First of all thank you ALL who helped me do this. It has been crazy lol, but I wouldn't have been able to get this far without you!

I just foamed the levels in today..so I have pics..and I am about half done..I need to touch up some messy spots and then seal the foam with Epoxy and then silicone the EE on and I should be reday to add my crabs. I need your input on the set up of the levels. I still have another level to add cause I ran out of foam..I plan on siliconeing this on cause it is small and I hope that will be enough when epoxy is added also. I am worried aobut adding the silicone and EE to the right lower side cause it is impossible to reach and see at the same time...hoping a mirror will be able to solve this problem =) I like how the epoxy looks on the mortar! I am glad I spent the extra 56 bucks for it!













I know it looks crowded at the top, but I was thinking of the bottom being coved with EE substrate so once the log and huts and the other driftwood is added it won't be noticable.

Please be honest on what you think =) but be nice too this is my first Do-It-Yourself project of this type =) It is fun, but man I was nervous about doing it. I hope I can reach that spot to seal it. I tried to keep in mind I had to reach areaos to clean and get the water out of the pool, so I didn't have too many obstacle in the way. I hope it looks natural and realistic that was my main goal. I think once I add the final touches with vines and moss in the levels and things it will come together!

Paige I think its starting to look really good. I love all the different textures and how there are multiple layers for them to explore! Remember, the non-sealed GS is non-toxic, so if you can't reach every single corner, its quite OK.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

right that is all good that it is non toxic...I don't have to worry about harming my critters =), but I do need to reach what I can to get the silicone and EE on there cause it will look bad if I can see the yellow foam. On the hermit crab forum someone said they tried the GS/silicone/EE and the crabs were knocking the EE off so it was foam showing? I hope after all this that doesn't happen. It has me thinking to do all mortar, but I really want some EE as background too. I think it will look great. I wonder if there is anything I could do to make the EE really stick to it good so that doesn't happen.

Thanks for the compliment, Liz! I have been working hard on this and spending more then I wanted, but it will look great when finished. I can't to see how the crabs like it! I will get more pics when I get more done. I just couldn't wait any longer =) to post pics. Plus, I wanted feedback on what I have so far...cause now will be the time to "fix" anything or ADD anything I need. I have to leave some room for things that will be on the floor (not foamed in) like the half log, 3 cocohuts, food dishes, and a sea fan..plus the 2 other driftwoods I want in there if I can fit them both so they have a way to the top levels. I tried to give them a way to climb around, but with the mortar I am pretty sure they can climb that also.

THANKS!!!

I looks GREAT! you sure you haven't done this before?!?!? I think that if you make sure to soak the EE and then dry it out REALLY well it, and don't try to put to thick of a layer on, pressing in what you do put on well, it should stay put.

__________________

what Shell said. Work on the EE in sections, maybe 6 inches at a time. Put the silicone on thick and press a thick layer of EE into it.

And the EE must be BONE DRY. Use the oven to bake it dry. set it to 300 in a baking dish, take it out every 15 mins and stir it up until its back to the color from the original brick.

For getting at the tricky spot, can you trim the GS down a little flatter to make it easier to get to? Its very easy to slice with a utility knife or sharp pocket knife. And when i had deep places to get to, i took the silicone in one of those caulk dispenser and shot it right into the hole, filling it up then pressing in the EE. It will take an added 24 - 48 hours to dry, but the final look was worth it. I also used a plastic knife to push silicone into tricky spots an then another one to press the EE into the same area.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

thanks for tips! I did cut some off that spot, but it is the driftwood that is making it difficult to reach. I already have the EE dry..it has been drying for weeks now =) it took forever in my cold basement..I was going to bake it if it wasn't dry in time, but it looks extremely dry..so I hope it will be ok. I have about 3 1/2 things of silicone so hopefully it will be enough. I will put it on thick =) and do my best to get the EE pushed in...I think just acouple of the lower spots will be hard to reach..but if I can get someone to hold a mirror so I can see and reach lol I had to try to get in the tank to finish up some the the mortar in the last few spots...but I think doing small areas at a time I should be able to get it done.

don't know anything about using that stuff but it looks like the final product will be really cool.

__________________

yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

Wow, that looks great! Your crabbies will be so happy with all those fun places to explore

__________________
Alex Hitch Hitchens: "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."

thanks! I added the flowers today...I decided to risk putting them in the foam and epoxy around them and silicone/EE around them.. I won't be able to stick them in the foam after the epoxy hardens so hopefully it wasn't a mistake doing them first. I guess I will find out. What do you think? too much or looks good? I will add the vines after the tank is done so I cna remove them for cleaning and different looks.





I think it is pretty and it should give the crabs more hiding places...making them feel more secure to come out during the day =)

I'm sure the hermit crabs will apreciate the extra security. It looks like its coming along quite well.

__________________
"Nobody can do Everything, but Everybody can do Something."