Terrarium Construction

leodeal384 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 01:15 AM

Well I just finished my 29 gallon terrarium I have been working on for the past week. I used peat instead of eco-earth stuff for the background and it worked fine. I also mixed in some dried oak leaves with it. I only used one can of GS for the background and the waterfall. The pump I used for the waterfall is a small one from a fake waterfall...It only has one flow rate: fast. I tried covering the outlet with rocks and other stuff...but it just overflowed into the moss. I just kept it flowing fast and make the rocks up a little higher. I haven't finished putting the plants on the background and have 3 more broms to put up. The moss is from a park near me and also from my aunt's greenhouse growing on the ground. Well here are the pics:

It isn't anywhere near as nice as most other people's ...but it is awesome for me. I usually never even put a background on. Any questions/suggestions would be nice!...thanks for looking.

permalink · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 01:50 AM

I love it. What kind of plants have you got on the background?? Oh, and what did you use the hammer for??

I really like the river. Do you try to keep the river from splashing or seeping into the surrounding land, or do you just let it do its thing?

The whole floor is great stuff??

leodeal384 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 01:57 AM

On the background, I have 4 bromeliads, not sure what kind, and two small ferns. Most of the green on the background is just moss I pinned up there hoping it will take shape. The hammer was just weighing down the eggcrate when I was gluing it in place. The river is contained mostly because the walls are pretty high. I let it splash out a little, but not much at all. The floor is mostly eggcrate, and just the waterfall area is GS. The pic that shows the GS on the bottom is when I was putting it on the back of the tank, with the tank on the backside. I am getting a few more of the same bromeliads for the background. I want to get something that will grow nice up the background, so I might get some creeping fig...not sure yet.

beeswaxx · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Oh, and what did you use the hammer for??

I was wondering the same thing :wink:
Yeh, good job, it looks good. Thats one heck of a pump you got there.
Good job.

insomniac · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 11:59 AM

dont like it.
and the frogs will like the air circulation :?

JoshKaptur · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 12:29 PM

My biggest suggestion would be to look into some emergant plants for the water area. Look for anubias, swords, and crypts in the aquatic plants section of a fish store. These will all grow well part in water and part out of the water, and would help break up your shoreline and add visual interest to the left side of the tank. Java moss too.

Homer · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshKaptur

My biggest suggestion would be to look into some emergant plants for the water area. Look for anubias, swords, and crypts in the aquatic plants section of a fish store. These will all grow well part in water and part out of the water, and would help break up your shoreline and add visual interest to the left side of the tank. Java moss too.

I think your tank looks great. However, I agree with Josh . . . some crypts would be a nice addition. Don't listen to insomniac . . . sounds like a grouchy mood from too little sleep.

Oh, by the way, welcome to Dendroboard!

frogman824 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 02:27 PM

I think it looks really good, but I agree with Josh and Homer, a few aquatic plants would put a nice touch on it. I didn't see it if anyone asked, but what kind of frogs will you be putting in there? Also, http://www.blackjungle.com has an aquatic section for plants if you cant find them anywhere else.

leodeal384 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 06:40 PM

thanks everyone. I got some water plants two days ago from my local fish store, but they shriveled in like 10 minutes when the leaves are out of water. I am not exactly sure what kind they are, but the fish guy there said they would do fine with just a few inches of water and the leaves out of water. I will get a pic of them soon. They are in my fish tank for now and they got their shape back. frogman-I will either be putting 2 green/black auratus in or a pair of azureus...most likely the pair of azureus though, I think they look better and are a little more active. I have 4 green/black auratus and 3 azureus froglets right now, so all depends on how it goes. What was that about air circulation?? Anyways, about the aquatic plants, I did already think about that and until I can get some that will live out of water, that side will be empty. I would love to get some java moss, but I can't find anyone who has any around me...

leodeal384 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 06:54 PM

Here are the plants when they were in my tomato frog's tank:

Anyone know what kind? Also, when they were in the pet store, they were just floating around so I figured they had been above water for some time, but when I got them home, they shriveled up. I just looked in my fish tank and they are really looking bad now. I am thinking about going to this little creek down the block and getting some arrow heads and keeping them in my new tank until they get too big and then take them back and get some smaller ones...I don't really want to use wild plants, but I don't really think it would matter too much as long as I clean off the roots and make sure the plant doesn't have any bugs. Any advice on this?