How to Build A Custom DIY Vivarium Background Like a PRO!

[@jukesngambits]

I am SO glad I watched this before ever creating a vivarium - foam as the main substrate and drainage is a brilliant idea even if you wanted some loose substrate on top for whatever reason. This kind of design seems ideal for "sterility", ease of access, and frog safety while still keeping everything beautiful about vivariums. Amazing video, thank you

[@naturesADHD]

29:00 nice track!! nice video s much patience! i am bulding my first one.. such a mess!! i am wating for the silicone to dry up RN.. wish me luck!

[@Reptiliatus]

Awesome video Troy! I’ve been wanting to give dry lock a try for my next build!

[@AntsCanada]

Just watched several of your videos! Awesome terrarium builds! Your channel is going to be huge soon! Subscribed! PS - I've always wanted to get into dart frogs but I hear they don't do too well in my hot climate. I'm on a frog flex atm. I have microhylid frogs and a Surinam horned frog. Does the urine from frogs cause the moss to develop algae?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Hahaha Hey Thanks man!, yeah typically they don’t like it when the enclosure goes above 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit on the ground area... that’s a good question about the urine, but I have no clue lol! Thanks for the sub! I love your channel!

[@AntsCanada]

@@TroyGoldberg Thank you! So the moss in your frog tanks don't mold or grow algae?

[@TroyGoldberg]

AntsCanada not usually, but some of my vivs have bubble algae... not exactly sure where that came from... I’ve seen slime mold as well

[@AntsCanada]

@@TroyGoldberg ah ok noted. Same with some of my terrariums containing frogs. Thanks for the info. I will continue to follow your channel!

[@TroyGoldberg]

AntsCanada thanks man I really appreciate it!

[@YelloDog1]

This was literally one of the coolest backgrounds I have seen so far. The drylock looked awesome on top of foam. I can’t wait to see part 2!

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks... I planted it today... but I’m not gonna post video til it’s grown in a bit!

[@TFitz-gh4si]

@@TroyGoldberg Does the plants get stuck straight in the background and into the dry lock around the wood? Or is substrate added on top of the black flooring foam you used?

[@TroyGoldberg]

@@TFitz-gh4si they pretty much grow everywhere

[@paesanng]

This sort of art should be offered in high schools and universities.

[@KarenmitchellANI]

Why?

[@EODE556]

@@KarenmitchellANI Why?

[@Kira-kg4kl]

I keep coming back and watching this and a few other videos everytime I do a build 😅 always keeps me watching everytime

[@MarcusRichardsonRacing]

Could you maybe link the materials used in your bio from amazon or something like that?

[@jonisolis9645]

Yes, please!

[@eeskreetsmith4999]

Do you have a materials list by chance?? Awesome tutorials BTW

[@AnotherWorldTerraria]

Thank you for sharing your techniques. I learned a lot of helpful info and tips. The silicone seal from foam to glass is a great idea that I've never heard before. I will give that a shot for a future project. And the clear but detailed drylok / quikrete portion of the tutorial was exactly what I needed for a project I'm working on. I've been putting off trying the drylok technique for a while now because I thought it would be complicated or a big hassle, but you made it seem simple, and now I know exactly what to do. The background and scape in this video look awesome. Great work!

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks so much man!!

[@leafwitheyes2473]

I like how he goes into so much detail, down to what gloves he uses!!!

[@minicosm4695]

Incredible hardscape. Can't wait to see what this looks like with plants!

[@sea78x]

Wow, that carving method is so much easier than carving with knife + you’d have mess whichever way you do it.... nice job 👍🏽

[@JoshHind]

Would you be able to scrape the foam off the glass if you wanted to change it later

[@TroyGoldberg]

Yes

[@Agg1E91]

Necessity is the mother of invention. I love the wire wheel hack! I am in the process of doing my first naturalistic/bio-active build on a 22wX17dX36H enclosure. I've seen the hand carved approaches, and the references to hours of carving. I'm probably not that patient. I think what I might do is add a little more foam up front, so that I can get some more depth to the cutaways and then maybe hand carve areas I want to bring a specific shape to. I think what I'll do then is to carve out branch/hardscape notches as needed, fit the branches in and then spot foam them in place.

