New project. 5.5g nano viv

[Darkness9876]

I have plans for a 5.5g nano viv just after christmas, or sooner if i get a job at petland.

Bear with me, and Sorry if I sound like a noob or ask to many questions, I just want to get some practice before I jump into a large wet terrarium. I already have a 90g paludarium but it stays pretty dry in there because its for anoles. I would also like to try some new techniques and I think this a good place to learn.

Anyway, I don't want to have animals in it and it would be just for decoration and plants.

I'm pretty new to making vivariums and would like some input so I'll just explain what I have thought out so far.

Tank...

5.5g

Basic Equipment...

A two piece glass top to hold in humidity with a series of holes in the back to allow circulation.

A custom hood with a 25w cfl.

The scape:

Background: Slate tile on 3 sides with the 2 back corners the bottom all the way around covered in some kind of foam. (looking for experinced information about handi-foam and greatstuff and the pros and cons. Things like do I need to precoat the glass, do i coat it in silicone after, what do I put on it to make it look more natural?). I would incorporate some planters and some maylasian driftwood as well for mounting points for broms. Then all 3 outside sides would be taped off and the front edges of visible foam and subsrate would be painted so it could not be seen from the outside of the tank.

There would be a false bottom made from eggcrate and covered in screen for a very small resivoir.

Substrate:

Probably just some black eco-complete. Looking for suggestions here too as I have only ever planted in coir.

Plants:

Definetly looking for suggestions here.

Was thinking some broms, hc for a carpet, and some anubis nana petite.

Possible water feature...

This is why I planned the small resivoir. I was thinking in one of the corners I could shape a kind of waterfall that fell into a peagravel area. Something of a pool-less waterfall.

On the water fall I could plant some java ferns as that is how they grow in nature anyways.

However I have no experience with a powerhead or anything like that.

Would it be possible to drill the rear of the tank into the resivoir and hook up some kind of external pump to pump the water up to the waterfall. The return could come from the top as it would be imbedded in the great stuff.


I would really like some help with this project, all of you help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Darkness9876]

Really, 33 views and nobody has any suggestions?

[jdart16]

I would suggest that in that small of a setup and water feature relly dosn't seem feasable.

It would most likely end in the whole viv becoming a soupy mess with not enough airflow and lots of rot.

Just my two cent though sounds like it could turn out to be a neat project.

Justin

[Darkness9876]

I think that I will still try the water feature, worst case scenario I will just unplug the pump and use the resivoir line to drain the excess water off.

If I were to do this what would be a good pump for this type of application?

[jdart16]

A lot of people seem to use these with good results

Zoo Med 501 Turtle Canister Filter at Big Al's Online

Justin

[Darkness9876]

Thanks, I'll check into that.

[Darkness9876]

Any other ideas on a pump? I don't need a filter just a pump.

[iridebmx]

why not filter?if you need a external pump you should just go with a filtered setup.i would do a (tiny) pool made of greatstuff foam and silicone it good .then still use some leca under the substrate.just follow any foam viv thread just on a small scale.

[Darkness9876]

The greatstuff pool was what i was thinking.

I think that a filter would be nice but I don't need all the carbon and stuff that that turtle tank offers. Is there any others you can think of?

[eLisborg]

I really would not waste the time or money on a pump for that small of a tank, even in a 10 gallon a water feature is pushing it I think. I don't do them in anything smaller than a 20 gallon, it just looks off balanced.