30 gal grow out tank

Wow...thanks for the compliments everyone. Would you believe I was close to tearing it down a couple times this year? With how it has evolved and turned out, I'm really glad I didn't. Here are some larger pics (have to link through Photobucket as the gallery kept downsizing them). Hopefully they are visible to everyone:

Isn’t that the Bombina tank?

It was the Bombina tank. We moved to a new house a few months ago and I did a bunch of downsizing...and the Bombinas ended up with a new owner. I couldn't bring myself to tear the tank down, though...and in the midst of moving and a rescaped Santa Isabel display tank, I needed an emergency space for a clutch of tads, and they ended up in here.

It is so impressive I believe I am going to imitate this when I make a new viv to put the Moraspunga in.

Let me know how it turns out!

Did you do a falsebottom or is everything riding on the bottom of the tank?

No false bottom at all. Mostly just gravel, sand, and river rocks, and then pockets of soil where the ferns were planted (and I imagine their roots have gone all over at this point--if I were to try and pull a few of the larger ones, I'm sure most of the tank would come right up with it). Also, there is no pump or anything moving the water, and the rocks have a ton of algae growing on them. The duckmite just appeared and started growing a couple weeks ago. Not sure why it took so long to show up...

BTW, what is that moss right square in the middle of the picture in the second pic right next to the shoreline?

Honestly, I have no clue. It came already growing on the piece of wood it's on. Where I live, various species of cottonwoods grow right along the banks of the rivers and streams. When the water levels go down in the spring, there are a ton of exposed roots and tangles. There are two of these roots in the tank.

Gorgeous Patty!

I've been called a lot of things in my lifetime, but Patty is definitely a first.

[Grassypeak]

Originally Posted by skylsdale

It was the Bombina tank. We moved to a new house a few months ago and I did a bunch of downsizing...and the Bombinas ended up with a new owner. I couldn't bring myself to tear the tank down, though...and in the midst of moving and a rescaped Santa Isabel display tank, I needed an emergency space for a clutch of tads, and they ended up in here.

I thought it looked familiar. That’s too nice looking a tank to forget. Glad to see your having good luck with the Sis. Too bad the bombinas got the short end of the stick though. :wink:

[Frogtofall]

This is a great looking viv.

What is the medium sized leaf plant dead center? I can't put my finger on it. It looks like either a Peperomia, Pachycentria or the foliage of a Hydnophytum.

Excellent work.

Antone, I'm not quite sure of the species, but I'm pretty sure it's some type of Aeschynanthus. Here is a pic of it sending out flowers--I don't think I ever got a shot of it in full bloom:

[Frogtofall]

Ahh yes. Definately a Gesneriad of some sort. The calyx sort of looks like a Columnea calyx but many Aeschy have that too. Great plant. It looks like its enjoying the terrarium.

[Fish_lover0591]

Do you change out the water everyonce in a while ? I might consider creating my 55 just like your tank :P if you don't mind. how much lighting is on it ?

I did once in a while when the Bombina were in there...but even then only every couple months or so, and not all that much of it. I'm pretty sure there is plenty of bacteria in there to deal with things, along with the substrate being festooned by the roots of the ferns for nutrient uptake or ammonia absorption. I don't see water quality becoming much of a problem.

Lighting consists of a 4 ft. shoplight (2 x 40 watt flourescent bulbs). I have the fixture resting on a couple wooden dowels on each end of the tank to keep it slightly above the tank. Temps in the tank range in the high 60's to around 70*F.

[housevibe7]

:lol: Ok sorry blonde moment. For some unknown reason, maybe I was so overwhelmed by the wonder of the tank :lol: I thought it was Patty's... Sorry

[VicSkimmr]

That is absolutely stunning! I've never seen a longer vivarium that looks nicer than that. Its perfect.

Do you have any pictures of when it was first set up so we can get a good idea of how it was put together and the layout of the land?

Jason, here is the earliest pic I have of the tank:



And a little later on: