Retiring a fish tank means new 20 gallon viv

[Occidentalis]

Hiya all

Just wanted to share my current build that I'm very excited about. The plan is a Costa Rican mimic, and least in spirit. The plants will vary, but, such is life in a small replica *shrug*. I have some green and black tico auratus froglets that I picked up from Android1313 recently that will be the eventual inhabitants.

I have a few new (at least for me) design ideas, including testing out the new Exo Terra heat cables, and attempting to incorporate and emulate the dark igneous rocks and slow trickling streams of the country.

On a very random note, I saw this on the way to get supplies in Kzoo...

(Inset is the sign, blown up)

Lighting will be a 96 watt power compact in an oak canopy that's been lying around. Suggestions on how much fan I will need would be very much appreciated. I bought a 55 gallon canopy and a 20 gallon canopy for $40 from the owner of a pet store who claimed they were cracked. I once saw him sell a juvenile sturgeon to someone with a 15 gallon tank, and tell them it would be fine its entire life. I haven't been able to find more than a scratch on the back of the 55 gallon hood, so I think he was mistaken. Oh well, his loss.

I picked up a few exciting plants at the MIFroggers meeting, specifically from Rob (littlefrog) including a very cool looking grassy brom - Pitcairnia flammea I believe - it is available on Josh's frogs website.

Picked up some cool broms, as well as mini philo, and this cloud forest orchid that Rob suggested might do well in a viv, due to a fondness for constant / high moisture.


More pics of the plants and everything to come... I apologize for the horrible quality, my fiance' took the dSLR with her back to Detroit after the meeting, so all I have right now is my camera phone ><

Anyhoo, off to the build. Here's what I have so far... a false bottom with screen on it.

There is a gap in the front to stuff in pebbles, etc, for visual appeal. The back corner has pump access, with a little tunze pump that pushes just the amount of water I need. The plan is to have the water run down/ along a piece of tree fern on the background, providing nice plant spots and orchid attachment, then dribble down the end and into the mesh (disguised by rocks, etc, of course). I'm hoping to do something similar to the "pondless waterfall" garden things that seem to be all the rage around here, but on a smaller scale.

Anyway, I'll post updates as this thing progresses. I hope to get a lot done this weekend... not much to do except cross fruit flies in the lab, and no classes after noon tomorrow or Monday I know it's all pretty standard, but I hope to be able to give a thumbs up to some of these uncommon plants, as well as the new exo terra stuff.

[eos]

Ill be following

[MonkeyFrogMan28]

Sounds good, keep us updated.

[Occidentalis]

So, the heat cable came in today (would have gotten it from Josh, but was in a hurry and forgot that I needed it, whoops) and the biggest thing I've noticed is that it claims to be 11.5 feet, but that is misleading. The cable is 11.5 feet, but with the cord. The heating part of the cable is only 6 foot, with a 5 foot or so cord. Here's a snapshot of the box and contents.



Not 100% on where I'm going to end up putting it. The instructions are pretty vague as to how much water it can handle. Because of this I'm leaning towards attaching it under the false bottom. I have had it plugged in for a while now and it isn't nearly too hot to touch, so I think it will be okay there and not melt anything. Since it will be directly under the false bottom, it shouldn't be submersed in water, either. We'll see how it turns out.

[Occidentalis]

Okay... heat cable attached. Went rather easily, just had to cut a hole for the cable to go back into the access corner.



Here's a close up down the chute...


The instruction sheet for the cables claims that "the electrical connection of the cord should be outside of the tank." I'm not sure if this means the plug or the connection where the cord meets the cable. Either way, you can see it secured above the water on the left hand side of the above picture.

[Occidentalis]

Foamed up the background. Added some silicone in the water feature area to keep the water out front. I waited for it to get tacky, then stuck a few black lava rocks in here and there. They look a little out of place now, but a coat of flevapol will go on over the handifoam, and help them blend in.





I was happy with the amount of expanding the foam has done; less than I have seen before. Left a lot of space out front for floorspace, and I'm happy with the amount of room left over. The cardboard in the pots will come out as soon as the foam stops expanding.

[Occidentalis]

I've epoxied the base waterfall rocks in, and added a nice thick coat of the concrete binder / substrate mix that Zach (zBrinks) recommends. The first batch I made had a little too much water and was runny. Didn't use as much water in the second batch and it was just fine.

I used the Zilla forest mix stuff that was on sale at the local pet store... I wanted something that would end up dark, but still had some chunk to it. It contained small sticks that I at first didn't like, but then positioned them in places I liked and was pleased. I do like the ease of putting it on... eliminates silicone fumes, etc.

Here's a full shot just after I spread it on:

And about 45 min with a fan on it:

[Occidentalis]

I really love this method, it's exciting watching it dry... haha.
About 2 hours after application, with a fan:


After just about four hours of drying time, I could see some areas would need a second coat. Here's a picture with some touchup spots... it really shows the contrast.



One of the wonderful things about this method is that you can just whip up more if you need it. You don't have to worry about leaving silicone tubes uncapped or not wanting to start a new can... you just mix to order. It also is a lot harder than just coco fiber stuck to greatstuff. My test piece (some GS in a bologna package in the garbage) has cured and is hard as a rock!

[Occidentalis]

Mostly dry... only some very thick parts and hard to reach areas show any sign of not being cured.

[Rick]

That looks very interesting...cant wait to see it when its done! Watch out for that handi foam coming off the glass though, it happened to me a few times so now i just put a couple beads of silicone on the glass about 24-48 hours before applying the foam.