[Neontra]

Hey everyone. I'm starting to plan out a new tank, but I won't start for another few weeks, but that gives me time to really learn what i'm doing. So first of. It's going to be a 20H tank. I'm not sure if it will be a vert or not, when I get my supplies i'll be able to plan out if it's going to be vert or not. I'm aiming for a horizontal. I was gonna do something like Grimm's amazing twins, but after talking with him I decided the clay might not hold up over the long term. I already have an Auratus living happily in a 20 long, and would like to get luecs or tincs this build. I can't decide on whether-or-not I should have a small water feature or not. I only plan on getting 1 frog in this tank, MAYBE 2 in the future, so I don't see why a water feature wouldn't be an issue. So I was thinking Great stuff for the background. After the resent failure i've had with my last tank and the foam coming off, I will follow others advice by 1) putting silicone on the back and 2) poking holes in the foam to let it out gas while it's expanded so it won't come off and shrink.

So now for supplies. I have made a list of stuff to get, but won't order for a few weeks like I said. Note there's no bromeliads, NEHerp doesn't have any as of now.
1x Malaysian Driftwood
Sizes: 10-14"

1x Cork Rounds
Sizes:: 5-7"

1x Cork Flats
Sizes:: 10-13"

2x NEHERP Vivarium Substrate Mix
Select Quantity:: 1 Full Gallon

2x Hydroton Clay Substrate
Options:: 1Qty 1Gal Bag

2x Leaf Litter - Standard Live Oak Gallon

1x Begonia Boweri

1x Hedera Helix Variegated Cultivar - 2.5"

1x Creeping Fig Variegated
Sizes:: 5 Clippings

1x Peperomia NOID Vine
Sizes:: Single Clipping

1x NEHERP Terrarium Moss - 6" X 5"

1x Ionantha 'fuego' (Tillidansia)

1x Ionantha Mexican (Tilly)

1x Ionantha X Stricta (Tilly)

1x Pilea Moon Valley 4" Pot

Total:$122.15 USD (Includes S&H)

Tell me if any thing needs to be changed or added. My budget is 150$ MAYBE go up to 175$. The total cost of the tank will be 30$, GS 10$, silicone 12$ so maybe 175$.

I'm really excited to start this !

 

[Neontra]

Hey guys. One more thing, with silicone. Has anyone used the spary on silicone stuff( forgot what it's called, but that commercial where they cover a screen in spray on black silicone? I could see that being an excellent way to get outstanding GS coverage, but is it safe?

 

[DonLisk]

Hey guys. One more thing, with silicone. Has anyone used the spary on silicone stuff( forgot what it's called, but that commercial where they cover a screen in spray on black silicone? I could see that being an excellent way to get outstanding GS coverage, but is it safe?

You need a silicone that is 100 percent silicone and if any mildew resisting compounds are added to the silicone it is a potential for issues later on.

GE Silicone I is great but it takes a month for the fumes to go away.
GE Silicone II is what many use and the fumes will be gone is about a week.

Don

 

[Neontra]

You need a silicone that is 100 percent silicone and if any mildew resisting compounds are added to the silicone it is a potential for issues later on.

GE Silicone I is great but it takes a month for the fumes to go away.
GE Silicone II is what many use and the fumes will be gone is about a week.

Don

In my 20 long the GE I fumes were gone within 2 days lol. I'll just use GE II black this build

 

[Neontra]

*Bump* Might do a 29g instead, found one with stand light and tank + accessories for 35$

 

[Neontra]

Hey guys. So I have definitively decided to do a 29G, and it will be for either luecs, tincs, more auratus, imis, or vents. I'm planning for luecs. I dug up I think every 29g build and thought this was my fav http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/me...-tank-29g-construction-journal-pic-heavy.html
I plan on added some Malaysian driftwood into the GS and cover the GS with GE II black/peat moss, put 1 inches of hydroton, fiberglass mesh from an old window screen I have, then 1-2 inches of NE herps substrate or ABG. Then nI will plant some smooth patches of moss, probably riccia or java, but josh has some cheap dried moss I will try and to revive. Then I will add a nice layer of some very nice oak leaves to 3/4 of the substrate, plant with lots of ficus pumila , red wandering jew, broms, small ferns (maybe artillery fern?) some begonias, baby tears through the leaf litter, and a few others. Lighting will be a T8 20w bulb in a light fixture I have, but I might need to get some hoT5s to get good brom color. PLEASE leave suggestions, only one other person has posted and I feel as if i'm talking to my self. This will be started in 1 1/2 weeks when I get my big fat paycheck.

 

[Neontra]

Ok so now to start the build. This is the first chunk of wood i'm getting. It's a 13 inch piece of mopani and it has a few really nice spots to stick tilladansias and bromeliads in. The rest of the wood i'm getting will either be more mopani, maybe malaysian driftwood, or ghostwood. IMO with a few more chunks, it'll come out great.