46gal BowFront REDUX ;)

[Dendro Dave]

Ok so i've had some free time and some extra supplies lying around so i finally decided to rip the artificial bonsi out of my bow, and do a fairly major overhaul. Im trying to get away from using anything artificial.

Here is how it looked....


Here is the "Redux!" (the water section is actually better lit in real life)



I added some lighter gravel between shots.




And here is the betta living there now. (also a couple newts and fire bellied toad)

[Geckoguy]

Thats awsome they both look great but I have to say the "redux" looks a lot nicer. Cool mix of inhabitants too.

[RedEyeTroyFrog]

wow, nice work dave, looks really good, what kind of moss do u use in ur tanks, ive always been a fan

[heatfreakk3]

Thats an awesome set up. How do you set something like that up? ha

[Dendro Dave]

Originally Posted by RedEyeTroyFrog

wow, nice work dave, looks really good, what kind of moss do u use in ur tanks, ive always been a fan

Hey thx guys Most of that moss is a local moss that does ok in my vivs, but there is a lil bit of t&c tropical moss, and a micro liverwort so small it looks like moss, and maybe a couple other local mosses. I tend to throw as many kinds in as i can and let em fight it out.

[McBobs]

Very nice looking viv! I really like how it has that stair-stepping effect up towards the middle top. Very well done!

-Matt

Edit: I also love the cryptanthus in the middle. It really sets off the green in all the other plants!

[afterdark]

Fantastic job! This is one of my favourites! Do you have any photos of the construction? If not, can you briefly describe how you did the hardscape?

Cheers,

[Dendro Dave]

Originally Posted by afterdark

Fantastic job! This is one of my favourites! Do you have any photos of the construction? If not, can you briefly describe how you did the hardscape?

Cheers,

Sry no construction pics on his one. This is actually the first viv i ever built...i guess technically its a paludarium. its 2 brick right angles(very heavy) with gravel and slate piled around/laid over the brick, then soil on top of that. I basically just laid pieces of drift wood all in the water section, and kinda used them to some extent to build up more land. And then planted it. the stair stepping rocks are just pieces of broken slate tile stacked up. Can pick it up like 5 1sq ft tiles for 6bucks at lowes or home depot, cant remember which...really odd cuz some tiles that look almost the same cost 5 times as much, and then some other that look kinda the same cost double that. They were a lil nicer but not $30 a sq ft nicer

The center area is a narly piece with lots of texture/holes in it and partially buried on the right side. Then there is another piece that is a narly base with a long branch sticking up, but i didnt really like the way they looked when i had the one with the branch sticking up so i inverted it and partialy buried that branch on the left and let the narly base be what you actually see. its on top of the other peice and that forms the "center mound" Its kinda cave like in that mound, i didnt wanna deprive the animals completely of some cave like area
Then i just laid sheets of moss and the soil stuck to them over alot of the drift wood.

[Dendro Dave]

Small update, added a couple plants, Divided the anubis nana plants so i could cover more of the water section, took a few more pics....


Can you spot the new additions??? There are 3 (not counting the nana)


Macro betta shot with flash...


Really ugly shot full tank with flash. Can see the brick angles used as the foundation. Under normal lighting, these arent very visible thx to the plants. (First viv, LOL i had no idea what i was doing)


Left side, new addition centered...pilea "moon valley"


New addition centered, Dracaena "Florida Beauty" and bottom right off the drift wood is Rhipsalis epiphytic cactus


I think eventually when money isnt so tight i'll add some epiphytic orchids to the background along with some air plants and mabye a brom or 2. I'm also thinking of installing a toms vacum pump that pulls water up and make it drip down the background.

[myersboy6]

dude that tank looks so awesome! I now know what im going to do for my next project after i finish the project im doing now. haha