[@fresnocascabel7571]

Awesome build. Thanks for putting together a video. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to help the rest of us in the poison frog community.

[@AnotherWorldTerraria]

I forgot to mention the foam filter bottom portion. I loved the idea of stacking and carving layers to create a 3D scape. Epic idea. And yea, foam, rocks, etc are way better for a bottom layer than substrate.

[@alexanderbrown5425]

The music overlay while you were painting the drylok reminded me of the soundtrack for a Tarzan game that I played on the Nintendo 64.

[@illumlife588]

TROY!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I am a brand new subscriber here!!!! My jaw was open the whole video, not even joking lol! I too have an artistic background. If I had not lost half of my vision I would have continued down that road. My pets are snakes, hopefully down the road I can get some geckos and frogs!!! This video and vivarium background were by far the best here on YT...I especailly LOVED watching you paint and place in your background:) I am grinning from ear to ear hahaha! I have been searching on here trying to place ideas in my head for the "perfect" background in my first ever bioactive terrarium I am putting together for one of my ball pythons...(going to do it for all but money does not grow on trees lol) One word I want to leave for you STUNNING!!! this is the work of someone who takes their time and who knows what they are doing! Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us!! Emily

[@TroyGoldberg]

Awesome! I’m glad your enjoying the channel, thanks so much for the kind words!!

[@mikelingenfelter3889]

Wow! This is amazing... I'll be excited to see the final on this and all the foliage. Awesome video!

[@bssknox1]

Nicely done. Can’t wait to see them both planted!

[@beaurapier967]

Nice work. I like the pace and composition of your videos. Great tip on siliconing the junction of foam and glass. Definitely going to adopt that technique!

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thank you!! yeah I’ve only been doing that for about a year now, and so far so good, no background edges have come up off the glass. Knock on wood!

[@kashaun3633]

Genius idea

[@ShannonHayward-g5t]

Mechanics gloves work very well (even for folks with long/sharp nails)

[@donemerson9952]

Great video, thanks! Can you please clarify the names of the products you used for the background, sounds like Hydrolawn & Drylock. Where can they be purchased and what are the pros & cons. Many thanks!

[@IsaacMJr]

Oh man, your work is amazing, I own a lot of reptiles and soon I’ll be making them more natural looking terrariums, you just gave me the best ideas, best video ever. Keep it up

[@michaelmelo8075]

Great job Troy, very detailed instructions and an awesome build !

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks man!

[@steveferris8119]

Uugghh. I guess I am starting another tank this Friday. Thanks Troy!!!!!!

[@Gothicgirl1122x]

Great video learned some great stuff thank you

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks!!

[@davidjones7503]

Honestly, I'm impressed. Nice work.

[@RobsReviv]

Another great video man. Ty for your contributions to the hobby.

[@kelvinsoto8313]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge great enclosure thank you

[@michaelroche1987]

Great job man. Thanks for the tips

[@jonpiotrowski3506]

Just found your video looking to make my own...To avoid clogging your vac,rubber band about 3-4 sheets of paper towels around the vac filter...shake out or discard and reapply when it clogs...(vac filters are SO expensive) Great looking backgrounds...Thanx.!!!

[@aquru]

Beautiful vivarium! Thank you for healing

[@alisonmorrison1128]

Where do you get the fabric? I think you said hydroline but I can't find it on the web...

[@arshenfashoom7139]

oh wow, you placed that drift wood in spectacular manner. love the tank build video

[@petermller7231]

TROY great work man

[@thehollowdavid]

Subbed because @animals at home recommended you...and because in your public playlist, you have one of the best Eric Andre skits.

