great stuff background question

[distortionz]

Ok I've made some of these background before. However I used like 3 or 4 tubes of silicone just to get all the coconut fiber to stick and this was on a 24" x 24" background.. I wan't to do a larger background and I was wondering could I apply the coconut fiber straight to the great stuff before it dries? Is the silicone used as a means to waterproof? That great stuff seems waterproof to me, I just don't see why I couldn't apply the coconut fiber straight to it and then go back once it settles and used silicone to patch the spots that still need it.. any input on this?

 

[happy]

i tried this the other day for a frog enclosure, and did not have any success...
the great stuff kept expanding and wouldnt let the substrate stick.
i may have been pre-mature.... but... i seen on a lllreptile youtube video where skillet did one and just pressed it into the greatstuff.

 

[cmk]

To stop great stuff from expanding just lightly mist it with water then maybe you can try to press some in. The only time i used great stuff was in my dart tank and to get a ledge put in on the background i misted it and it started to firm up right away. You gotta be kinda quick and if its in a screen cage it may expand out the back side through the screen. Also instead of silicone try titebond III, you can paint it on, its water resistant, non toxic, and sets up quicker the silicone.

 

[distortionz]

I'm going to look into that titebond. silicone is a pain in the you know... It's messy and hard to apply to a whole wall thanks for the input