29g Beginner Viv

Hey guys, I will be setting up my first PDF vivarium within the next few weeks, and I was wanting to get some oppinions on what I plan on doing/keeping.

Specs:
- 29g AGA tank with Versa Top Lid
- 2 x NO flourescent light strip (30" long)
- Background will be "great stuff" and will have coco fiber silaconed onto it
- I will be using a hand mister
- I'm not so sure as to what plants I should grow but I think I go with these plant collections from BlackJungle.com: 5 Plant Easy Grower Collection, 3 Plant Exotic Plants for Dartfrogs, and lastly or posibly the Tillandsia Sampler...Do you guys think the Tillandsia Sampler is a good idea?
- For substrate I am thinking just LECA Balls on bottum, then either some Sphagnum Moss or some Fiberglass Screen, and then on top use some Coco Fiber mixed with Sphagnum Moss. I will most likely throw some magnolia leaves in there too.
- I also plan on haveing a small mud puddle like area for when/if my frogs spawn.
- And last but not the least, the Frogs, Leucs to be exact. I plan on keeping a group of 5 or 6. Does anyone see a problem with that?

Thanks for looking. I look foward to reading your comments and suggestions.

[twisner]

the only problems i see are the substrate. coco and spagnum will be too moisture retentive, you should make it about half orchid bark, 1/3 coco, and the rest spagnum, so you have a well draining media, that still stays moist.
and this puddle, is it just goin to be a depression in the substrate? i dont think that would hold water, the substrate would suck it up. You will have to make a little pond with pond liner or gs.
and you will probably want some broms, they are good hiding spots and take up lots of space, making your tank lushly planted.
I would not go with the tilandsia sampler, just get some broms instead, neoregelias to mount on the background is what i would recommend.

[frogman824]

Hey,

Instead of using great stuff I'd suggest using handi foam for the background, it dries and cures quicker. You could also put some bromeliads in there too, blackjungle should have some of those. If you don't have any magnolia leaves then you should look into getting them from Josh at http://www.joshsfrogs.com he gives you a big box full for a reasonable price. For how many frogs to have in the viv, I probably wouldn't go with any more than 5. Everything else sounds good though.

[frogman824]

I was thinking for a pond, has anyone used those gladware containers and just stick them in and make them level with the ground? For my subtrate I use about 2/3 jungle mix, 1/6 tree fern fiber and 1/6 of those bricks that expand.

Thanks twisner. Where can I find the Orchid Bark?
As for the puddle, I was going to use GS around it to stop it from draining into the supstrate.

frogman824, would a Bromeliad - Guzmania 'Diana' be a good choice?

[themann42]

i agree, i love bromeliads. my first tank sounds exactly like yours, then i just set up a little 10gal with more plants and more broms, and it looks so much better.

i've never heard of just sinking a plastic container. the water could get stagnant with a film which i'm not sure would look very good, but it's not a problem health wise right?

[twisner]

you can find orchid bark at any nursery or hardware store.

Originally Posted by themann42

...i just set up a little 10gal with more plants and more broms, and it looks so much better...

So your saying more Broms is better, looks like I should have more than one type then

[twisner]

ya, go to a site that sells broms like the frog farm, or custom ecos, or tropiflora, and get about 5 nice neoregelias, of dif sizes and colors.

[frogman824]

Travis, the Diana would be good as well as El Cope, Hannah and Christiane. If I remember right, Christiane is the best of the 4. Gemma is another good one, it's very tall and wide.