[@MortenRoskildeRasmus]

Can we see how you plant it also Keep up the work Morten from denmark

[@TroyGoldberg]

Yes I plan on doing a part 2 to the video

[@ChloroPhiles]

Fabulous video, thank you. Answered a lot of my questions!

[@joeyp734]

damn. pretty awesome. you've educated and inspired me to take my vivs to the next level!

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

I'm gonna shake off the remaining turds that are gonna flop outa here. Boy, Troy sure has a way with words 😂

[@Aaron48219]

I am envious of that man cave.

[@agentelvis81]

I work on a lot of cars and bikes, practically live in the garage covered in all sorts of adhesives and chemicals and nasty stuff, but I've got to say "Great Stuff" spray foam is hands down the worst thing I've gotten on my hands lol! I just let it dry and use an emery board on it while I watch TV later on which is pretty relaxing, haha. This is a good video, man, thanks. You're easy to follow with a good pace and a way of explaining things that laymen can understand. The brush on the drill is a good tip. It's tedious using a knife and that brush gives a pretty cool, "natural" texture. I did want to ask if you've tried any false-bottom vivariums in that garage during the dry winter months? They're easy and cheap, I think it might be worth running one as a test to see if it helps keeps the humidity up. Of course you'd probably be pouring in water to refill the bottoms occasionally, but it might be a decent and mostly-passive way to keep the moisture up in the tanks, especially any that have overhead lights. I've been doing them in any vivs that need over 60% humidity or so, they really help any live plants flourish, as well as temperate or tropical "clean up crew" bugs like springtails.

[@Pr0j3ctSTI]

Auto body shop tip: use 1200 wet sand paper to take anything off your hands 🙌🏽. Body filler is very hard to take off. Sand paper always worked for me 👍🏽👍🏽

[@hayshialopez2834]

Can you give me the glass measurements for your new dimensions of the vents? How big is this tank?

[@majmarkmiranda]

If u dab the deep parts with black and then grey around the medium and crack spots then bush the brown over u get better texture and shadows

[@TroyGoldberg]

I have a BFA in oil painting…

[@majmarkmiranda]

@@TroyGoldberg that's Kool is the lighting dark or does that stuff dry to be black?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Mmmm I mix many different batches… some of the dark mixed are almost black, some are a dark brown/grey…. I always paint the deeper crevasses darker mix… and the putter most surfaces usually the lighter mixes I make up… I don’t stick to this rule completely thought, because I’m nature not all substrates and cliffs edges are all the same color, some are different colors of dirt/rock/clay…

[@MrRocchinodoesthings]

Wow, this is great! Any chance you could show us the planting process or the next step?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Yeah I plan on making a part two to this video.

[@MrRocchinodoesthings]

@@TroyGoldberg right onto appreciate the knowledge you provide!

[@Prim3Tim33Gaming]

wish we had drylok over here in the uk -_- good job troy cant wait to see how the sponge does hope it does well :)

[@albrhino]

Excellent build. What is the "Fabric" material you use?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Hygrolon

[@albrhino]

@@TroyGoldberg Thank You Sir

[@beatap6250]

Very nice 👍👊😆🙋

[@yorickster2253]

Amazing video but 1 small notice... the matts we use here in Europe are called Matala matts. They are harder and dont compress unlike the foam filter you used. Matala mats are also used in koi pond filters and big pond filters where the flow of water and hydroscopic presure is so high it would compress the normal foam pads. Matala mats are slightly bendable and can be cut with a sharp knife or cut by a saw. I think over there in the US and UK you can also buy the mountain tree filter mats. Its almost the same material

[@yorickster2253]

Oohw 1 more little thing about the mats. They come in different colours. Use the black or green one. The black is most coarse one the green is normal coarse type. The rest will clog up.

[@TroyGoldberg]

I’ve used matala before… but also what you’re saying isn’t exactly true…. Many of the people in Europe are using the same sponge filter mat that Im using.

