Dart Den

This is a 15gal tall I did. No frogs, I just set it up for the fun of it. I'm not gonna type too much, but just post the pictures and put tidbits at the end. Enjoy...













The plant grow out rack... for now... :wink:


Plants...
"Peperomia Japonica"
Saxifraga stolonifera (Begonia "Strawberry")
Begonia serratipetala (Begonia "Rex")
Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig)

Various Bromeliads-Neoregelia "Red Bird" is the only one I had a tag for. The rest didn't have tags

Moss- The moss is apparently a wild Dicranium species. I got it from a local frogger. Its really nice looking stuff.

I also added some variety of Philodendron after I took the picture. Its a lighter green kind, but I think its lighter b/c it was light deprived at Wal-mart. Got a big HUGE hanging basket of it for $2.44 b/c I complained that it was dying which I believe it is. We'll see.

The pond was originally designed for a waterfall type thing but I scrapped it last second b/c i couldn't get it to work properly. I'm gonna plant some Anubias nana in the back there to fill up that empty area.

The green little cup in the 3rd picture is a cap from a bottle of some stuff my fiance bought. I washed it out and I'm using it to hold some of the creeping fig onto the wall. The 2 film canisters are sorta hidden from view.

Hope you like it. Post any comments or questions as you please. Thanks for looking!

Very nicley well done It looks great. Good inspiration.

Thank you!

Where did you get the sweet driftwood?

The driftwood was from a reptile show. I can't remember what kind it is. I think its bog wood or something. If I find out, I'll post it somewhere for you to see.

Hmm, alright, thanks.

You make the placement of everything look so easy. I really like how it all fits so well together. Nice job!

Rad3Dad Wrote:You make the placement of everything look so easy. I really like how it all fits so well together. Nice job!

Awww shuks! :oops:

*noob alert*

are those just leaves you got off the ground?

the tank looks great. it really inspired me when i did mine.

trixr4eddie Wrote:*noob alert*

are those just leaves you got off the ground?

the tank looks great. it really inspired me when i did mine.

Thank you! The leaves are dead magnolia leaves. You can also use Oak leaves, Sea Grape leaves and Almond tree leaves as they will not rot or decay as fast as other leaves.

Just dip them in boiling water for a couple seconds to sanitize if you feel you need to. I sanitize some, but not all of mine. Depends on where I get them.

Are those black film canisters that you used to hold the plants??

d00m Wrote:Are those black film canisters that you used to hold the plants??

Some of the film canisters were for holding plants, others were for use as the frogs see fit (egg deposition, sleeping spots...).

I see, I just wasn't sure if a plant could do well in such a small area like a film canister.

d00m Wrote:I see, I just wasn't sure if a plant could do well in such a small area like a film canister.

Well I didn't plant anything that would require it to root itself in the film canister. I just stuffed bunched up ends of Creeping Fig or Philodendron wrapped in sphagnum into the canister. These types of plants grow roots at each leaf node so they do pretty good like that.

I see you have broms planted in your background though, how did you manage to do this. Also, where do you find Creeping Fig, ect, other plant's that can do well in a canister.

d00m Wrote:I see you have broms planted in your background though, how did you manage to do this. Also, where do you find Creeping Fig, ect, other plant's that can do well in a canister.

Most of the broms in that viv were stuck right into the Great Stuff with their stolon (the long "stick-like" part that comes out the bottom of a lot of Neoregelia broms). Creeping fig is really easy to find. Home Depot has it around here and a lot of people offer it up to those who whill pay for shipping on it. I have some I could send you, shoot me a PM.

As far as the canister thing, don't think too much into it. I just basically used the film canister to hold the plants in place so that they could grow down onto the background material and then to the floor and spread everywhere. You could also plant them in the substrate on the bottom with the same effect.

stupid question, but what is that white thing you used to seperate the floor from the pond? i've been searching and just cant find the name.
Thanks!

looks like egg crate with cross stitch plastic mesh on it.

Film canisters can contain traces of harmful chemicals such as mercury, so try not to use them in your dart cages! They could leach into the soil.

Wow...here's a great build thread !