Grouting tile in [Watch thread]

[Kodieh]

I might make a DIY guide for this later, but my wife decided that we should "go ahead" with grouting the tile into our 20 Gal. long zilla terrarium. We begin tomorrow, and I'll be taking pictures alllllllll along the way!

Stay tuned for pictures.

[Kermit]

Make sure you use sanded grout as it will resist moisture better. Id be careful choosing a grout. It could contain things harmful to your gecko. Most keepers just brush playsand into the tile cracks to "grout" them. Its called soft grouting (its how they grout a brick patio or roadway). Push in some sand, then mist, then more sand then mist and so on until you're level with the tiles. It makes a very hard groutline, almost like cement with the multiple layers of grout and water. A lot safer than premade grout products that could produce off gasses when heated.

[gothicgurrrl]

WOoo
I can't wait to see the pictures :P
I want to make some grout hides,caves and backgrounds for my viv and tank in the future

[Jordan]

A tutorial would be great Kodie. Any contribution to making the forum busier with information is greatly appreciated.

[Kodieh]

Alright, here we are at half way!
This is the tank completely cleared out.

This is our grout mix, we personally made ours a bit more wet than the box says too.

Here we are, about to begin.

We've already laid the grout down and scored the grout.

Here's how exactly we scored the grout. This allows for a "tighter" seal of tile to grout.

Here, we're grouting in the grout lines.

Now we're sponging off the excess grout from the tile.

For us, the grout cracked in places in the grout lines, and left holes. This is normal for our weather, and we went over the grout lines again with more grout and they came out perfect and clean.

Im afraid I didn't get pictures of it actually ALLL cleaned up yet. We're still going to put to more layers of sealer on it. I will have pictures up of it all sealed soon.

An extra note at this stage: We didn't use all uniform tiles. The beauty of this DIY age is that nearly an worth while hardware store that sells tile will also cut it perfectly for you. We bought all this time for $0.25 cents at a garage sale and we didn't bother with getting it cut.

[Hexclover]

very informative! but dont you think it would be easier to use GE silicone 1 and just glue them in than use it as grout to seal everything up. i use it in my fish tanks to glue rock and such together and its the same stuff that seals your tank together. i think i might give it a try if its safe for use in sealing the aquarium (i believe you guys call them vivariums) than it should be ok in grouting some tiles for the bottom of the tank.

[smsararas2]

It should be safe then to use, as you said if you can use it to seal the aquariums. It could work.

[rickmoss95]

that is what i would do Adam! i was thinking about silicone myself, it dries nice, no residue, and is waterproof. the grout will work, but if i use tile on a naturalistic enclosure i am going to use silicone. that is my only complaint about leopard geckos, is the fact that they get impacted by eating some beddings...kinda sucks, but still after 24 years of keeping herps, the leopards are my favorites! i would love to set up a desert type theme with live cacti and flowers and caves and stuff, but i cant with leos! or beardies because they eat the dang cactus and flowers! oh well, i am keeping leopards from now on, i will get a plan on some naturalistic enclosures and smack it outta the park

[Jordan]

I think the problem from glue's and such likes are the gasses they can give off when heated.

[Kodieh]

Yeah, I'm not too certain the "boiling point" if you will, with silicone and the like. The grout, though I'm not for certain, shouldn't ever get hot enough to crack or give off fumes.

EDIT: When I get home soon, I'll take and post pictures of the completed project as I'll have to deep clean it and make it look nice.

[Hexclover]

I think the problem from glue's and such likes are the gasses they can give off when heated.

i dont think that would be too much of a problem seeing as how most tanks already has silicone holding it together and if the gasses were a problem they would use something else so it didn't harm our animals. the only time i know of that they give off gasses is the first 72 hours while its setting.

Yeah, I'm not too certain the "boiling point" if you will, with silicone and the like. The grout, though I'm not for certain, shouldn't ever get hot enough to crack or give off fumes.

EDIT: When I get home soon, I'll take and post pictures of the completed project as I'll have to deep clean it and make it look nice.

i looked up the melting point for silicon and it is 2570.0 °F, and the boiling point is even higher.

[smsararas2]

Wow, if your tank gets that hot, I don't think you will have to worry about fumes

[rickmoss95]

i have used silicone in TONS of reptile cages, and the heat is not an issue. there really is not any issues i have found with silicone once it is set and dried...i would just set the tile directly in the glass floor, then silicone the edges, so if you need to ever remove it, it would only take a slice from a razor knife and done.

[Hexclover]

i have used silicone in TONS of reptile cages, and the heat is not an issue. there really is not any issues i have found with silicone once it is set and dried...i would just set the tile directly in the glass floor, then silicone the edges, so if you need to ever remove it, it would only take a slice from a razor knife and done.

cool, thanks!

[Kodieh]

Here is the final product without any furnishings.




And with all the fixings.

[Kermit]

Looking good... I like the tile choice... how is it heating up for ya? I see a red light in a couple of those pix... are you supplimenting heat with an infra red heat lamp? If so moonlight blue would really be a better idea as the red bulbs tend to put some leos (like mine) off and with albinos with red eyes they are particularly sensitive to them.

[Kermit]

I think this should be moved to the DIY section... which I also think should be relabeled to "How To" section

[Kodieh]

When my red bulb burns out on me, I'm going to switch to blue. Heating wise, it takes time for it to actually get warm but once it is I have to keep an eye on it since I don't have a thermostat yet. It'll keep building heat and I've let it go without the leo's in and it shyrocketed over 110F.

[Kermit]

That's the other reason why moonlight blue is a better choice... it puts out a softer heat. Are you using an under tank heater as well?

[Kodieh]

Yeah, on a rheostat.

[gothicgurrrl]

your tank is looking great, Kodie
I'm loving the tile colour looks really nice!

[Kodieh]

Thank you! We got roughly 20 10" x 10" tiles like that for 25 cents at a garage sale. The grout color is "Bone", as well.

[gothicgurrrl]

wow thats great

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