Joined
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108 Posts
Oct.14th 2011
Construction Status: Stockpiling
Entry #1: I am beginning this journal as a way to better keep track of my entire construction process and get more detailed advice on construction. I plan on making this an entirely living vivarium with a small group of 6-8 frogs of either the Dendrobates Leucomelas or Phyllobates Vittatus variety. I have some of my materials on hand and will be placing an order tomorrow with New England Herpetoculture - Home tomorrow. I will post a preliminary list here but I will again post an itemized and categorized master list before I begin construction.
Current Materials Acquired:
90 Gallon Bow Front Aquarium W/ Glass Lid and Cupboard Stand
1 "Quadruple Bulb" (3 Sockets and 1 36" Fluorescent.) Fixture.
1 Large Piece of Composite Drift Wood.
1 Medium Piece of Composite Drift Wood.
1 Producing Fly Culture. (Just to observe) Melanogaster
1 Huge Bag Of Hydroton
1 Small Stone "Flinstones" Hide
5 Cans of "Great Stuff" (Window and Door)
1 Box Latex Gloves (50)
1 Stone "Stair" Corner Hide
1 Box of 50 Razor Blades
2 Tubes of "GE Premium Waterproof Silicone" (Kitchen Bath Plumbing)
1 Bottle Zoo Med Mite Off Spray (4.2 FL. OZ.)
1 Bag Zoo Med Forest Floor Cyprus Mulch (8 Dry Quart)
3 Pack of Various Size Putty Knives
2 Packages Zoo Med Eco Earth Coco Fiber (3 Brick Value Packs)
1 PETCO Hygrometer. NOTE: Being Returned! Thanks Neontra!
Odds and Ends (Probably wont be used so not log worthy.)
Shopping Cart For Tomorrow
1 Freshly Started Melanogaster Fly Culture
1 Freshly Started Hydei Fly Culture
1 Springtail Culture
25 32oz Deli Cups w/Vented Lids
1 Bag Organic Charcoal (2.5 Lbs)
1 Rep-Cal Calcium + Vit D3 Ultrafine Powder (4.1oz)
1 Rep-Cal Herptivite Powder (4.1oz)
1 Repashy Vitamin A Plus (4 oz.)
5 Pack Black Film Canister
1 Zoo Med "Forest Decorator" Pack
2 Gallons Substrate Mix
4 Assorted Terrestrial Plants
3 Vine/Climbing Plant
1 12x12 Moss
1 Selaginella Sp.
1 Zoo Med Precision Thermometer/Hygrometer
1 Bag Fruit Fly Media
Questions:
1. I have been considering partly constructing my background outside of the tank so I can carve detail into the great stuff to make it look more rock like, and then go to placing the background in the tank after that using silicone to adhere it. What is the best backing material to start building my GS background on? (Plexi, Styrafoam, Etc.)
2. Obviously I am going to need to acquire a larger quantity of substrate. I plan on getting the big bulk bag of sphagnum peat moss at Wal-Mart assuming it passes the additive inspection.
Are there any other products that the member here know about that would not necessarily to be sold for pet use but are still good to use in a substrate mix? (Bulk Preferable) In simpler terms; "Big bags of substrate components that would be sold at the big box stores at a competitive price."
3. I am going to go with a small water feature in this tank but it's not going to be anything spectacular. Obviously I will research all of this into much more detail but I plan on running a drip line up behind the background to a hole towards the top of the background and having it dribble water down some "rock grooves" i etched in and have it drip off into the middle of the pond on the left side of the tank. What is the best way to get a small amount of water running constantly up to the hole? I understand a pump will be involved but any suggestions on sizes brands etc? I was also going to place the pump in a plastic box with holes cut in it to keep the hydroton away from the intake. This would also make it easy to access in the left front corner of my tank but I can also disguise it under some attached moss etc.
Final Thoughts:Looking forward to this undertaking. I realize I am nowhere near stocked to begin this project but I plan to be ordering my frogs or receiving them in around 30 days. They wold of course undergo a 21-30 day quarantine before they would ever see the vivarium so I figure that gives me somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 solid months to get this thing frog worthy! Thanks so much for reading this thread and providing suggestions.
