Build Log - 36x18x24 Exo Terra

[jamesthornton]

Update 06/02

Received some plants and stuff today. Ordered from Ben's Jungle and Dartfrog.

First Brom is Vriesea racinae. Second is Neo. Tarapotiensis.


Left is Creeping Fig, Right is Squirrel-foot Fern.


Left is Purple Peperomia. The Brom is Vriesea red chustnet.


I've also started doing the silicone+eco earth, but it's going slowly at the moment, I'll keep it updated though.

Cheers.

[jamesthornton]

Update 19/02

Been going slowly atm. Nearly nearly finished with the backwall, should be done this weekend!

I ordered some dried sponge mushrooms from Pollywog.


The back is very nearly covered. It looks like a lot left but isn't! I may remove the largest shroom, It's a little flimsy and quite big.


This is bad focus, but I found this strange sprout in my bucket of eco-earth? It has not opened up and is continuing to shoot up. The leaves look like some kind of fern. I'll get another picture tonight!


And here is my Crestie...


More to come!

Cheers

[jamesthornton]

Update 21/02

So..I practically finished today. All that is left to do is sort a pump and filter out and get the pool and stream going. I have a few things to report on the overall build too.

1. I read everywhere use only bone dry eco earth. The first batch was completely dry, and the rest were damp - couldn't really feel it, but the colour was a bit darker. When I put the Exo back on the table, the part of the wall with the dry eco earth was actually quite loose. It is looking a bit patchy. I also found the damp stuff stuck better when applying it.

2. I got some of the EpiWeb moss mix. That is the ugly green lumps spread around, i.e on the mushrooms. I also mixed the leftovers into the mister, and just sprayed the water around. Dunno if it'll work, but might spread a few spores around. I'll update this with progress of the moss.

Whole Tank Shot. Left Side will be a shallow pool.


Top left. Vriesea racinae, Brom Pup #2*, Vriesea red chustnet.


Top Centre. Heartleaf Plant Cutting**, Neo. Tarapotiensis.


Bottom Right. Unknown Fern, Heartleaf Plant.


Front Right. Kentia Palm, Purple Peperomia.


Front Centre. Squirrel Foot Fern, Mystery Sprout***.


Front Centre again. Rainforest Root hide.


Bottom Centre. Brom Pup #1.


*The Brom Pups are from some unknown Bromeliad I bought in a garden centre, and is currently in my Water Dragon viv.

**The Heartleaf plant is also in my water dragon viv. This plant goes mad so I thought i'd get a cutting. Climbs A LOT.

***This little shoot started growing out of my eco earth. It's kept on growing so thought may aswell throw it in.

This is my first ever planted viv. My water dragon only has 2 plants, it's hardly the same!

Cheers,

James

[jamesthornton]

Unfortunately one of the shrooms has fallen already . It's hanging on, so I secured it with paperclips till I can find a better way of keeping it there.

[D3monic]

Love the shrooms! Hope they last. Would be awesome calling spots for them.