Great Stuff Terrarium Background

NOTE: This terrarium is made of a 45g split into two sections with an acrylic divider. You will need more or less materials depending on what size tank you are using. Before actually attaching the peat moss (or any other organic material), we highly recommend microwaving or baking it to ensure all little nasties are killed.

Base Layer

Materials
(2) cans of Great Stuff foam insulation
(3) pieces of driftwood
(6) river rock stones
(4) pieces of cork bark
(4) compressed peat moss planters

First spray a layer of Great Stuff foam onto the back of the enclosure. Leave 3-4″ on the bottom for drainage and substrate layers. Before the Great Stuff foam dries, place driftwood and river rock into the foam. For planting small vines and other plants, place compressed peat moss planters into the Great Stuff and hide them with pieces of cork bark. Let the first layer of Great Stuff sit for about 2 hours before going back and adding another layer to secure decorative wood and rock and add more depth to the background.

Adding Texture

Materials
(4) tubes of black Silicone II window & door caulk
(1) bag of peat moss

Tools
Vacuum

After allowing the Great Stuff to set for 12 hours, tug on the wood to see how secure the pieces are. Starting from the bottom of the background, squeeze generous amounts of the black caulk in relatively 6″ square sections. Use a plastic knifes to spread the caulk around similar to spreading peanut butter. Take handfuls of peat moss and press into the silicone before it dries. Keep doing this until the entire back is covered, let set for 12-24 hours.

After letting the silicone and dirt set, sit the tank up and knock the bulk of the excess moss off. Using a vacuum hose, run the end about 1/2″ from the background. This sucks off any loose dirt and will expose any bare spots but will not harm the sections that are securely held in place. Once bare spots are found, use a bit of silicone and press the dirt in. Repeat for a total of three times to make sure all spots are covered.

Let the background air out for 72 hours before setting up for plants and animals.