6ft./150 gal first time Palu build...

kitcolebay · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2012, 02:32 PM

This is my first post to Dendroboard. I have been doing a lot of reading on Vivarium Forums and started posting there. Here is a link to my beginner build thread there... 150 gallon/6 foot palu...1st time build. - Vivarium Forums
Just starting to continue my research by doing a lot of reading on here. Nice to meet you all and any help, warnings, and such is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Chris.

kitcolebay · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2012, 03:40 PM

Here is a few pics of my first couple steps...

ibytencode · #3 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 01:00 AM

Great start. Just curious, what do you plan on putting in this?

kitcolebay · #4 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 02:53 AM

Not quite sure yet what live little critters I want to put in it. That's going to take a lot more research and I'd like to get my wife's and kids input. Dart's interest me, but they seem to definitely be more involved and complicated in care for a first time builder. I'm definitely up for suggestions on a good balance...Freshwater fish and land inhabitants.

kitcolebay · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 11:20 AM

Another question to toss out there...would metal halides be too strong of lighting to use? I currently have a 2x250watt system that I was thinking of using and just lifting it off the top to keep some of the heat off the tank.

bmartin04983 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 01:42 PM

It's looking great! Nicely done, keep it up!

Just a quick question, what is the blue liner you have under the rocks?

kitcolebay · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 04:44 PM

It is a scrap piece of pool liner. I will be adding more rocks and lining the edges with Great Stuff for ponds to build it up and camo it a little more. None should be visible when done.
I'm about to go for a search on the forums, but I'll throw it on here too. I'm trying to calculate how much substrate I need. About to order my Hydroton and ABG mix and want to make sure I get the proper amount. Anyone got a good guess or have the formula to figure it?

kitcolebay · #8 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 04:48 PM

Estimating on the high side. I have no more than 4 1/2' x 18" of floor space to lay substrate. I imagine quite a bit a less, but would rather have a little too much substrate than not enough.
(This is in reference to the above question).

bmartin04983 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitcolebay

It is a scrap piece of pool liner. I will be adding more rocks and lining the edges with Great Stuff for ponds to build it up and camo it a little more. None should be visible when done.
I'm about to go for a search on the forums, but I'll throw it on here too. I'm trying to calculate how much substrate I need. About to order my Hydroton and ABG mix and want to make sure I get the proper amount. Anyone got a good guess or have the formula to figure it?

Look at New England Herpetoculture LLC - Home

They are great people and have great product. You will see a calculator right on the front page. It's an excel document. If you dont have excel, I'm sure they will do it for you.

Brad

skanderson · #10 (**permalink**) 04-20-2012, 05:19 PM

if you use 250 watt mh you will be able to keep a wide variety of plants at different heights. the disadvantage is that they throw alot of heat. you will definately need to raise them and maybe even need to run a fan on them to keep the heat near the tank down. that is somewhat dependant on what you want to keep in the viv. my suggestion is before planting or buying any animals to cover the viv. and turn the lights on for 12 hours and see what happens to the tank. if you dont have the lights but were considering buying them i would consider looking into either a decent t5 system with good reflectors or even better a led system. keep us in on the build, thanks steve