Pics of the gear and slowly starting

[Juand15]

Alrighty i think is time to slowly start this process as you all know i have been doing big time research as well as learning before i jump or see myself with a huge mess.

so the tank is a 15gal still has water (i did mentioned its going slowly.) have to make arrangements for the cichlids currently housed in it as they are in the CARES program (i breed endangered species as well) to promote their survival in the hobby.


Have a few of the ingredients to build a nice and simple back ground, the plan is to center the plate in the tank and build on the sides with the GE so i can than carve it to put some plants in it. now my question to the experts "What to put ontop of the GE once its dry to make it look natural?"


And since i dont have a tank without WOOD i found this piece laying around about 4 years ago it was covered with ferns it would of had been awesome if they were still alive hehehe.


Coconut shell because i see almost everyone has one.


the plants: I only know by hard the Bromelia







now this plant has been grown by my mother for about 3 years now and she has trimmed it quite some, am i okay using it for the frogs?


Best Regards

Juan

[EntoCraig]

The plant from your mother is pothos and it is dart frog safe, though it is often considered a 'weed' because if its quick, large growth.

I have seen it in a few tanks that looked great! but more often then not it takes over quick!

[Juand15]

The plant from your mother is pothos and it is dart frog safe, though it is often considered a 'weed' because if its quick, large growth.

I have seen it in a few tanks that looked great! but more often then not it takes over quick!

Thank you for the help...
i was worry about using nonsafe plants


Juan

[Juand15]

Guys i came to the biggest and dumbest question i could ask.

while i though i had everything planned out correctly in my brain. 1 more questions came to mind.

What do i put on top of the screening (False Bottom) as of substrate? i would love to make is as natural as possible.

Thank you

Juan

[Philsuma]

Substrate ?

Do a search for:

Substrate
ABG
Leaf Litter

[Juand15]

After a 1hr drive both ways i got out of my ways right after class to visit my friend who has tincs.

He was more than helpful and set me up with a culture of everything lol and i mean everything heheheheh
FF Mela, Hydie, Springtails, Giant Canyon and orange isopods i think, bean beattles and flour beatles.





He also showed me what ABG was as he had some he uses. now i have a better understanding as to what i really really need.


Juan

[Philsuma]

Close-by local hookups.....

Priceless.

[Juand15]

The tank is now empty. the eggcrate was cut to fit. thinking on other options for the False bottom (like flourite)

Juan

[fieldsmith]

Flourite is gonna be expensive...have you looked at turface?

[Juand15]

Flourite is gonna be expensive...have you looked at turface?

Well having had a few planted tanks the left overs are lots of flourite. i just wanted to know if flourite could replace the hidroton balls ?

I have about half a bag of it left.

Juan

[RanaVenenosa]

Unless the fluorite is new I would not recycle w your frogs... could have all kinds of bacteria. Start fresh w hydroton, which is light in weight.

[Juand15]

Unless the fluorite is new I would not recycle w your frogs... could have all kinds of bacteria. Start fresh w hydroton, which is light in weight.

Okay..... So here is my next question

I saw my friend had his 20gal tank set up and there was a lot of condensation on his glass making it hard to look at from the sides, how do you guys fix such problem? (i know most of the Vivs have a vent thingy already on them) what about for a tank what could be a solution.?


Juan

[RanaVenenosa]

Air vents to allow circulation - humidifier in a room where you can keep at least 65-70% so it doesnt rob the viv of moisture as quickly. Mister or foggers can help keep humidity if you can't control via humidifier. Otherwise, there is not much you can do except keep the glass clean as that helps wick moisture. When the sides get slimy the glass seems to hold condensation better making it more difficult to see. Other folks might have some ideas I have yet to figure out...

[Juand15]

Well we will see how that will work in the room. it is very humid in there hence the other 22 fishtanks so i dont think i should worry about keeping the humidity too high.

As for today i went and got the hydroton so im officially ready to start the project!!


Juan

[Juand15]

okay so tonight i worked on getting the hydroton cleaned up and trying to see how much i would need to fit the background tile, im also thinking on not using the Eggcrate rather just put the screening on top of the hydroton (inputs?) in the mean time i still anyways silicone one end of the screening with the crate in it kind of like creating a pocket to seal it...

also soaked the moss i got from Petsmart figure i can create my own soilish substrate, going to mix a bit of it with a bit of that eco earth and see how it comes out... (there is plenty of that stuff so if it doesnt work out)

also found my stack of Almond leaves that i use for my fish tanks and will be using them for the viv.













Is that too high?






Im illustrating what will go between the wood and the ends lol...

[Juand15]

OMG can i say frustration? Great Stuff should be call Messy S___ hahaha i guess i would just need to get on with my 1st vivarium. only way to get better at it is by practicing. well the GE is on and so it the wood.

Juan

[Philsuma]

you got a pack of latex disposable gloves right?

[Juand15]

you got a pack of latex disposable gloves right?

YES> right after i touched it with my bared hands i ran to wash my hands and for some gloves.

[RanaVenenosa]

Hi Bud
Dont forget to have your Acetone or Turpitine handy when messing w GS Foam.

[Juand15]

Hi Bud
Dont forget to have your Acetone or Turpitine handy when messing w GS Foam.

Should i ask why lol? i think i get the IDEA.

But trust me i will encourage newbies to start with a Tank that was meant to be a Vivarium with an opening on the front rather than the top. (ie a Fishtank)

Juan