sticking backgrounds

[Lamu22]

just wondering what people use to stick the "backdrops" to there tanks i have been using sticky tape and blutac in the past but noticed after time the heat makes it drop off and if it hits the light it can be bad news

LAMU

thanks in advance

 

[africancichlidau]

If you actually mean tanks, as opposed to enclosures, just stick it to the outside surface of the tank. If you mean enclosures then just use a good staple gun.

 

[Lamu22]

yea ooops, i ment enclosures
k no probs, thanks for ur reply

LAMU

 

[pugsly]

super glue!

 

[ben1200]

silicone works well

 

[Glimmerman]

This might seem a touch anal, but it works well for me. I actual cut the background to size, take it to the local framing guy and get it laminated (usually cost about $10) then I fasten it to the back of the enclosure with liquid nails.

Works excellent for cleaning etc, just spray it with reptikleen and wipe off. May be a touch difficult if I ever decide to change the scenery a little though. lol

That's my little cosmetic tip for the day. Hope it helps.

 

[africancichlidau]

laminated (usually cost about $10) then I fasten it to the back of the enclosure with liquid nails.

Problem I can see with this is that if you get mites or the like it provides them with a perfect hiding spot

 

[Spyke]

laminated (usually cost about $10) then I fasten it to the back of the enclosure with liquid nails.

Problem I can see with this is that if you get mites or the like it provides them with a perfect hiding spot

And stapling it with a staple gun doesn't :roll:

 

[africancichlidau]

africancichlidau wrote:
Quote:

laminated (usually cost about $10) then I fasten it to the back of the enclosure with liquid nails.



Problem I can see with this is that if you get mites or the like it provides them with a perfect hiding spot



And stapling it with a staple gun doesn't

Exactly! Because if a problem arises it is easily removed to allow cleaning of the cage.

 

[Spyke]

Ah, but if it is stuck properly in the first place (with liquid nails or something similar) there shouldn't be any room or way to get behind the background picture

I guess it depends on how it is done, as to wether there is a space or entry point for mites/etc to get in

 

[africancichlidau]

if it is stuck properly in the first place

But how can you be sure that this is the case when it is in an area that you can not see? (between the background and the enclosure wall).

 

[Spyke]

if it is stuck properly in the first place

But how can you be sure that this is the case when it is in an area that you can not see? (between the background and the enclosure wall).

Its not real hard, you only have to run a bead of the "glue" (liquid nails or other) around the outer limits(edges) and it should be a sufficient seal.


Or you could do dimilar to what I have done here,

It has been sealed with silastic, around all joins, after it was in place, hopefully nothing will be able to get behind it 8)

 

[africancichlidau]

hopefully nothing will be able to get behind it

I think hopefully is the operative word here, I am not trying to be smart but, as you know, all glues etc have movement as they dry out and lamination sheets also have a tendancy to seperate over time. When you consider that a small air bubble or tiny seperation in lamination is enough for mites to penetrate it is just a risk I would not be prepared to take. But if it works for you, go for it

 

[Glimmerman]

For the sake of $150 in materials for the wooden enclosures which I build to suite the reptiles and then permanately fix the background, if I did unforntunately have a mite infestation, I would just throw it out and replace it. I feel that the hastle of building a new enclosure would be far less painful that trying to sucessfully rid the mites. IMO

 

[Spyke]

Fair enough afro , I am not trying to be smart, or start any arguments, either. Just constructive critisism Everybody has there own methods that work for them. Until something goes wrong, I will keep using the same method, the same as you do

 

[africancichlidau]

Onya Spyke, it is refreshing to have a conversation with someone like yourself who sees the discussion as just that, a discussion, rather than thinking it is a personal attack of some sort As you say, we have our own methods for all sorts of things, none of them "wrong" but just a work in progress, if we find something wrong with our methods we alter and change aspects of it until we get it completely right
Where you from by the way?

 

[africancichlidau]

That's true Glimmer but if the infestation affects 10 or 20 enclosures it could be an expensive excercise.

By the way, just for informations sake, I don't use backgrounds

 

[Spyke]

Guess, I should update my profile ;-) I'm in Bendigo, Afro

 

[africancichlidau]

Aha, with such a "level head" I should have known you were in Victoria

 

[Spyke]

It's a loverly place to be especially country Vic, can't stand the city, so Bendigo is as close as I get