36 gal bowfront........(my first)

[iridebmx]

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.

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)


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


then i put some fiberglass screen over the false bottom to prevent anything falling through.fastend it with a needle and fishing line!



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.


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



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)



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!

[Philsuma]

Very nice Aaron!!!

[iridebmx]

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

[iridebmx]

[clippo]

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).

[boombotty]

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

[iridebmx]

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!

[iridebmx]

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...

[iridebmx]

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?

[iridebmx]

updates.........

[thercman]

Very impressive....

[iridebmx]

here are more pics.......


mold came and went..............



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.............................

[Peace]

I love your vivarium, I hope my turns out something like that. Hope to see more vivariums from you in the future.

[Phoenix]

Wow! this is just so well done! I love it!

[iridebmx]

thanks peeps................................

[iridebmx]

hey! a few pics for ya.........................


right away it seemed they were playing ..rock-paper-scissors!
to see who was going first

then one set off to explore!

the little fella went on an unescorted tour!



no one told me about all this toe tapping hock: [SIZE="4"]whoa![/SIZE]

[iridebmx]

a few more.........................


this was at 5:30am! guess they are early risers!


i turned on the light in the room and they looked like they were ready to eat!

[TashaLosha]

that is one awsome set up!! congrats and those are some beautiful frogs you got there

**is a little jelous!** haha

[iridebmx]

[downthebeatenpath]

Wow hock: that tank is amazing, nice job.