[@TroyGoldberg]

I always use black.. there are different grades of the black… I always use the lower PPI( pores per inch) for better aeration and flow.

[@yorickster2253]

@@TroyGoldberg ooh ok, well guess i learned something today 😉, thanks for the reply.

[@Tijlliekens]

You are European! This build defenitly proofs it! Great job man, tank looks awesome. I have a very similar setup for my O.Histrionica and they realy like the long branches to walk on.

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks! Means a lot coming from you!

[@Tijlliekens]

@@TroyGoldberg Don't know why but thanks :D

[@sdqsdq6274]

nice dude , better audio, better lighting , funny i will be starting mine vivarium soon, i order the same filter foam, using as a back wall , damn didnt think i can use it as a base as well , now i must order more , btw what size you using , looks like large

[@martinmikota2740]

That looks really good!

[@juaninestroza4200]

Do I need to add hydro lawn? If I don’t add fry lock will the foam be damaged by water

[@nitraflo000]

Thanks Troy for this vid! 👍🤗

[@fishysnowman9082]

Really nice job 👍.... very well explained came out amazing

[@carlosortiz2129]

I learned so much and will be using all your methods! You made it look so easy!

[@edw5230]

can you link the black material you put onto the foam?

[@jatteste5107]

Hi, I'm a fan of your collection and especially the assembly of your terrariums! You inspire me a lot, keep it up! Can you tell me what is the name of the black fabric that you use as the background of your terrariums? Thank you so much ..

[@phillepebrooks8117]

Well done

[@othervice]

What is the hole in tha back for? Is it a drain? You have some drain in the other tanks? How you manage the water in the tanks?

[@TroyGoldberg]

All of my tanks are plumbed for drainage so water doesn’t collect in the bottom

[@pasjaczyniwolnym]

Great arrangement. What ppi sponge did you use?

[@TroyGoldberg]

15

[@cwillphine]

this is so cool and stable! how would you clean a tank like this?

[@markwylie7111]

With so many people using deep litter for larger oophaga how are you managing that with the new build and the sponge floor covered in moss. Thanks. Mark

[@TroyGoldberg]

I’m going to have moss and leaf litter... should not be a problem for large obligates.... as long as they have food, and large broms, and egg deposit sites... that’s essentially all they need

[@TroyGoldberg]

@@guide2befree its only been a little over a week.... I really won't have an answer for 3-4 months id say.

[@gtamantube]

So why did you put the sheeting over the carved background foam? instead of just drylocking over it as well. Sweet tank, thanks

[@davidbrown-55]

Another great video! These are the vids I like to watch. Can you post the the glass dimensions to build this tank? What brand lights and fixtures do you use? Thanks and keep showing vids like this. Best there is!

[@michaelross5674]

Do you make your glass enclosures

[@xmanu100]

brother can the powder foam be used to make anything useful by adding anything to make sure there is no wastage.. like if you mix it up with clear silicone mabe u can make like a rock or another shape required for the terrarium

[@tokec8471]

How big was the terrarium?

[@mathiascaspersen1606]

So why do you use drylock instead of silicone abd substrate?

[@TroyGoldberg]

It’s just one less step, I think it looks better, stiffens up the foam as well, makes a better anchor for larger bromeliads

[@kentmcnab526]

This is a great video also, very informative. I also wanted to add that all of your videos are the best I've seen by far, keep up the great job you are doing. I just wanted to ask a question: How long do you wait before planting the vivarium?

[@TroyGoldberg]

With this particular method you can pretty much plant the tank 24hours after the gorilla glue has dried.

[@tylerisaac13]

Hey @troygoldberg, really phenomenal work! Curious if you've had any issues with the great stuff getting waterlogged over time? I noticed it wasn't dryloked beneath the hygrolon, does the gorilla glue partly seal it off from moisture?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Nah never had an issue like that

[@athiker04]

Nice. How much plant growth do you end up getting on the Dryloc portions of the background? Thanks.

