I went from this 30g which is an old picture because the plants were covering everything and pushing on the glass top
to this 70g... Thank you craigslist!
I am going to use my old waterfall I built and create another false bottom for this tank. What I am trying to find are some simple ways to mount the plants so I can have a nice grass bottom for the pdf's. I don't want to go through the whole greatstuff stage at this time unless it is the only way to mount them on the background of the tank. I am trying to keep everything simple because I am transferring to another college to finish out my D.C. and this tank is going with me so any ideas, pictures, urls you have let me know! Also should I mount some 80mm fans to those vents for air circulation?
Oh, using a tape measure to determine the size of the tank before buying does not put in perspective of how large this thing is lol!
well, since you don't want to use great stuff, use cork bark pannels or coco husk pannels, then you can attache the plants by either glueing them on or with wires.
You could also use epiwebhttp://www.dartfrogdepot.com/catalog...cfa1c57dc10b5a, one cool thing about a background like this is you could use other pieces and make ledges or other things, plus it's lightweight and seems to be great for the roots to, uh, root in. heh
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- Cassie CassiesCritters
0.0.4 C. azureiventris
What I am trying to find are some simple ways to mount the plants... on the background of the tank.
You just described Epiweb. Not super cheap, but super easy and great for plants.
An alternative would be the Flevopol method, probably using Ace Concrete Binder, which is probably a little less work than great stuff/ silicone/ cocofiber, but not truely simple.
As for grass bottom, moss can work, but grass can be tough. Between the low light and high humidity of the vivariums, most grasses rot and die. Moss can look nice and grassy, though.
As far as adding fans, it really depends on what plants you have and if you have condensation problems that bother you. Orchids would really appreciate the additional air movment that fans would provide.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the fan and grass parts... I would say you could add one fan on to one of your vents just for some air exchange, you don't want too much wind though because your humidity will start to go *poof*
For "grass" you could use moss or maybe Riccia?
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- Cassie CassiesCritters
0.0.4 C. azureiventris
Ricca or Java moss are good substitutes for "grass." I do have some grasses in tanks, but they are all tall and don't have the mowed look of a lawn by any means. They also require better drainage and more light than the mosses. You can consider other ground covers such as the Ficus pumila quercifolia or other mini-pumila ficus varieties, which will form a solid mat of flat leaves on the substrate, and also climb up everything else, including the glass. (This is easily controlled, however.) For backgrounds, I still prefer cork bark, (albeit combined with some Great Stuff to fill the hollows before attaching it to the glass with silicone.) Cork bark lasts "forever" and supports all sorts of growth from bromeliads to it's own odd mosses and even some ferns that have cropped up. Fern tree panels make great drip walls, but in my experience need water dripping through them or they don't sustain much, as they are loosely fibrous and tend to dry out without a constant drip. They last a long time, and sprout ferns "spontaneously," which have to be controlled, because they can overgrow enthusiastically. They will support Ricca or Java if they remain wet. The pressed coconut panels in my experience deteriorate and sag within about three or four years, but this might be quite acceptable to most people. They will support about anything you want to grow on them, and even sprout a few surprises you didn't plant. The pressed panels are very expensive, or at least they were when I last purchased them.
My own advice, although I haven't always followed it, which is why I keep saying it, is think small when choosing tropical plants to use in a vivarium. Scale it down, even if you have to forgo some beautiful tropicals to do so. Even with the smaller ones, you may be doing a lot of ripping and trimming to keep them under control.
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Patty
Advice is like kissing: it costs nothing and it's a pleasant thing to do. (George Bernard Shaw)
WOW! I am surprised with all the fast, elaborate, and excellent replies. Scaling down the plants is very true because I learned that lesson the hard way. I really do like the cork bark for the natual look and probally will purchase some more. The other item I have at my disposal is these basket like panels that you place on the back for vines to grow.
Well thank you for the input and I will ponder it all and keep you posted on how it is coming.
From a 30g to a 70g - need simple idea
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