[DragonSpirit1185]

do I need a tube to siphon out excess water from under the false bottom?

Yeah you will need to drain it once in a while.
I use an aquarium tube and a large syringe and suck the water out...

 

[BethInAK]

I ordered some plants this week so I decided i had better get the rest of the background done. I looked at a ton of pictures of tanks I liked and all of them had at least one side backgrounded, so I added one wall of great stuff. I decided only one wall because it will make the animals more viewable, but I am not sure it was the best decision. I do like the way it looks much better but I probably would like three sides foamed. I foamed in some very small pots that I hope will hold plants. If not, they can hold gecko eggs. I used gorilla glue instead of silicone and while I have No comparison I thought the gorilla glue was very easy to use. Here is the current state of the tank.

As always suggestions welcome.

 

[Neontra]

How to you add peat to gorilla glue? I tried it and it broke the glass.

 

[BethInAK]

Neontra, I just painted the glue on with an old kiddie paint brush and dropped peat on the top. Not too much glue on the glass, just on the great stuff. When the glue expanded I squished the bubbles out and squished more peat onto it.

 

[Neontra]

Neontra, I just painted the glue on with an old kiddie paint brush and dropped peat on the top. Not too much glue on the glass, just on the great stuff. When the glue expanded I squished the bubbles out and squished more peat onto it.

Ok. When I did mine, it expanded a lot, so it's basically like applying silicone onto the GS before the GS fully expands, so the foam breaks the glass.

 

[BethInAK]

Neontra! You made me nervous so I went outside to check the tank. It's fine and the glue has dried. I did squish out many bubbles and did not allow too much expansion!!

 

[fishr]

I ordered some plants this week so I decided i had better get the rest of the background done. I looked at a ton of pictures of tanks I liked and all of them had at least one side backgrounded, so I added one wall of great stuff. I decided only one wall because it will make the animals more viewable, but I am not sure it was the best decision. I do like the way it looks much better but I probably would like three sides foamed. I foamed in some very small pots that I hope will hold plants. If not, they can hold gecko eggs. I used gorilla glue instead of silicone and while I have No comparison I thought the gorilla glue was very easy to use. Here is the current state of the tank.

As always suggestions welcome.

Nice vert setup so far. Azureus would be fun to watch.

Just a note. Not all Tincs are aboreal. For instance, I would not suggest Cobalts for your setup. They definitely perfer their ground space.

How about an updated shot with the plants?

 

[BethInAK]

Nice vert setup so far. Azureus would be fun to watch.

Just a note. Not all Tincs are aboreal. For instance, I would not suggest Cobalts for your setup. They definitely perfer their ground space.

How about an updated shot with the plants?

this is for my mourning geckos. They think glass is floor space!!

I got nothing done this week! Plants should be here next week!! Ready to roll!!

I'm going to have to do a great deal more research about how to set up a tank for frogs. I think I will make Mr Bethinak pick frogs first.

 

[BethInAK]

I'm planted!! YAY~

My plants from NE Herp came today so when I got home I got right to planting. I ordered a beginner package but because of the hurricane sale I got lots of lovely extras that i wasn't expecting and when I opened the box, the whole experience was totally overwhelming. I have many plants I will need to keep alive until I am ready to plant the next viv. I need to get started this weekend... Please don't think I'm complaining about NE Herp sending me free plants. I love NE Herp. They are great.

Why the hell didn't anyone tell me that planting is even more nerve wracking than great stuff!!! Getting a big brom attached SUCKS. I hope I have it on there. I used a paperclip and some hot glue. It fell twice.

Anyway, overall I think it looks ok - I like it much better planted. I hope I didn't kill anything - most of the roots on my poor lemon fern got ripped off. And I LOVE that lemon fern.

Here are a couple of pics:

 

[fieldnstream]

Hey Beth,
My only suggestion is to cover the sides in some way (I like black contact paper, think I stole the idea from zBrinks). This reduces stress so the geckos come out much more. It also seems to make the viv "pop" and keeps the light in the tank. Just an idea.
Tank is looking great by the way!
-Field

 

[BethInAK]

LOL I was just going to post that I still need to make sure i have the right light bulb in the fixture and to contact paper at least the one side!! The great stuff is ugly.

If I had to do it over I would have siliconed the whole three sides in black and cut off the excess. Would be more attractive.

My mourning geckos are coming next week!! I hope the Kim's like their new home.

 

[eos]

Re: I'm planted!! YAY~

Nicely done. Pretty soon, that plant on the top left will take over

 

[BethInAK]

Re: I'm planted!! YAY~

Nicely done. Pretty soon, that plant on the top left will take over

It's pot is very, very small, so I hope it will not get too bushy. If it tries to overshadow my lemon button fern it's dead meat.

Thank you!

 

[BethInAK]

Mourning geckos here!!

After a really long day of running back and forth to multiple post offices, the mourning geckos arrived. I put the three of them, Thelma, Louise and Cheryl i the viv right away. Louise tried to make a run for it, leaping onto my shirt but I caught her. Two of the three climbed right to the top of the viv and waved their tails at each other. I left to get them some worms and when I came back they were hidden!! I found one hiding in the hollow of one of the cholla pieces - this made me smile - just what I was hoping for!! Another I caught hopping about but she hid when she saw me. they are really tiny and got lost in the viv really fast.

I'm pretty excited about them. Such a cool species.

 

[Zoomie]

Fantastic job Beth. I really like the design and build.

ANy pics of the new residents yet?

 

[BethInAK]

i need to get a camera with a decent macro..they are TINY. Little tiny girls with pretty brown wood grain backs that disappear.

 

[Vivexx]

i like the wood you can cut holes in it and plant things

 

[gnod]

I ordered some plants this week so I decided i had better get the rest of the background done. I looked at a ton of pictures of tanks I liked and all of them had at least one side backgrounded, so I added one wall of great stuff. I decided only one wall because it will make the animals more viewable, but I am not sure it was the best decision. I do like the way it looks much better but I probably would like three sides foamed. I foamed in some very small pots that I hope will hold plants. If not, they can hold gecko eggs. I used gorilla glue instead of silicone and while I have No comparison I thought the gorilla glue was very easy to use. Here is the current state of the tank.

As always suggestions welcome.

this looks SO cool, and with plants and substrate, i bet it'll look really natural. i love cholla wood - i use them in my shrimp tank and they LOVE them