02-28-2011, 10:12 PM
This will be an on going post. I've been in the trenches with this for a couple weeks now.
Here is what I have...
18x18x24 Zoo Med
MistKing
Bakers Rack
Waiting for deliver
Lights
3 more 18x18x24 Zoo Meds
Most of the build supplies I got from Home Depot except the glass cut for the top.
The front door is siliconed up the sides to close the gap. Then I took a razor blade down the side to allow me to open and close the door.
The front vent was removed so that I could place some screen mesh on the inside. (Thank you Beth - Bcs TX - for the Mesh).
When I was in the planning stages I was going to go for hydo or leca on the bottom and ABG mix on top of that. However, after several conversations with some froggers and specifically with Cindy Dicken, I decided to go false bottom, hydroton/leca, ABG mix. The reason for this is that the Hydroton will wick the water causing your substrate to stay soggy. While this does raise the humidity, too much water is never a good thing. So the false bottom allows excess water to not be wicked back into the substrate, while allowing the hydroton to stay moist and help with humidity.
Hydroton, Wood, Leaf Litter, and ABG Mix I got from Cindy (http://www.vivariumconcepts.com/). Thank you Phil for covering that one for me
Cindy has a whole storage unit full of different types of wood in all different sizes. it was kind of fun looking at the different pieces and deciding what you could do with them.
I don't remember the type of wood I chose. However, after surfing around Cindy's website I think what I got was Malaysian Drift Wood. I didn't want to mount the wood in the background. I wanted something that could act as a center piece and made the center of the viv usable. Otherwise it becomes open air with a couple plants in the substrate. I'm quite please with the piece of wood I chose... However, I need to figure out a better way to brace it. I'm afraid if something jumps on it then it end up tilting over. It is still pretty sturdy, just my paranoia. After the wood baked at 250 for a couple of hours I drilled a several mounting holes for broms. It already has a couple mounts in the base, just wanted a couple more.
I made sure to boil the leaf litter as well. My wife was a couple rooms away and asked if I was making tea. So I told her I was making some Magnolia Tea. She said it was the worst smelling tea in the world. I don't blame her...
![[Image: image.php?album_id=71&image_id=633]](http://dartden.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=71&image_id=633)
After the leaf litter boiled for a couple mins I took it out and baked it in the oven at 250 till it was back to it's good ol' crunchy self. If you bake your leaves, make sure you take them out and flop them over every couple mins.
I then proceeded to put in the false bottom (PVC pipe legs and light diffuser). Hydroton went on top (weed blocker in between). After I put the weed blocker on top of the hydroton I then placed in the clay background.
![[Image: image.php?album_id=71&image_id=634]](http://dartden.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=71&image_id=634)
Beth also provided me with a 5 gallon bucket of the clay (Thank you thank you!!). Super sticky stuff. I was going to do the background with a substrate method I got from Phil. Then when Beth said I could pick up a bucket of clay from her I decided to give it a shot. I was then going to do a mix of Clay in parts, Phil's substrate background in other parts, and cork bark. However… I got lazy and the clay was easy. So I just did clay across the whole thing.
After the clay was up, I put in the ABG mix. Chunk of wood went on top. I still have to figure out a good position for it. But you can get the idea from the images below.
Glass top was cuts to fit perfectly in to the top. There is a small 3/4" strip towards the front window for a mesh vent. I still have to get that put in.
![[Image: image.php?album_id=71&image_id=635]](http://dartden.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=71&image_id=635)
![[Image: image.php?album_id=71&image_id=636]](http://dartden.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=71&image_id=636)
That light isn't what I will be using. I ordered some 4' t5 tubes from a plant store. More on those when they arrive.
I have an email out to RCTeem for some plants. Beth also suggested Calloway's Nursery here in Dallas. I also have to head back over to Cindy's to pick up some cuttings asap.
Large spag is sitting in a bag so that needs to go in. I just want to get that wood secure so I feel good about it.
So... what are your thoughts so far? Obviously it isn't finished. But it is definitely coming along nicely!
Here is what I have...
18x18x24 Zoo Med
MistKing
Bakers Rack
Waiting for deliver
Lights
3 more 18x18x24 Zoo Meds
Most of the build supplies I got from Home Depot except the glass cut for the top.
The front door is siliconed up the sides to close the gap. Then I took a razor blade down the side to allow me to open and close the door.
The front vent was removed so that I could place some screen mesh on the inside. (Thank you Beth - Bcs TX - for the Mesh).
When I was in the planning stages I was going to go for hydo or leca on the bottom and ABG mix on top of that. However, after several conversations with some froggers and specifically with Cindy Dicken, I decided to go false bottom, hydroton/leca, ABG mix. The reason for this is that the Hydroton will wick the water causing your substrate to stay soggy. While this does raise the humidity, too much water is never a good thing. So the false bottom allows excess water to not be wicked back into the substrate, while allowing the hydroton to stay moist and help with humidity.
Hydroton, Wood, Leaf Litter, and ABG Mix I got from Cindy (http://www.vivariumconcepts.com/). Thank you Phil for covering that one for me
Cindy has a whole storage unit full of different types of wood in all different sizes. it was kind of fun looking at the different pieces and deciding what you could do with them.
I don't remember the type of wood I chose. However, after surfing around Cindy's website I think what I got was Malaysian Drift Wood. I didn't want to mount the wood in the background. I wanted something that could act as a center piece and made the center of the viv usable. Otherwise it becomes open air with a couple plants in the substrate. I'm quite please with the piece of wood I chose... However, I need to figure out a better way to brace it. I'm afraid if something jumps on it then it end up tilting over. It is still pretty sturdy, just my paranoia. After the wood baked at 250 for a couple of hours I drilled a several mounting holes for broms. It already has a couple mounts in the base, just wanted a couple more.
I made sure to boil the leaf litter as well. My wife was a couple rooms away and asked if I was making tea. So I told her I was making some Magnolia Tea. She said it was the worst smelling tea in the world. I don't blame her...
After the leaf litter boiled for a couple mins I took it out and baked it in the oven at 250 till it was back to it's good ol' crunchy self. If you bake your leaves, make sure you take them out and flop them over every couple mins.
I then proceeded to put in the false bottom (PVC pipe legs and light diffuser). Hydroton went on top (weed blocker in between). After I put the weed blocker on top of the hydroton I then placed in the clay background.
Beth also provided me with a 5 gallon bucket of the clay (Thank you thank you!!). Super sticky stuff. I was going to do the background with a substrate method I got from Phil. Then when Beth said I could pick up a bucket of clay from her I decided to give it a shot. I was then going to do a mix of Clay in parts, Phil's substrate background in other parts, and cork bark. However… I got lazy and the clay was easy. So I just did clay across the whole thing.
After the clay was up, I put in the ABG mix. Chunk of wood went on top. I still have to figure out a good position for it. But you can get the idea from the images below.
Glass top was cuts to fit perfectly in to the top. There is a small 3/4" strip towards the front window for a mesh vent. I still have to get that put in.
That light isn't what I will be using. I ordered some 4' t5 tubes from a plant store. More on those when they arrive.
I have an email out to RCTeem for some plants. Beth also suggested Calloway's Nursery here in Dallas. I also have to head back over to Cindy's to pick up some cuttings asap.
Large spag is sitting in a bag so that needs to go in. I just want to get that wood secure so I feel good about it.
So... what are your thoughts so far? Obviously it isn't finished. But it is definitely coming along nicely!
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Recent Hobby Clients - DartDen.com, Rainforestherps.com
Recent Hobby Clients - DartDen.com, Rainforestherps.com
