Custom Background Kits For 10G Aquariums

Question:
Do you have more photo examples?

Answer:
Yes! Visit our Vivarium Gallery W/Custom Backgrounds for some "vivspiration". Not all of the vivariums in that gallery are based on our Custom Background Kits, but most are. When you get to the gallery, select "About The Vivarium ID Numbers" for help identifying what type of background kit was used in each photo.

Question:
How much space will this kit cover?

Answer:
Our kits are able to cover the back panel plus both sides of a terrarium for a truly 3D background if desired. If only one or two of the panels will be covered, a little more silicone/cork may be left over. A limited amount of product is expected to be left over in most cases, to allow for user-error and more creative freedom. If any products are left over, they can be saved for more decor projects or a future vivarium build.

Question:
How long will a background take to build?

Answer:
The amount of time required to build a custom terrarium background varies depending on complexity, size, and experience. Bigger enclosures take longer, and adding extra decor (Ghostwood, Volcanic Rock, etc) will increase the time investment. Experience plays a big role, too. An average sized enclosure (18X18X18) can take an inexperienced builder 2-5 hours of labor from start to finish, not including curing time. This is just a rough idea though, and your results may vary. We recommend taking your time and having fun with the process!

Question:
Which animal species are these kits appropriate for?

Answer:
These are appropriate for the vast majority of vivarium inhabitant species which are popular today. In broad terms, Dart Frogs, Tree Frogs, Small Reptiles, and even some Arboreal Snakes are perfect candidates for our Custom Background Kits with minimal effort. Larger species with claws can damage softer foam areas over the course of a few years, so for clawed Geckos & Lizards over 8in we recommend creating a tight cork mosaic. (Possible "as is" with the Cork option above) By limiting the amount of exposed foam and covering background mix, the custom background can look and perform great for years even with some larger inhabitants like leachianus Geckos, Giant Day Geckos, and similar species. For a visual example of custom backgrounds designed for larger species, check out the first couple images in our Custom Background Vivarium Image Gallery (Vivarium IDs: CB1 & CB2). For an easier to build, more durable, less detailed custom background, check out our Heavy Duty Custom Background Kits. If you are building for a larger reptile species (over 10in) and would like some advice on how to move forward, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're happy to help!

Question:
Will the "No Wood" option be enough to create a custom background?

Answer:
We included the "no wood" option for those who will be purchasing specific wood decor separately. There are other types of wood out there, but we consider Cork to be the the easiest, most popular, and best looking way to build. We've seen our supplies-only background kits used with Ghostwood, Modular Cork Planters, Malaysian Driftwood, Tree Fern Panels, and even lightweight Volcanic Rock. Without some type of natural decor mounted on the background though, it won't look nearly as realistic. Backgrounds with Foam + Background Mix only are not recommended.

Question:
What age group is this kit appropriate for?

Answer:
This kit was designed to be used by adults only. Silicone and Polyurethane Foam are unforgiving and potentially dangerous if not used carefully. If you are a parent or teacher considering this kit, we'd recommend completing the background part of the enclosure yourself, or with their very closely supervised help. Allowing the young'uns to help with the rest of the vivarium project is usually no problem. (Adding substrate, plants, bugs, animals, etc!)

Question:
Will these background kits stand up to high humidity?

Answer:
Absolutely. Conditions ranging from 5-99% relative humidity have proven to last beautifully for upwards of a decade. We don't recommend them for aquatic/submerged use, but even the highest levels of humidity won't cause a problem for our background kits, if the instructions are followed. Frequent (multiple times daily) direct misting is also completely acceptable. Cork breaks down much, much slower than most other types of wood and should last for years and years even in the most humid conditions.

Question:
Is the background removable or reusable

Answer:
Definitely not. You might be able to pull out some of the wood decor if you'd like to tear down your vivarium, but doing so may break the glass due to our silicone's high levels of adhesion holding things together. Our custom backgrounds should be considered permanent.

Question:
What should I expect when the background is finished and the vivarium is built?

Answer:
All the typical healthy vivarium acclimation signs described in Vivarium Construction 102 are to be expected. In short, after a few weeks the plants will begin to acclimate to the background, moss slurry (if applied) should start to take off, and you can expect to see some microfauna activity in the substrate layer.

Question:
Can I add Ghostwood to this custom background?

Any extra wood decor you purchase (Ghostwood or otherwise) along with this kit will be hand selected for this enclosure and background kit. In other words, hand-selected Ghostwood is still available for our background kits, but the pieces will need to be added to the cart separately.

Question:
Why can't I add Ghostwood directly on this page anymore?

Three issues lead to us dropping the Ghostwood option. First off, the incoming price (to us) of Ghostwood ranges wildly from shipment-to-shipment, based on fuel/freight expense. This makes a steady price for a kit nearly impossible to predict. Secondly, shipping companies have drastically raised their shipping fees for the larger boxes required to ship Ghostwood Branches. This means 20lbs of Ghostwood can cost 200% more to ship than 20lbs of cork, simply due to the product's packaged dimensions! Lastly, even custom backgrounds designed to feature Ghostwood look better with an initial layer of Cork Bark. In fact, nearly every "Ghostwood Background" enclosure pictured in our gallery features an initial layer of Cork. With that considered, the Cork-based Custom Background is by far the best and least expensive starting place. Remember: Any extra wood decor you purchase (Ghostwood or otherwise) along with this kit will be hand selected for this enclosure and background kit!

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