[drutt]

Hola

After reading and watching a lot of blogs I got inspired and interested in trying to build my own viv. Actually I have not decided yet what kind of dart frogs I will have and I know that is important before you start to build a viv. At this moment I’m more interested in creating and building and I will decide later on....I got a lot of inspiration from member Raf

Here are som pics...opinions...

View attachment 23379

View attachment 23380


Had to add more roots, think it looks better….

Doing a liana….

 

[drutt]

Hola

After reading and watching a lot of blogs I got inspired and interested in trying to build my own viv. Actually I have not decided yet what kind of dart frogs I will have and I know that is important before you start to build a viv. At this moment I’m more interested in creating and building and I will decide later on....I got a lot of inspiration from member Raf

Here are som pics...opinions...

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Had to add more roots, think it looks better….

Doing a liana….

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[Zoomie]

That looks terrible ! The only way to save face is to mail it to ME immediately.

Seriously, it looks fantastic. Keep the pics coming. We never grow tired of build threads.

 

[drutt]

That looks terrible ! The only way to save face is to mail it to ME immediately.

Seriously, it looks fantastic. Keep the pics coming. We never grow tired of build threads.

Thanks a lot...

 

[eos]

I'll tag along and watch the progress... nice work so far

 

[drutt]

I'll tag along and watch the progress... nice work so far

Muchas gracias...

 

[RNKot]

Looks goods already, keep on going!

 

[drutt]

Looks goods already, keep on going!

Thanks.. I will do my best..

 

[GRIMM]

Gonna be sweet. All those added hiding spots under the roots will make the frogs feel way more secure. My frogs never hide under them now that they have the option lol.

What method did you use for covering the pvc and ropes? And what is the final size of the tank?

 

[Gnarly]

Looks great! I can't wait to see how it progresses.

I'm about to try a Viv like this, so I'll be following along.

 

[drutt]

Gonna be sweet. All those added hiding spots under the roots will make the frogs feel way more secure. My frogs never hide under them now that they have the option lol.

What method did you use for covering the pvc and ropes? And what is the final size of the tank?

Ive tried different methods and failed at least 5-6 times. Never happy with the result. This time I first used cement with color pigments and finally epoxy with coco fiber. The big problem was to cover the pvc pipes well and I was not able to do that properly without using epoxy..and problem with epoxy is that it dry very fast and get shiny.....so I had to work quickly and when you work quickly there is no good result... For the side of the viv I have not decided yeat maybe use Acryl 60 instead of epoxy or just silicon...

My viv is 70L*70H*50D

 

[drutt]

Every time when I go back to look at the background there is always something missing. I think it helps me to do things better when I look at the background from different angles. If I am not sure it has to wait. Today when I came home I was not satisfied at all what I saw so I started to do some new roots and I put them to gather as you can see on the pic...

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img0555k.jpg/]

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and the result....small details from my point of view makes the background better.

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/img0554qj.jpg/]

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Once inside the viv its complicated to do changes.....
Planing do to the sides of the viv covered completely with roots... I like the idea like a real forest...I will see...any other ideas?? opinions???

 

[drutt]

Looks great! I can't wait to see how it progresses.

I'm about to try a Viv like this, so I'll be following along.

thanks... I got a lot of my insperation from member Raf but you maybe already seen that.... Look at his viv before you start it helps...

 

[Gnarly]

thanks... I got a lot of my insperation from member Raf but you maybe already seen that.... Look at his viv before you start it helps...

Yes, it's fantastic. That was my original inspiration

 

[Dendroguy]

LookS great,like zoomie said,we never get tired of build threads

 

[drutt]

LookS great,like zoomie said,we never get tired of build threads

Thanks.. thats true, I never get tired of seeing new build threads, always
inspiring...

 

[drutt]

I have been searching for a couple of days pictures of different environments to get inspiration to continue with my viv. As well as usual I have been looking at Rafs viv every day and every time I think..How did he do that

I found 2 photos that I really like which give me a lot of inspiration..If I could create something similar like that..

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/mangrowi.jpg/]

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[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/regnskogstrd.jpg/]

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Last weekend I worked on my background adding some more coco fiber on small spoots were Ive missed. Once inside the viv its going to be complicated too reach if Ive missed something.

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/img0558dh.jpg/]

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This is one pic, adding foam.. you never know how much it will grow..
Tomorrow I have to cut away a big part to make it more natural..

[URL="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/img0579co.jpg/]

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[parkanz2]

So, just so I understand, you used epoxy and cocoa fiber for most of what we're seeing?

Was it a two part epoxy or a water based pre catalyzed system? I was thinking about playing with some water based epoxy because it seems a little easier.

Lookin great!

 

[drutt]

So, just so I understand, you used epoxy and cocoa fiber for most of what we're seeing?

Was it a two part epoxy or a water based pre catalyzed system? I was thinking about playing with some water based epoxy because it seems a little easier.

Lookin great!

Thanks...yes on the background I been using 2 part epoxy and coco. I tried first without epoxy and it was impossible to cover the roots with cement..For the sides I think I will use only silicon and coco..

If I had knew that there is a water based epoxy I probably had used that..

 

[B-NICE]

The root system is tough I tried to do in in a 15 an it didnt workout for me. I justed burned pipe. I'm just going to use shoe laces and rope. You should have gave the rope some hang time.