large vivarium

asch803 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 04:53 PM

Brent, may i ask what are the dimensions of your large vivarium and do you have any suggestions regarding the doors and also how much misting is needed, etc? I am going to have it specially built in the next few weeks and would love your input. I will likely keep a pair of bastis in a smaller vivarium (ultimately a decent sized exo terra type setup) and then in this big vivarium, a group of thumbs most likely. From what i've read, many of the thumbs do better in small groups than the pumilios - they seem to do best in pairs as you've said. All of the input everyone is giving is extremely valuable - THANKS!!!

Andy

bbrock · #2 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 05:10 PM

My viv is 36"w x 36"t x 18"d. If I had it to do over again, I would make it 24" deep. So the dimensions you are considering are very similar. Of the 3 dimensions of a viv, I have always found that the depth is always the most limiting, followed by the height. I can live with narrow, but shallow or short are more limiting to the way I plant vivs.

I would recommend having a drain in the viv so if you add a misting system, it is a flow through type. I pump a lot of water into my pumilio viv because they are blue jeans that like it wet and the broms get a good flush of fresh water. But that will be species specific.

The doors on mine are simple sliding doors on dual track. People complain about the division down the middle of sliding doors but in life they don't look bad at all. But I would use glass for the doors rather than acrylic.

Sure, a group of thumbs would do well. My main advice for large vivs is to resist the temptation to add more frogs because it is larger. Giving frogs more elbow room actually enhances the interest of the vivarium IMO. So if you would add 3-6 thumbs in a 29g viv, I'd probably add no more than that to a much larger viv. There is a myth that it is harder to see frogs in larger vivs but it is only a myth.

asch803 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 06:12 PM

great info, thanks! I am likely going to go with the sliding doors too - any problem ff proofing them? Do you have any kind of water feature or pond? I'm thinking about doing just a bog area (or swamp area) and also a small "pond" which would just be a bowl maybe 2" deep and then have "swamp" around that (about 1/3 of the bottom) in a low section and then a false bottom raised about 2 or 3" in the other 2/3 of the tank...i was going to just do a syphon hose to get rid of extra water, but guess that a drain is probably better. Is your drain in the bottom or is it at the very bottom of the back glass? btw, mine is going to be all glass (1/4")...and then about 30% of the top will be screened with the rest being glass...how does that sound, is ventilation enough? I think i'm going to just have him put one 1/2" hole in the glass top for the misting system, or should i have multiple holes?? With regard to inhabitants, I was thinking a group would be 5 or 6, certainly no more than 7 if for no other reason than the cost...so i'm glad to hear about what you say with not needing too many frogs for it to really look good.

Thanks!

Andy

jdogfunk99 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asch803

great info, thanks! I am likely going to go with the sliding doors too - any problem ff proofing them?

I guess it depends on how big your tank is, but what are the odds that the ff will find a 1/8 inch gap between the sliders? Maybe a few will escape but it represents only a fraction of surface area.

NathalieB · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdogfunk99

Quote:

Originally Posted by asch803

great info, thanks! I am likely going to go with the sliding doors too - any problem ff proofing them?

I guess it depends on how big your tank is, but what are the odds that the ff will find a 1/8 inch gap between the sliders? Maybe a few will escape but it represents only a fraction of surface area.

In my experience 99% of the flies will find the gap between the doors in a matter of seconds ... or this may just be my perception :wink:
Seriously: I had quite a few flies escaping that way. Now all my vivs are ff-proofed by adding a strip of silicone between the doors and my house is fruitfly free ( yeah right

ops: ).

jdogfunk99 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2008, 10:54 PM

Regarding adding a strip of silicone between the doors, how does that affect the overall transparency from a distance? Is it visually obvious?

NathalieB · #7 (**permalink**) 02-16-2008, 01:39 AM

it is right on the edge of the door so you would see a line there anyway. it is probably a little bit more visible with the strip but it doesn't bother me and It makes a big difference for keeping the flies in.

lights are out now (2:30 am here) but I'll try to take a picture tomorrow.

jdogfunk99 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-16-2008, 02:12 AM

That would be awesome Nathalie!

NathalieB · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 06:59 PM

OK, a little bit later then promised, but here are the picutres.

here is what a line of silicone looks like:

I have also used the strips that are sold for this purpose by some european shops (I don't know if they sell them in the US?) and I like them more because I think they are less visible:

this is the same tank when first set up without the strip... I don't think the visual difference is very big but the number of ff that escape sure has changed

asch803 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 07:10 PM

great pics! that is really not that bad - kind of impressive how straight it is, guess you use either a ruler or tape? couldn't that line of silicone be closer to the edge of the glass (so it's a little less visible)? any idea where to find the "european strips?" Do you have a drain in your tank? I'm having the tank built very soon and for now, i'm planning 1/2" hole toward the bottom of the back glass for a drain and then two 1/2" holes in the top (1 for misting hose and 1 for humidifier hose). Figure it's easy enough to plug the hole rather than have it drilled after the tank is built...Suggestions please!!!

Thanks!

Andy