New VIV/Paldarium in final stages, need fedback

[jules77]

Looking for any suggestions, ordering some more plants from either another forgger or black jungle this weekend.

Its a 60 gallon cube 24x24x24 going to house blue azeuras. Has VHO lighting 150 watts. Bulbs are 10k full spectrum. [/img]

[Mywebbedtoes]

Some ground cover. I would consider some nice ferns, or begonia for the floor area. They will add ground cover and some nice color too. Also, leaf litter goes a long way and can give a tank a more natural look. A nice brom a two might look good in the middle sections to help fill in the back. That is a cool tank size, the frogs should really like it.

[defaced]

I agree on the leaf litter, but once your peperomias grow in, that tank will look very good.

[jules77]

Yeah I was planning on using the magnolia leaves that Josh sells, and adding ferns, live moss, and more begonias is certainly on my list.

[skronkykong]

If you have enough light riccia will grow great on the sphagnum moss near the water feature that stays wet. It would probably grow on the waterfall rocks too. And I know some people might cringe when I say this but duck weed would look cool. Since you don't have a deep water section you don't have to worry about it blocking light to submerged plants.

[trunda]

Very nice tank, your frogs will enjoy it. The only think i would say is that i dont think that 10000K is good for vivarium, it seems to me like beeing more purple/blue than a natural daylight to mee. Anyway i agree with the idea to add the riccia.

[jules77]

I agree with you on the 10k, although the colors of the plants are really nice under a higher k bulb. Only time will tell, it's a bit of an experiment that no one that I have heard of has tried. I wanted the 6500k trichromatic bulbs from URI but they are apparently discontinued. VHO lighting is used in saltwater coral setups and I happened to have it available for use in this setup as a trial.

Originally Posted by trunda

Very nice tank, your frogs will enjoy it. The only think i would say is that i dont think that 10000K is good for vivarium, it seems to me like beeing more purple/blue than a natural daylight to mee. Anyway i agree with the idea to add the riccia.

[rozdaboff]

Just a note on 10K bulbs - I use T5HO fixtures with either 10K or 12K bulbs in them - as they are easier to find (made for reef tanks). The light is a "brighter" white than 6500K - but I don't think it is too blue or purple. I have been using fixtures with bulbs of those light temps for at least two years - and my plants all do well; broms really color up under them, and I have bloomed many of my orchids with them.

As the bulbs blow or get old, I do replace them with 6500K bulbs - but 10K bulbs will work just fine for you.

[jules77]

Thanks Roz, I kind of suspected that might be the case since many of the plants we are keeping are under a canopy in the rain forrest only getting a filtered amount of light. The higher K bulb somewhat simulates that effect I would think. I see some of my broms already showing more color after only a week under the 10k. Ill report back after the viv has had some time to grow in...

Originally Posted by rozdaboff

Just a note on 10K bulbs - I use T5HO fixtures with either 10K or 12K bulbs in them - as they are easier to find (made for reef tanks). The light is a "brighter" white than 6500K - but I don't think it is too blue or purple. I have been using fixtures with bulbs of those light temps for at least two years - and my plants all do well; broms really color up under them, and I have bloomed many of my orchids with them.

As the bulbs blow or get old, I do replace them with 6500K bulbs - but 10K bulbs will work just fine for you.