Large Vivarium Construction

[weta]

Wow this tank is AMAZING!
It was also awesome as a reef tank.

Dendroboard needs a tank of the month too.

[Energy]

Originally Posted by weta

Wow this tank is AMAZING!
It was also awesome as a reef tank.

Dendroboard needs a tank of the month too.

Actually that's a great idea! I'm not saying mine should be but I know on other sites they have aquarium tank's of the month and that is usually a really popular feature. As far as I know if the dendroboard did this it would be the only place to have a vivarium/terrarium/palarium as a feature tank.

I think it would be a pretty popular idea.

Maybe we should take a poll or a vote about the idea and send it past the administrators?

That would be awesome to every month see how people build their systems and get a brief synopsis on how it was done.

[EricB]

I pretty much just sat here in awe for about 3 hours reading through this thread, closely observing all of the details in construction and pictures. This is more of a "natural" habitat than many zoos have on display!
I'm working on getting supplies to start building my many tanks up, but I doubt I'll ever own anything this spectacular..
This is hands down one of the most phenomenal works of art I've ever come across.

[Energy]

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[Energy]

[Energy]

I gutted the left side of the tank the same as I did a month ago with the right side. The entire land mass is now elevated over the water area creating a cave underneath for the fish to swim and hide. Because of that now at least 95% of the bottom area of the tank is available to the fish. The only place the fish can't swim is where the rock touchs the bottom- everything else is elevated and open to the fish.

Another Change: I have recreated a thunderstorm inside the tank. Between 10-10:30 pm every night a thunder and lightning track plays which I have hooked up to a lightning controller(from firefly). The main lights turn off, moon lights come on and then two special lights hooked up to the lightning controller flash during the lightning strikes on the CD. The misting system is also timed to come on and off during the "storm" period.

I will probably have to eventually set-up a you-tube video to show the effects. I thought the entire"storm"idea would freak out the animals-especially the discus but on the contrary. Nothing seems to be effected by it. None of the animals have been spooked.

Fish update:
The discus are pairing off and spawning-but they are eating the eggs-oh well.
The stingray is getting massive. The discus do not seem to be fazed by the activities of the stingray. In fact the stingray can swim over the discus and even "top" them with out so much as a reaction.

Frogs have been put into the system. They use 100% of the space. I was very hesitant to place them inside-thinking it was a little to wild and dangerous -especially with all the water.

So far the water hasn't effected them at all. The two seperate islands aren't actually connected. This means the left and right side land masses aren't joined. But the frogs have no problem getting back and forth. One frog in particular has made a home on top of the main waterfall as well.

I have had one frog escape and perish.

The natural food sources also seem to be a real treat. I have 4 different areas that I stick whole bananas and other fruit to attract and draw in fruit flies. These areas seem to be gathering areas for the frogs.

I am also raising fruit flies so I can supply "enhanced-dusted" food.

[Energy]

Originally Posted by EricB

I pretty much just sat here in awe for about 3 hours reading through this thread, closely observing all of the details in construction and pictures. This is more of a "natural" habitat than many zoos have on display!
I'm working on getting supplies to start building my many tanks up, but I doubt I'll ever own anything this spectacular..
This is hands down one of the most phenomenal works of art I've ever come across.

Thank you- I appreciate that. Comments like that make this hobby even more enjoyable.

[Energy]

Two of the four places that I stick fruit to attract natural fruit flies are in the "formerly" overflows of the aquarium. From here the flies can naturally migrate into the system and breed without predation. When they get a little to prolific I use an idea borrowed from others here to collect them. I use this to catch the fruit flies. Then I pour them into a cup and sprinkle with dust which makes them flightless. They usually are stunned enough when I open the dustbuster that they won't fly away and I can get them into a collection cup to be dusted without to many escapees. This would make a great way to massively culture fruit flies outside. I place a window screen over the overflow. This provides enough of a barrier to slow them down while they are trying to escape when I am vaccuming them up. The picture is from one day collecting-I got the same amount the day before from the same spot.

[vivbulider]

holy s**t best tank ever

[EverettC]

Great shots! Can we get pics of before and after you changed the left hand side of your tank?