Mayan viv (pretty much all pics...)

[rolandrau]

Hi all,

As promised i would send a few pics on the mayan viv we are busy with. Its hard to see the detail in the pics as they
were taken from my cell phone but you can see most of the stuff we have done. We should be looking at completing
the grouting stage by the end of the weekend and painting next week.

Apologise on the weird face in the back, my daughter thought it would be a great idea to have a funny "mayan" man
smiling on the build as we go....

Its a long way from completion but we are getting there. The poly phase is NEARLY done, still lots of bricks and wall
faces to be added but i think you get the point, mostly

So here they are....

So can only add 3 pics to the post :-(

[Wolf777]

Very impressive, it must have taken quite some time?

[rolandrau]

We started last night

[BeardieLuv]

Wow Roland! STUNNING! The detail looks amazing...

[fuscusV2]

Yeah, that is awesome. I'm a noob to that kind of work - what do you use for it... i.e. the poly. CRIKEY... last night? Good going!

[rolandrau]

Thanks guys, we tries and get this part as detailed as possible before grouting.

Yes its all polystirene, once you have a set plan the rest is easy, although you'll find as you go
You're ideas change along the way and some new and interesting ideas start happening.

The longest part of this one so far has been cutting and sticking each brick.

I'll post some more pics next week onces there's been some significant changes

Ciao

[Kevin Lancaster]

Looking really nice. I wouldn't worry about too much fine detail as this gets 'softened' out with the grouting process. Still very, very nice.

[rolandrau]

Ok so here is an update 4 coats of grout later, still need to add another, just the thick layer on the floating rocks....

[rolandrau]

i'm off now to get more grout as i need to do a little more of the thicker layers, i'm also getting the sand which will be used for the moss.

If anyone has managed to find any form of "MAYAN/INDIAN/SOUTH AMERICAN" disk of sorts that i can use in the middle or knows where i
can get one please let me know, its proving to the be the hardest part of the tank to find....

Ciao

[rolandrau]

Oh one last thing i forgot to add, the top of the temple is actually a cricket feeder, so you can lift the lid and chuck in crickets and let them come out on their own....

[Hoss]

A bit of a simple question I guess. How will you clean the poo in this setup, if they defecate on the grouting? I know you put a sealant on the grout but still, it must be difficult to wash it properly, isn't it?

[rolandrau]

Not really, i wash my full setups once a week. I remove the beardie, sand, plants etc etc and use a brush to scrub it properly. After its painted and sealed its pretty much (short of hammering it) as hard as any rock and can be scrubbed as i said.

[fastback]

I love your design, it looks amazing. Thanks for sharing Love seeing other people designs.
I’m in the process of a design for communal setup for my tarantulas.

I have three questions.
1st. What tools do you use to cut the polystyrene bricks out with?
2nd. What tools do you use to lay the grout?
3rd. What method do you use to get the grout into the groves of the bricks?

Grout is pretty strong and durable, with the sealant it's even stronger and water proof and once it has been painted it can be washed.
Grout also gives you a bit of movement unlike cement and tile cement.

[rolandrau]

Howdy,

Thanks, my answers below your questions:

I have three questions.
1st. What tools do you use to cut the polystyrene bricks out with?
Answer: Either a stanely knife or a heat tool that i have, bricks were faster to cut with the knife in this case

2nd. What tools do you use to lay the grout?
Answer: A small paint brush and when i need to make it thicker i use my hands. I got a set of those surgical gloves from clicks.

3rd. What method do you use to get the grout into the groves of the bricks?
Answer: A very small paint brush initially, i then use one of those pump spray bottles that i found at the farmers market on hendrik potgieter on the westrand. There is no fast way to get into all the grooves you literally paint it until they are all done properly.

This tank now has 4 layers of thin-ish grout and 1 layer of hand pasted grout. I plan on putting 2 more coats on, 1 thick and 1 thin, and then the sealant.

I also use spray bottles for the paint, the kind you use to spray your beardies with.

Once the grouting is done the undercoat of paint gets done, i use 2 different colours of grout as well so that i can tell how many coats i have done SHOULD i have to step away from the project for a while...

Hope that helps