[Llama]

It's been a while since I've had the chance to build something new. I recently had an opportunity arise to start building my biggest terrarium yet, a 190 gallon 4'x30"x30" terrarium. This thread will be a slow one as I progress on the project, but for now I've started working on the base for it. Here are some in progress photos.

 

[Apoplast]

That's a nice looking base! Wish I had your woodworking skill. I'm currently trying to figure out how to create wooden cover for a wire rack assembly. I grow all my carnivorous plants on them, but they are restricted to the basement grow rooms I've purpose built for them. I want the frogs to be in the house, and my wife is less than enthusiastic about me replacing a planted aquarium on a nice stand with an exposed wire rack. This is all to say, that I'm inspired by the base you are building! Also, seeing your door with bars on it and those characteristic bricks makes me miss Tucson. Great town! Looking forward to seeing your progress on this build.

 

[Philsuma]

Gonna be a real challenge to light that adequately for most plantings, and I see you are in a 'hot state' as well.

 

[Llama]

Stand finished. Was initially going to have hinged doors, but it was too much for my patience/skill lol. Curtain it is!!! To the comment on lighting, I already have it all. Two ai prime lights that I had used previously on another build. They're brighter/stronger than hell and don't get noticeabley warmer than other lights. I think their built in fans help with that. They should do the job.

A photo of the finished base in it's corner.

 

[Llama]

No progress to post on the build yet, but I've got all my supplies and I'm all stocked up on broms. Going to have a couple Aechmea 'Roberto Menescal' as the focal point of the terrarium. (The big red brom.)

 

[fishingguy12345]

Whoa, that's quite the brom

 

[Woodswalker]

I think that if you expect a lot of shadows at the bottom, and plan a more epiphyte dominated environment, it won't be so difficult. Expecting good lighting, and lush growth at the bottom could prove to be a real challenge. Your layout will make all the difference.

If anything, having it be shadowy in the bottom, and placing the plants higher up is probably more like their natural environment, which includes (mostly) dense leaf litter on the forest floor, rather than dense greenery, anyway.

 

[Philsuma]

^ Agree. I would def hardscape the sides.

 

[Llama]

I normally use matala as the base to keep my builds from being waterlogged, but I recently found an awesome alternative to matala. It's cheaper and much more dense, so you don't have to fuss with substrate barriers. I think my plants are going to love rooting into this stuff, excited to try it out. Should have some progress photos on the build by tomorrow

 

[fishingguy12345]

I normally use matala as the base to keep my builds from being waterlogged, but I recently found an awesome alternative to matala. It's cheaper and much more dense, so you don't have to fuss with substrate barriers. I think my plants are going to love rooting into this stuff, excited to try it out. Should have some progress photos on the build by tomorrow

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What's the name of this stuff? It looks interesting

 

[Woodswalker]

Yeah, I'm also curious about where you got that roll. It looks a lot like Epiweb, which I like quite a lot for use around corner ponds.

 

[Organics]

I believe it’s the same material Troy Goldberg uses, you can look up his YouTube to see more about the properties about it. Amazon search of black filter may should pull it up.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Llama]

Different brand than what I got, but I'm sure its all the same. I got mine from a local shop. To the person who commented about epiweb, you're right. The consistency of the material is very similar to epiweb.

 

[gonzalez]

I’m using the stuff on my most recent build. It’s great in so many ways, it’s cheap, lightweight, holds water, plants root into it, and you can shape it any way you want to make water areas and form landscape. I’m gonna use it on all my future builds.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Llama]

Ayo... update time. I'm all stocked up and ready to go. This thing fits like a charm, super stoked to start putting it all together. I live in a great frog community and I had friends give me all sorts of cool little plants, leaves and wood for my build. Thanks guys, I owe you one! I start my 3 day work shift tomorrow, and the last few things I need should arrive while I'm working, so the real fun begins Sunday.

 

[Llama]

Almost ready to start- Background stuff came in the mail. Going out on my day off Sunday to collect some more wood and then the hardscape begins

 

[Llama]

Playing around with a couple different hardscape designs... I like this one so far. Ill sleep on it and decide for sure tomorrow.

 

[Llama]

Finished for now. Just needs a couple big plant packages and it'll be ready for some inhabitants. When the misters turn on, a pretty cool little waterfall runs down all the rocks. There's a small water area in the front as well. It needs more orchids!

 

[Llama]

A couple different viewing angles. Still waiting on my plants.

 

[dartboard]

Looking great man, fun piece to have in a main room