Signing off,
-FoxHound
Construction Status: Stockpiling
Entry #1: I am beginning this journal as a way to better keep track of my entire construction process and get more detailed advice on construction. I plan on making this an entirely living vivarium with a small group of 6-8 frogs of either the Dendrobates Leucomelas or Phyllobates Vittatus variety. I have some of my materials on hand and will be placing an order tomorrow with New England Herpetoculture - Home tomorrow. I will post a preliminary list here but I will again post an itemized and categorized master list before I begin construction.
Current Materials Acquired:
90 Gallon Bow Front Aquarium W/ Glass Lid and Cupboard Stand
1 "Quadruple Bulb" (3 Sockets and 1 36" Fluorescent.) Fixture.
1 Large Piece of Composite Drift Wood.
1 Medium Piece of Composite Drift Wood.
1 Producing Fly Culture. (Just to observe) Melanogaster
1 Huge Bag Of Hydroton
1 Small Stone "Flinstones" Hide
5 Cans of "Great Stuff" (Window and Door)
1 Box Latex Gloves (50)
1 Stone "Stair" Corner Hide
1 Box of 50 Razor Blades
2 Tubes of "GE Premium Waterproof Silicone" (Kitchen Bath Plumbing)
1 Bottle Zoo Med Mite Off Spray (4.2 FL. OZ.)
1 Bag Zoo Med Forest Floor Cyprus Mulch (8 Dry Quart)
3 Pack of Various Size Putty Knives
2 Packages Zoo Med Eco Earth Coco Fiber (3 Brick Value Packs)
1 PETCO Hygrometer. NOTE: Being Returned! Thanks Neontra!
Odds and Ends (Probably wont be used so not log worthy.)
Shopping Cart For Tomorrow
1 Freshly Started Melanogaster Fly Culture
1 Freshly Started Hydei Fly Culture
1 Springtail Culture
25 32oz Deli Cups w/Vented Lids
1 Bag Organic Charcoal (2.5 Lbs)
1 Rep-Cal Calcium + Vit D3 Ultrafine Powder (4.1oz)
1 Rep-Cal Herptivite Powder (4.1oz)
1 Repashy Vitamin A Plus (4 oz.)
5 Pack Black Film Canister
1 Zoo Med "Forest Decorator" Pack
2 Gallons Substrate Mix
4 Assorted Terrestrial Plants
3 Vine/Climbing Plant
1 12x12 Moss
1 Selaginella Sp.
1 Zoo Med Precision Thermometer/Hygrometer
1 Bag Fruit Fly Media
Questions:
1. I have been considering partly constructing my background outside of the tank so I can carve detail into the great stuff to make it look more rock like, and then go to placing the background in the tank after that using silicone to adhere it. What is the best backing material to start building my GS background on? (Plexi, Styrafoam, Etc.)
2. Obviously I am going to need to acquire a larger quantity of substrate. I plan on getting the big bulk bag of sphagnum peat moss at Wal-Mart assuming it passes the additive inspection.
3. I am going to go with a small water feature in this tank but it's not going to be anything spectacular. Obviously I will research all of this into much more detail but I plan on running a drip line up behind the background to a hole towards the top of the background and having it dribble water down some "rock grooves" i etched in and have it drip off into the middle of the pond on the left side of the tank. What is the best way to get a small amount of water running constantly up to the hole? I understand a pump will be involved but any suggestions on sizes brands etc? I was also going to place the pump in a plastic box with holes cut in it to keep the hydroton away from the intake. This would also make it easy to access in the left front corner of my tank but I can also disguise it under some attached moss etc.
Final Thoughts:Looking forward to this undertaking. I realize I am nowhere near stocked to begin this project but I plan to be ordering my frogs or receiving them in around 30 days. They wold of course undergo a 21-30 day quarantine before they would ever see the vivarium so I figure that gives me somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 solid months to get this thing frog worthy! Thanks so much for reading this thread and providing suggestions.
Signing off,
-FoxHound
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