[dubvstudent]

Just picked up a new all glass aquarium from a guy on craigslist. Its a 30 X High (dimensions 24W x 12D x 25H). I love the height of it, and since it has the same footprint as my old viv there is no need to get a new glass lid cut/change the lights out/ect.

I learned a few things with my first build: http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/members-frogs-vivariums/69211-first-viv-first-frogs.html
First, silicone and acrylic don't bond worth [email protected] Secondly, something in calcium supplements tends to destroy certain mosses if it comes in direct contact with it. Third, under PC bulb, plants can grow real quick, and frogs like to climb, so taller is better for the most part (IMO). And finally, Organic potting soil is not a good substrate choice (melts/rolls downhill in that humidity)...

So, for this viv I will be going a more traditional route - I'll be using the great stuff method over a false bottom and eco-earth substrate. Nothing too fancy here, but a time test and reliable method.

I will try to update here with pics as often as possible!

 

[dubvstudent]

First question:

Just can't manage to get these old hard water stains off the glass. I have read alot on a fish forum that I am a member of and have come to believe that the glass has actually been etched over time by the calcium deposits.

The tank is old (says it mas manufactured in 1987) so this is a possibility but I thought I would ask here first to see if anyone has a different method for removing it. a 30min soak in white vinegar was completely ineffective and given the intended inhabitants, I am weary about using harsher chems.

Anyone had success at removing old hard water stains with their own method?

My other viv had them a lot worse, but it bugged the snot out of me so I would really like to take them off it at all possible.


Q2:

To remove the rim like my first viv or not?
Your opinions?

Do you think w/o it it sorta highlights the hard water marks?

 

[dubvstudent]

Gearing up to make a big mess:

All black errythang:

I had planned on doing the back in black silicone but in the end I decided to go with black silicone on both the sides too. I would like to think it gives it a bit more of a dark, deep jungle feel.

Here is a pick of one of the vivs future inhabitants:

0.0.2 Dendrobates Auratus
Micro Spots I guess?
Patrick Nabors Line
Parents are F1's, So I guess these guys would be considered f2's?

 

[dubvstudent]

Im using this as inspiration. It seems to have the same proportions. Maybe a bit deeper

Yeah, that is a sick viv. Its got to be a lot bigger though. I wish I had the room for something like that.

 

[dubvstudent]

Well, I put an extra coat of silicone on the sides to keep the white of the great stuff from shinning through.
I also created the false bottom. In front of the wood chunk will be mostly gravel and I will be able the siphon out excess water there and plant some marginals.

After the silicone dried I roughed out the Great stuff base and the wood structure.

 

[dubvstudent]

I agree this tank is a great size to work with. the only problems iv had with keeping x-tall tanks is the accessability(if thats even a word haha). i just bought my first exoterra tank recently and found that it it 100x easier to work with and clean and all that because of the opening front doors. but other then that good choice. its comin out great so far and i am looking forward to the outcome. BTW what kind of wood is that that is going to be down in the pond area?

Yeah... It wasn't easy to get that foam in there and I imagine it is gonna be a PITA to silicone/peat coat the bottom areas of that Great Stuff.

Most of the wood is collected locally around Lake Ontario. Then I submerged it in a big bucket with a weak bleach solution for a day. Afterwards I rinsed it and changed out the bleach water for straight tap and soak it in that fir another day or two, changing the water periodically to get all the bleach out.

There are two pieces though, the one on bottom included, that are that really dense Mopani wood they sell at big box pet stores.

 

[dubvstudent]

After the GS set it was time to silicone the background and attach some coconut fiber and peat moss.

This stuff is inspired by the fake vine that they sell at the big box pet stores. It is just old polypropylene rope coated with some brown GE silicone and more peat. I wasn't about to spend that kind of money on something so simple and actually think the DIY stuff is more realistic.

A view from atop...

After adding substrate...

Here come those DIY vines and a couple smaller pieces of driftwood...

And of course, planting...

I waited about 3 days after the last silicone application to add the frogs. They were a little freaked out at first I think. I'm glad I added as many under-story plants as I did because the first day they were in there it seemed their favorite activity was to climb to the highest point they could find before leaping clumsily towards the front glass.

I still have some viney/ivy type plants and a couple of crypts on order. I'm going to have to thin out some of the plants I currently have in there to fit them. This is only about half the plant species I hoped to pack in there but space limitations are going to force me to make some trade-offs. Next week, after I get the arrangement just right, I will try to post some nicer pics of the finished product.

 

[dubvstudent]

That turned out nicely! One thing I would do different is to get rid of that pothos.

Thanks. Yeah, the pathos is gonna be the first thing to get yanked when I start putting the rest of the plants in there. Its a nice plant but the large leafs can look a little out of place in smaller vivs I think.

 

[dubvstudent]

Can you give me a list of the plants you have?

Not really.... I'm horrible with plant names, or at least the specifics. I can tell you that the broms pictured are neos (I think that would be the genus, but again, not sure). There is some anubis nana in the tank. Some of the moss is wild gathered and the rest is riccia That I grow out in an aquarium. The lower left corner is dominated by a species of arrow plant that they sell at the big box pet stores. There are also a couple stems of bamboo that do real well in there and a host of other, smaller plants, that i recently purchased from another member on these boards.

I have been wanting to post some more pic on here but I'm having a hard time getting good ones to come out. My cheapo camera isn't helping in those regards. If I get around to it I'll try again this weekend.

 

[dubvstudent]

Got a couple better pictures. I'm still having trouble getting great pics though - a lot of glare getting in the way. I have had much better luck with my aquariums as far as getting good pics. Anyone got some good "how to" links for vivarium photography?

Here is what I managed:

Of course, since I had to clean the glass off before taking the shots there are no frogs in them. They came back out eventually though:

 

[dubvstudent]

The back and sides got covered with a thick coat of black silicone. I wanted to create that deep, dark, jungle kind of feel. I spread the silicone with my fingertips to give it some texture.

 

[dubvstudent]

On an aquarium forum, it was suggested to use OxiClean...but having checked the product out at Lowes, saw that there are several "types" so am not sure which would work the best...

I have just decided to live with it. I'm of the opinion that getting rid of it completely is more trouble than it is worth anyway. It could be done, with a sharp razor, inch by inch, with enough time and elbow grease. But its an old tank and it doesn't really bother me.

The top half of the tank fogs up anyway so I can't tell the difference, haha. Anyone got a link to a good DIY ventilation/defogger type thread? I have been thinking about creating a system like that for this but really don't know where to even start.

 

[dubvstudent]

Finally got a good pic of both of these guys together.

 

[dubvstudent]

This pic turned out well.

I still find it hard to take good pics of my vivs. Time for a new camera I guess...