Aquaterrarium

Amazing setup, purchased or home built??

Totally home built, including framework out of resin coated plywoop, water resistant coating inside, landscaping with my "own" synthetic stone method, glazing and the electricals.

Oh, forgot designe. My own also.

Wow, awesome work! I recently put together a similar (sort-of) set up, but I didn't start from scratch. Large structures I make rarely turn out, shall we say, symmetrical. May I inquire as to your secret recipe for that great looking stone?

Thank You for the kind words, I must say I consider this one of my finest works on this field.

As for the FYEO stoning of terrarium interiors, no secrets, really.
The basic shape is carved out of polystyrene (insulation material, bearing the shapeability of styrofoam and tougher result of polyurethane sheets).
The stoney look of the surface is made by brushing layers of cement-based materials, reinforced with suitable non-poisonous plastic emulsions or copolymers... After brushing in the layers, I finish them with an assortment of knives.

It's the process that makes the difference, I think. Making landscapings with depth requires a touch for 3D vision. And making the surface look natural ENOUGH takes some trial-and-error practice.
At least for me, it did.

A couple more examples of Terra interiors of mine:

http://www.herppi.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=118

Wow, I am still so impressed. Any reccomendation on your favourite brands of safe coatings? I'm working on a rock wall for leopard gex set up, I've allready carved poluyrethane foam and sealed it with self-sealing grout, now I am looking for a good way to finish it. Your whole set up looks great, btw, not just the wall. You could add some gravel to the bottom- my wd loves digging in the gravel at the bottom of his tank.

Thanks again.

And yes, there is sand and even some decorations in the tank part these days. The photo was taken some time ago, when I was just experimenting with the conditions inside the terrarium. Mainly humidity, that is. The corny pump is gone, too.
The aqua-part is filtered with a smallish inside filter and there is another pump taking water all the way up to form a nice full-height waterfall. Or a patch of water pouring down the stoning, more accurately.

As to the materials for covering Your landscaping, it's a bit hard for me to say what's on market in The States. Cement-based materials, maybe hardened with concrete hardener or "dispersion", the PVA-emulsions are quite safe to use.
And added strength can be reached by laying some epoxy resin on top of the finished wall.

wow its reaally nice!!!!! did you use cement paint? and what technique and tools did you use to make the creviseson the wall its soo detailed

Thanks.

No paint was used, the colour is all in the cement, brushed on in a few layers.

Tools used were a knife and a welder to shape up the polystyrene and brushes with knives to shape the cement.

pretty soon ill have one of my creations and how i built it its made of spray expandeble foam