[@TroyGoldberg]

A lot.... plants have no trouble rooting or climbing it

[@allencummings6285]

Troy. Seeing that im unable to acquire a 36x18x36 locally is there anyway possible to get the glass demotions on these?

[@albertomas9688]

Hello, thank you very much for your videos. They are really great. I would like to know the name of the textile material you use to cover the foam walls. I want to prepare an exoterra terrarium of 90x45x90 in paludarium mode.

[@TroyGoldberg]

Hygrolon

[@jamerrs6546]

Do you have to drylock the foam if you don't cut it

[@TroyGoldberg]

No

[@gunnercooper]

Would it not be better to use silicone rather than glue ?

[@TroyGoldberg]

No silicone does not bond nearly as well with the hygrolon and foam....

[@gunnercooper]

@@TroyGoldberg ow okay got ya thanks

[@lepdeon9750]

how is the jungle music at the end called?(for example at 30:00)

[@KarenmitchellANI]

Why did you use those specific waterproofings and where's the video to finish it????

[@machine_elf]

DJI osmo mobile 3 is only $109 right now would really improve the quality of your videos - looks great and appreciate the tutorial !! Going to try this method on my next tank

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks I’ll look into it.

[@chad110]

I lay silicone lines down on my glass and put popsicle sticks on them and let it dry and cure and then put little droplets of silicone everywhere. Once dried Ivan lay down pond and stone foam. Once it's done cured i cut it. I shape it and then I lay a construction silicone around the edges and smeared in real good. Both on the foam and glass holds it really well. Note to everybody paintable silicone or construction adhesive is easier to work with.

[@derandora3150]

Thanks Troy for sharing all this stuff! Really great build. Does anyone know a drylok replacement that i can buy in germany?

[@hanneseinberger6862]

2kpu Kleber bei Bens Jungle

[@sdqsdq6274]

drylok is the brand , something similar to what he is using should be the same

[@Cgraseck]

What do you have to do to the drylock after it dries? Just rinse it off? Thanks, Chris

[@TroyGoldberg]

Yes rinse it really Well

[@Cgraseck]

Thanks Troy😀👍

[@TCSDartFrogs]

How many times did you clog that shop vac LOL, great video as always! I'm gonna have to try this next time I build a big display tank.

[@TroyGoldberg]

4-5 times Hahahah it was a serious mess

[@TCSDartFrogs]

@@TroyGoldberg Yeah it looked like it, I bet once it goes static it just starts flying around sticks to everything

[@TroyGoldberg]

TCS Dart Frogs yuuuuuup

[@arjunprincy81]

Will using spray paint instead be a bit harmful for the plants and water?

[@Metamancer]

Just found your videos, the vivs are absolutely amazing. I had some questions that may not be in your wheelhouse, but figured I'd ask just in case. I'm planning out a bioactive build for a ball python and was curious if this same process could apply? Would substrate be able to go over the drainage layer or would I have to opt for just substrate? Could the driftwood that is being held up by the foam hold up an adult ball python (4 - 5lbs) or would it collapse? Thanks in advance!

[@TroyGoldberg]

Thanks, I have no idea what the requirements are on a python setup

[@Metamancer]

@@TroyGoldberg no problem at all! Thanks for answering. Still appreciate everything you work on. Look forward to future videos too!

[@arjunprincy81]

What is the black cloth material at the sides?

[@henriquefingler6578]

It's hygrolon. Took me a while to figure it out.

[@rbalancad4269]

Have you ever had a mealy bug issue and what do you do to solve it? The Viv is currently occupied.

[@stupid420ish]

Do you drill your vivariums?

[@TroyGoldberg]

Yes

[@cassalamon]

Hes back!

[@JohnShaw26.2]

I used black silicone and blacked out the glass before I used GS. Is that still an approved method?

