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New 18x18x24 viv construction -pics
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New 18x18x24 viv construction -pics
#1
This is my new project. It is finished and waiting some new inhabitants. Waiting on 4 more plants from joshsfrogs.com to complete the planting. Tell me what you think.

Tony
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#2
Looking good! What plants are you getting?

Can you provide more details on your drainage and substrate? LECA, egg crate, foam? I found most of my rebuilds focused on getting the drainage layer right, changing up my substrate mix and tweaking ventilation.

Thanks for sharing!
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#3
I am just using river pebbles and sphagnum peat moss.
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#4
Tony,
The background and the plants look nice! You need to reconsider your substrate level, before you put frogs in there. You can search here on DD, or Josh's frogs also has a good, detailed explanation of how to build the drainage/substrate level. Like Jim said above, LECA or foam or egg crate is really needed for drainage of water, then on top of that you can use ABG, then sphagnum, then leaf litter on top. It seems like a lot of steps, but it provides the drainage needed for your plants to survive and your frogs too!
Good luck!
P. Terribilis orange, R. Imitator Cainarachi Valley, D. Leucomelas, D. Auratus, D. Azureus, P. vittatus, D. cobalts, D.Oyapok, Bombina Orientalis
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#5
DianeCarter Wrote:Tony,
The background and the plants look nice! You need to reconsider your substrate level, before you put frogs in there. You can search here on DD, or Josh's frogs also has a good, detailed explanation of how to build the drainage/substrate level. Like Jim said above, LECA or foam or egg crate is really needed for drainage of water, then on top of that you can use ABG, then sphagnum, then leaf litter on top. It seems like a lot of steps, but it provides the drainage needed for your plants to survive and your frogs too!
Good luck!

there's a lot of variations on this. Personally, I use layer of sphagnum (1-2 in), then abg (usually 4-6 in thick), then leaf litter, (1-3in). The leaf litter is usually a little thinner around the plants b/c many plants don't seem to like the leaf litter, and it prevents new growth sometimes... But as Diane noted, you really need to consider a good substrate layer, it provides countless benefits. Part of a good substrate layer is having good microfauna, another must have IMO.
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#6
So you're saying the microfauna won't thrive in the sphagnum moss I have down as my substrate?
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#7
TonyI25 Wrote:So you're saying the microfauna won't thrive in the sphagnum moss I have down as my substrate?

I wouldn't say that, but I would say that microfauna is going to do better in leaf litter. According to people that have studied microfauna and soil, the leaf litter really should be on top of the soil.
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#8
Oh I have some leaf litter in there. It doesn't cover the whole floor. I guess I could put more of it in there. I am using magnolia leaves.
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#9
TonyI25 Wrote:Oh I have some leaf litter in there. It doesn't cover the whole floor. I guess I could put more of it in there. I am using magnolia leaves.
It's ok to have some spots with bare soil. Although, if you are using peat or sand in your soil some people think that the little particles sticking to the frogs is stressful to the frogs. Although that is just an opinion, not exactly scientifically founded. Personally I like a thick layer of live oak or sand oak with some magnolia leafs scattered around. The live oak breaks down more quickly and microfauna seem to prefer this more IME...
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#10
Tony, also having a couple different types of leaves, that decay at various rates, can be beneficial too. I'm not very familiar with the trees of Georgia but here in MN I have access to as many oak leaves as you would ever need. If you, or anyone else, would like a box of them shipped to you let me know. Something like those would be a good combo with some slower decaying magnolia leaves.
Josh
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#11
I have a ton of maple and oak leaves around me. I will have to get more varieties in there. Do you guys have any site or store that carries a cheap thermometer/hygrometer?
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#12
TonyI25 Wrote:I have a ton of maple and oak leaves around me. I will have to get more varieties in there. Do you guys have any site or store that carries a cheap thermometer/hygrometer?

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=742
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#13
Walmart? Really? Do you know what part of the store they would be found?
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#14
Hi Tony,
My Walmart has 1 aisle with fish and bird supplies, that's where they are located here. But I really believe you need a layer of ABG/soil in your viv!
Good luck, and keep us posted!
Diane
P. Terribilis orange, R. Imitator Cainarachi Valley, D. Leucomelas, D. Auratus, D. Azureus, P. vittatus, D. cobalts, D.Oyapok, Bombina Orientalis
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#15
What is ABG made of? I will have to look there and see if my Walmart has them there. I am now just waiting on USPS to get their crap together and find my package and get my frogs to me alive for this viv.
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#16
ABG:
28.5% fine tree fern fiber
28.5% fine fir orchid bark
14.3% fine charcoal
14.3% sphagnum moss
14.3% peat moss
I live in a small town, and my local Walmart does not have all the ingredients. I have to go to Petsmart and Petco also.
P. Terribilis orange, R. Imitator Cainarachi Valley, D. Leucomelas, D. Auratus, D. Azureus, P. vittatus, D. cobalts, D.Oyapok, Bombina Orientalis
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#17
lowes, homedepot, anygiven garden store....easy to acquire and mix up ABG and no need to be 100% with ratios and amounts. Fudge and experiment away!
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#18
I will have to look for it. I just need the charcoal, and orchid bark. I have the other 3.
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#19
I like cutting my ABG with Turface. I picked up this tip from Chuck (I think Chuck does 4 parts Turface to 1 part ABG) and Casper. The springtails love the stuff and it drains exceptionally well. I generally use a 1 to 3 inch layer in my substrate to contour the viv then I add pockets of ABG where I place plants. Then I randomly mix in ABG here and there. I picked up mine at the local John Deere. Not saying you need it just saying it seems to work well for microfauna.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#20
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4857
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