrove Monitor!!
Awesome! You could essentially use this tutorial to build a drylock background into any enclosure :).
over all not bad. Just a tip dry brushing is intended to bring out highlights. dip the brush then dry the brush on a rag or something then gently stroke the canvas. you was painting lol.
ZooMed Frog Moos is a very good Over Substrate.
Good~!!!!😍
Thank you!
Acanthogonatus Francki, my little rescued Chilean funnel web would love something like this!
I wonder if you could use the Fluval Plant and Shrimp stratum or like the Eco Complete for aquarium plants - inverts are just as susceptible (or even more so) to toxins and additives in the soil and that's all I use in my planted aquariums and shrimp tanks. That new Bio Frog and Co stuff looks JUST like it.
I'm getting a centipede soonish and want to set something like this up. I hate the idea of sticking it in a tote, so I'll be going all out like this.
I would use this method for my red eyed tree frog 🐸
Also I love exo-terra tanks. I have 2 of these tanks. Well 18x18x12 bio actives. I keep my Pac-Man frogs in them. I am going to completely redo their tanks tho. I would love to make them caves.
Try using staples.after the plants get a hold pull out the staples out.
Links for the bulkhead, the misters and anything associated with that, I assume some kind of motor or pump as well. The false bottom substrate and mesh overlay. Are links available for these items?
I have a Tokay, white line, corn snake and my daughters Leopard gecko might have to give them all upgrades? Nice video awesome Enclosures 👌
Those are awesome species! Love hearing about people keeping white lined geckos! Such beautiful lizards!
@@Reptiliatus the white line are super chill when comfortable. took them like 9 months to chill out. but I can open there tank doors and they just hang out on the branches, they don't even flinch when my hand goes in! Now my tokay is super shy still, he does not show him self often. only had him like 2 weeks now. I'm hoping he chills out like the white lines!
This looks really awesome! Is there anywhere we can order those kits in canada? Good video :)
you for got the isopod and spring tails that why we use leaf litter.
Hi I was wondering would you be able to take the background off in the future if you ever want to change it’s purpose?
Be sure to wait a full three hours for foam to cure before turning the tank to foam the next side. I turned it too soon and after I had nearly finished foaming the next side the wood and foam in the first side began to sag and some cork came off. If you plan to do this, get an extra can of foam, just in case you might end up needing it.
I don't keep and don't really have an interest in frogs, but I'm a big fan of the husbandry practices and enrichment that's common among frog keepers. I'm drawing inspiration for my own current and future reptiles, mostly snakes. However, I do love the features in these dart frog tanks and i think it would be perfect for a crestie bioactive, and I think the enclosure for it would be a good test run before just going for in in a 5ft vivarium, lol, especially the background technique. My two ball pythons are in 4 footers right now, but when I upgrade them to bioactive, i'd like for them to have something bigger, especially since one of them is particularly active. So, if the test viv (i'm thinking 18x18x24) does well, i would like to put a crested gecko in it, and i'd have the confidence and experience to tackle something bigger :)
I think my main concern with attempting to do a background a larger enclosure is going to be the weight, especially since i'm hoping to stack them.
Why can’t the silicone be “anti mould”? Thanks! I love these setups!
I will choose the blue poison dart frogs
How are your humidity levels in the tank? Did you add glass on the top mesh for higher humidity?
@Reptiliatus
This was a great video tutorial thank you! Which design do you prefer ultimately? The dryloc or the silicone and the coco fibre? Also do you have any idea where to get one of those eco-terra tanks? I'm located in Alberta and can seem to find any.
Thanks man!
Whether you use drylok or silicone, you could still cover either one with coco fiber/peat on top if you like the look. I think the big difference between silicone/coco fiber or his drylok method is which look you like (physical dirt-type texture or a smooth coated look, respectively) and then ease of application. The drylok seems faster and definitely not as messy.
Can you paint on the dry-lock on top of the foam without first cutting the foam, just on the foam as is?
How would the drylok backgrounds hold up with Sabsi and Basil? Would the paint coating hold up to their claws or would they just shred up all your hard work?
Bro any recommendation on what size of tank or gallon should i use in keeping croc skink?
How much of a gap do you have to leave at bottom and at top. At bottom for substrate
21:35 "To spite the fact"
This is how I will say this from now on.
lol
Where do you typically get your plants from? I'm kinda paranoid to just grab some from lowes because I don't know what they have put on them.
I think the tree & dart frogs were excited when they found out they were going to not only have there own video but they also were excited to find out that you were going to build them new enclosure's
What is the best source for researching about dart frogs ?
because most of them are not very specific
I would make one of these for a Chinese cave gecko. It totally fits the style of a cave.
Would be fantastic!
Hi! You should make a special terrarium for a Leopard Gecko 😁
Always wanted dart frogs .... But I always am intimidated by the care ....but I've heard it's easy.....trantulas also.......hey I got some jumping spiders and the one made a really thick web/nest and there is a yellow looking thing in the center is that eggs
Great video.what is a good 18 *18*18 cost?Keep up the good Info.
I want to make one for a red eyed crocodile skink
Always make a false bottom made from clay balls or gravel a layer of plastic or carbon window screen mesh cut a little larger than the paludarium bottomthen use activated carbon or charcoal in another layer over the mesh then add whatever substreate for plants soil, sphagnum moss, coco fiber, reptibark, orchid mulchsand and some more pea sized charchoal pieces, dried leaves and twigs I use in my substrate Organic worm castings make for great soil amendment as well as volcanic based fertilizer for trace nutrients and minerals I also add to my substrate mix.