[@TroyGoldberg]

yeah you can still do that... I just used Matt black vinyl wrap on the outside

[@DmaProductions1]

Where do I find more information about the foam substrate? Very interested in trying it out but haven’t had luck finding information.

[@TroyGoldberg]

What kinda information you looking for

[@DmaProductions1]

Troy Goldberg basically setup

[@DmaProductions1]

Do you just add leaves right on top of the foam?

[@TroyGoldberg]

ReefFreak@ so I added moss and a few leaves I’ll add more leaves as moss develops... but I would think you could put abg right over top of it, and leaf litter or just leaf litter by itself... I’m not really sure yet being this is the first time I’ve used it

[@DmaProductions1]

Troy Goldberg ok I’ll experiment with it and let you know how it goes.

[@marionkool9075]

hey troy what is that mesh stuff you put on the expanding foam I couldn't hear it good because I want it to use it for when I build my second tank another question what are good plants for the background

[@TroyGoldberg]

Hygrolon

[@iratevagabond204]

I'm a cabinet and furniture maker by trade; I use my carving tools (knives/gouges), chisels, and scrapers to carve my foam. I also use the green craft/floral foam adhered to the glass for most of my background - use the expanding foam as filler or as terrain variation. Also use different Homax wall/ceiling texture spray for different terrain textures.

[@thesucculentcity]

How do you get it to adhere to the glass?

[@iratevagabond204]

@@thesucculentcity The cheap GE Silicone Adhesive from Walmart.

[@PinkTropical]

Great build! Really well done. You don't use a resin to cover spray foam? Is it waterproof? Thanks

[@TroyGoldberg]

Nope never have.... not sure if it’s waterproof or not...

[@TroyGoldberg]

But drylok is a waterproofed used for masonry... so I guess in theory after drylok is applied it makes the foam waterproof

[@PinkTropical]

@@TroyGoldberg Ok ! But you don't use Drylok on the sides/back panels, just gorilla glue and hygrolon. I think the foam is waterproof, when you go on their website it say "repel water". It's seem to been working great for you anyway :)

[@cameronjohnson3736]

Where did you get the hydra lawn. I google it and all kind of thing come up. Is it simply weed barrier mesh ?

[@KyLie-z7l]

Hygrolon

[@chrisandersen4024]

love the look of it simply amazing. may I ask why y added the screen stuff and not just went full great stuff foam.? keep up the great content :)

[@brookeodell5164]

This looks amazing, hoping to do something similar, on a larger scale. I have a retic that will be living amongst it. I've done a ton of research and nothing tells me what to support the weight of my boy with.. all the tutorials are bearded dragons and jeopard geckos and such.. ever done this to hold a large amount of weight? Please let me know if any of you have any tips for me.

[@TroyGoldberg]

Hmmmm that’s a great question... is the tank going to made out of glass?

[@brookeodell5164]

@@TroyGoldberg yes it will be glass, I am having it custom made so I actually could make the back out of tile or something else if it might work better

[@TroyGoldberg]

Brooke ODell well I was gonna day... of the back was wood or something you could drill through the wood, and anchor wood with screws and nuts and bolts and what not... I know retics can weigh a lot, so I don’t think the foam would hold there weight.. you’d have to prop it with like stone, or concrete or something very substantial

[@brookeodell5164]

@@TroyGoldberg thanks so much for the ideas! Hopefully I will think of something, i still have some time. My retic is only about a year old so far but i want his new enclosure to be ready for him, before he is ready for it! Thanks again!

[@JB-js9vm]

@@brookeodell5164 Kinda late but a large snake habitat at local small zoo had plywood back and sides. The plywood had T-nut anchors behind wall same as a climbing gym that the decor was attached to. No clue what snake went in the enclosure because they were doing maintenance moving the decor. The enclosure was about 20ft wide x 8ft deep x 10ft tall in the "Python" room. You can search for DIY climbing wall to see the anchors I mean.