EXPANDING FOAM WALL - FIRST WALL DONE

[jack_wardayyyy]

Hi everyone!

As some of you will know I’ve been looking into my first bioactive set up and for this I really wanted to do an expanding foam wall. Today I completed the back piece of the wall using logs, coco planting mats and substrate. I have stuck these on using expanding foam and I am waiting for it to further expand and fully cure. In the substrate I used charcoal, bark and the Arcadia Earth mix. Tomorrow in the areas that require a touch I will use primarily live moss and dried sphagnum moss - these will be attached using silicone.

I will attach a few pics now, if anyone has any advice that would be awesome! The next side will have two coco mats and a few branches

 

[MissSkittles]

Looking great! I’m excited to see the rest and all put together.

 

[jack_wardayyyy]

Looking great! I’m excited to see the rest and all put together.

Thank you! this is what it looks like right now excited to shake it off and hopefully just the excess bark comes off! Very happy with how it has gone, put some foam in the branches too and going to pack them with soil and drill a few small holes for drainage and in the whole on the left I am planting a fern and in the smaller holes hopefully a Fittonia but if I can’t fit in I have some carpet and cushion moss

 

[elizaann2]

This looks awesome!! I would love to do bioactive but I don't feel ready for it yet...

 

[Sonny13]

This looks awesome!! I would love to do bioactive but I don't feel ready for it yet...

It’s nothing too difficult, I had the same feeling and was glad doing it. Drainage is just key, as long as you keep that in mind, you should be good

 

[Sonny13]

View attachment 339041

Thank you! this is what it looks like right now excited to shake it off and hopefully just the excess bark comes off! Very happy with how it has gone, put some foam in the branches too and going to pack them with soil and drill a few small holes for drainage and in the whole on the left I am planting a fern and in the smaller holes hopefully a Fittonia but if I can’t fit in I have some carpet and cushion moss

Looks amazing

 

[elizaann2]

It’s nothing too difficult, I had the same feeling and was glad doing it. Drainage is just key, as long as you keep that in mind, you should be good

I hope to get some dragon strand enclosures next year and then try Bioactive with those. I'm sure when I get ready to do it, I'll have a million and a half questions for all of you

 

[jack_wardayyyy]

This looks awesome!! I would love to do bioactive but I don't feel ready for it yet...

Thank you! If you’re from the UK I can certainly help you with someone to provide you with a viv that has a built in drain.

Looks amazing

Thank you!

Does anyone know if this is safe to use as an alternative to drylok

 

[Flick boy]

Thank you! If you’re from the UK I can certainly help you with someone to provide you with a viv that has a built in drain.

Thank you!

Does anyone know if this is safe to use as an alternative to drylok

What alternative? Can't see what you mean

 

[jack_wardayyyy]

What alternative? Can't see what you mean

Apologies I forgot to attach the image, so tired hahahaha. I don’t know what I’m looking for in terms of safety and I don’t want to jump the gun

 

[Flick boy]

Your good, Don't know, what you using it for

 

[jack_wardayyyy]

Your good, Don't know, what you using it for

It’s the same as drylok. Coat the expanding foam with it and then throw substrate on and it acts as a bonding agent and water-sealant

 

[Flick boy]

Yeah should be good We should have a chameleon forum pimp my viv, what you doing with the cushion moss , I've some was maybe going to put on ledges or pots

 

[jack_wardayyyy]

Yeah should be good We should have a chameleon forum pimp my viv, what you doing with the cushion moss , I've some was maybe going to put on ledges or pots

Awesome I’ll pick some up tomorrow my plans for the cushion moss is to put it into the smaller holes on the logs and if there’s any spare I’m going to maybe carve an area it could be planted on the wall if a decent enough divot is created.

I also agree a pimp my viv would be a great page for people to get ideas and also help on products used. Everyone I see is from the US and I’m from the UK and it’s a whole different world of products and I’ve been so fearful in what I use

 

[Flick boy]

Some nice air plants or similar family members would be nice growing out from the moss small accents of colour, run out of space to quickly with a 2x2x4. I'm from the UK

 

[MissSkittles]

I hope to get some dragon strand enclosures next year and then try Bioactive with those. I'm sure when I get ready to do it, I'll have a million and a half questions for all of you

It took me awhile to build up enough confidence to try it. I started with one of my leopard gecko tanks as ‘practice’. I love the natural feel of it all. As you can tell from a recent post, I am still hesitant when I find freaky bugs that I didn’t intentionally put there, but I get over my little freak outs. Having the knowledge and support of everyone here helps so much!

 

[Sonny13]

I hope to get some dragon strand enclosures next year and then try Bioactive with those. I'm sure when I get ready to do it, I'll have a million and a half questions for all of you

And then we’re here for you to answer them

 

[elizaann2]

It took me awhile to build up enough confidence to try it. I started with one of my leopard gecko tanks as ‘practice’. I love the natural feel of it all. As you can tell from a recent post, I am still hesitant when I find freaky bugs that I didn’t intentionally put there, but I get over my little freak outs. Having the knowledge and support of everyone here helps so much!

Totally! I will probably be the same way to be honest. I did just go bioactive with my superworms and dubia roaches as practice. I want to see what issues I run into with them before I go all out.

 

[elizaann2]

And then we’re here for you to answer them

You guys are so awesome. Its so nice to have a community where I can reach out to others for support and questions. This is a really hard hobby to jump into and this forum has made things so much easier.

 

[Multivitamins]

Some nice air plants or similar family members would be nice growing out from the moss small accents of colour, run out of space to quickly with a 2x2x4. I'm from the UK

My two of my three " curly slim " airplants are in bloom right now love them greta accent and they love the conditions our chameleons require. Couldn't agree more about running out of space in the 2*2*4.