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Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

36 gal bowfront........(my first)
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36 gal bowfront........(my first)
#1
Big Grin i went and got a 36 gallon bow front .i think it will be a good starter.im going to get a pair of blue azureus for it as soon as i have the tank and food source established.im hoping to get some input from everyone on my journey!as well as give others a few pics,and usefull info,just as i have found by looking at other peoples posts. Big Grin

first i did a mock-up with the eggcrate for the false bottom,i decided to add a pvc pipe on the left side for a humidifier,i also made a open area across the top for any water tupe changes i might want to change,then i decided to make a void on the right side so i can change or service a pump or filter without disrupting the immediate tank.(fastened with zip ties)
[Image: 100_0223.jpg]

next i put the ge black 100% silicone on the back and sides using a putty knife(i put it on thick!) 2 1\2 tubes....do this in well ventalated area
[Image: 100_0227.jpg]

then i put some fiberglass screen over the false bottom to prevent anything falling through.fastend it with a needle and fishing line!
[Image: 100_0225.jpg]


after this i prepared the the tank floor. i placed pvc pipe to help with the weight of anything i might put in the tank later(i also notched each one so water wouldnt get trapped in them). i went ahead and put a underwater heater in it and made sure i could change the temp easy through my access on the right side.
[Image: 100_0228.jpg]

before i put the false bottom in i cut some silicone off the right side so i can veiw the pump,water level,and heater(so i can see completely under the false bottom)



then i set up the false bottom and put the rest in place(i siliconed around the bottom and the side and the back) i made it to where there is a half inch gap in between the false bottom and the front of the tank.so i can put rocks there to hide the false bottom(i wedged stuff in there to hold everything in place till the silicone dries) plus i threw the extra peices of eggcrate in the back for added support for the heavy rocks
[Image: 100_0230.jpg]


i went down to the river a block away from my house and managed to find some decent rocks.....i then took them to work and sprayed them off(you can do this at a car wash to get all the nasty stuff off). then i boiled them till the water evaporated.then did it again!(took an hour roughly) my wife was not happy ! it stinks like a creek! then i took them to the sink and used bleach water to kill germs (10% bleach 90%water)
[Image: 100_0224.jpg]


next i layed the tank on the back side (over a towel) i sprayed a can of great stuff foam spray on the back walls and covered everything thouroghly then placed the rocks where i wanted them9i will add another can tommorow after the first can cures)make sure to do this some where ventalated and easy to clean in case of a mess which is inevitable!

[Image: 100_0231.jpg]

Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
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ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#2
Very nice Aaron!!! Big Grin
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#3
when i get this thing up and running how do i keep it from filling up with too much water? if i mist wont it just keep adding more and more water or will it dissipate since ill have plants
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#4
[Image: 100_0253.jpg]
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#5
looks great - I think some water will evaporate and some will be used by plants (hopefully someone more knowledgable will answer in more detail though).
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#6
You'll either have to siphon the excess water out or drill the back of the tank for a bulkhead drain. I drilled mine and installed a bulkhead that drains when the water gets to a certain point. I just connected a tube from the drain to a container under the tank.
Scott
Scott Bryant
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#7
well i cut the silicone off the right side so i can see under the false bottom .i guess ill keep checking it and ill have a extra hose off the pump that i can open to drain some water ...


thank you for the help!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#8
here is a pic of the back.i did it this way so i would be able to change out tubing ,heaters,filters ,or pumps,ext...

[Image: 100_0257.jpg]
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#9
i got a bag of river rock from a local pet shop,and a few bags of accent stone from dollar tree.i filled it with gallon jugs of spring water.i am having trouble though with the waterfall .i have a single line comming from the pump and then a T fitting spliting it into two places for the waterfall,but it will only have water come from one or the other......any help?

[Image: 100_0263.jpg]

[Image: 100_0264.jpg]

[Image: 100_0266.jpg]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#10
updates.........

[Image: 100_0273.jpg]
[Image: 100_0269.jpg]
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#11
Very impressive....
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#12
here are more pics.......
[Image: 100_0283.jpg]
[Image: 100_0285.jpg]
mold came and went..............
[Image: 100_0299.jpg]
[Image: 100_0295.jpg]

i have white worms that must have came from a plant,i have astablished springtails.my bromes are getting yellow so i was thinking about maybe some kind of organic fertilizer(since i have no frogs yet)i have had ff cultures going since i planted the tank so i think i have that down :wink:


thanks for your comments............................. Big Grin
---------------------------------------------------------------------
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#13
I love your vivarium, I hope my turns out something like that. Hope to see more vivariums from you in the future.
http://dartsvivarium.webs.com/
I am trying to create a PDF website, don't expect it to contain any info till around New Years day.
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#14
Wow! this is just so well done! I love it!
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#15
thanks peeps................................
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#16
hey! a few pics for ya.........................


right away it seemed they were playing ..rock-paper-scissors!
to see who was going firstWink
[Image: 2.jpg]
then one set off to explore!
[Image: 1.jpg]
the little fella went on an unescorted tour!
[Image: 3.jpg]


no one told me about all this toe tapping Confusedhock: [SIZE="4"]whoa![/SIZE] Big Grin
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#17
a few more.........................
[Image: 100_0449.jpg]
[Image: 2.jpg]
this was at 5:30am! guess they are early risers!Cool
[Image: 3.jpg]
[Image: 1.jpg]
i turned on the light in the room and they looked like they were ready to eat!
[Image: 4.jpg]
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#18
that is one awsome set up!! congrats Big Grin and those are some beautiful frogs you got there Wink

**is a little jelous!** haha
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#19
[Image: 100_0492.jpg]
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'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'
---------------------------------------------------------------------

ohh! and my name is aaron!
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#20
Wow Confusedhock: that tank is amazing, nice job.
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