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Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

120 gallon Ghostviv Red Galact build
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120 gallon Ghostviv Red Galact build
#1
Been talking to Casper since the spring about a big display viv for my galacts. Glass was cut over the summer. Door frame was redesigned in July. Vents were redesigned in September. New epoxies for the trim were tested in October. Now we are ready to go. Final product - 48"W x 20"D x 30"H - approximately 120 gallons.

Some initial shots:
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Thanks for all the hard work Casper! More to come. Big Grin
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#2
oh my....
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#3
Jim,
Can't wait to see this viv all decked out! Hurry up and get started!
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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#4
Nice job on the glass Casper!...LOVE the big builds.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this Jim.
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#5
When Casper asks how big a viv ya want...just tell him " as big as my SUV can hold"
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#6
DianeCarter Wrote:Jim,
Can't wait to see this viv all decked out! Hurry up and get started!
Lol I was just emailing Casper that I need to bust out the sawzall to take out a stud so I can move the receiver and htpc into the wall to make space for this viv in the living room Smile. Ah demo...this build thread should get interesting haha.

randommind Wrote:Nice job on the glass Casper!...LOVE the big builds.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this Jim.
Thanks Wes! Now the pressure is on .... I have a giant cork round that I've been eyeing as a vertical tree trunk ... Still thinking through the stand - I have two designs in mind but both will have the viv overhanging the stand to feature the glass. Not sure yet if I am doing a set back picture frame or a side or rear pier - likely borrowing their design from a fluval edge.
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Right now I'm leaning toward the side pier fluval edge look with the mister in the pier for easy access.

Philsuma Wrote:When Casper asks how big a viv ya want...just tell him " as big as my SUV can hold"
Heh ...There was much measuring and consternation about how to get this thing from DFW to Austin ... And a big sigh of relief when it finally landed on the dining room table Wink
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#7
Worked with Todd and Casper on a lighting plan. Casper provided lots of great information on the materials he used and how they will hold up to UVB exposure. The top vent is heavy gauge stainless, so no issue there. The track is made up of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, UHMW) which according to Wikipedia:

Quote:Since UHMWPE does not contain chemical groups (such as esters, amides or hydroxylic groups) that are susceptible to attack from aggressive agents, it is very resistant to water, moisture, most chemicals, UV radiation, and micro-organisms.

The edging material is also UVB resistant. I should be good to go for a 22" UVB bulb over the top vent. I will need to build a foil lined channel to house it so I can protect my misting lines from decay. So the good news is if I go with a UVB bulb then the doors won't fall off. Kudos to Casper for using top shelf parts. Should hold up well to whatever lighting choices I make.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#8
Looking forward to seeing this build...
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#9
Jim are you going to have full-on length UVB lighting ? Even if you have it on a timer, won't it flood most of the viv ?

Have you seen those UVB 'puck lights' ? Small and localized UVB light.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#10
I have a 48x24x36 protean (I know, I'm one of the lucky ones who actually received mine Smile ) and I have a full length UV Arcadia over it. With the screen being closer to the front, I went with a 6% bulb. There are broms that reach out closer to the vent the frogs can get on to "bath". With using the 6% on a tall viv, it doesn't flood the whole viv with UV so the frogs can be selective where they are and limit their intake. I also just have this come on between 11:00-1:00. Seems to work very well, as the frogs will sit on the leaves directly underneath the vent for awhile each day.
Scott Bryant
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#11
cool...what species Scott ?
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#12
Philsuma Wrote:Jim are you going to have full-on length UVB lighting ? Even if you have it on a timer, won't it flood most of the viv ?

Have you seen those UVB 'puck lights' ? Small and localized UVB light.
I have been looking at a 22" T5 - so roughly half the span of the front vent. Not sure on light penetration, but it's a pretty heavy gauge stainless and 24 to 28 inches to the viv floor.

Thanks for the idea on the puck light - I will take a look.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#13
I completed the first pre-project for this build. I had to move around equipment in our tv nook to free up space for the viv so I decided on a built in cabinet. Framed it, power, low voltage conduit and build out:

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Next weekend should be the stand. I'm working on the false bottom tonight and maybe some of the cork bark work. I'll push the hardscaping as far as I can in parallel to the stand build out, but I don't want to make the viv too heavy before the stand is ready. I have to relocate the center channel too Smile
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#14
I have been working on the background. I placed the viv on its back to silicone cork rounds and flats in place to form ledges and planters. The left side of the viv will house larger cork rounds that I will add later. Here is a shot of the cork mounted to the rear glass:
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After this cured I stood up the viv and spent a few hours trying to figure out what to do with my larger cork rounds. I settled on my largest round blending into the back wall and traversing out to the front of the viv. I also lined my false bottom with smaller bark pieces to resemble roots along a dry creek. Eventually the from will contain gravel.
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Here is an angle shot to illustrate the depth of the cork work:
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I have to wait for the big round to cure tonight then I can add a few more rounds which should wrap up the cork work. The additional rounds will mount to the large round.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#15
Looking good!
What some see as death, others see as beauty.


Casper
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#16
I wrapped up the main hardscaping tonight. I worked on the left side of the viv finishing up the stumps. Here is where I left the cork work last night:
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I added another large cork round to the round I installed last night:
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I blocked off the two cork round openings that formed the stump with egg crate lined with weed barrier. I siliconed them in place. This will provide a floor so I can fill the round with substrate and use them as planters, and it will keep the frogs out of the inside of the cork round:
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Here is the egg crate installed and lined with cork bark fragments. I wanted to break up the weed barrier in case it ends up being visible.
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Here's an angle view of the stump from the right side of the viv looking left. You can see how the stump comes out of the background and cuts across the viv. The viv is 20 inches front to back.
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And here's a wide angle shot of where I left off tonight:
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Next up is substrate. Most of the floor will be contoured with Turface. I'll augment the areas where I plant with ABG. Got to get this stand built this weekend Smile
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#17
I'm a fan of cork tubes, and that's all going to look great when it's planted in, Jim !
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#18
It looks great so far!
Glenn
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#19
Well, even though it's still on the dining room table awaiting a stand, I figured I'd put my substrate and plants in so I can get them watered and stable ASAP. The plants in their temp flats were not doing well, so I wanted to get them in. Here is a shot of the Turface going in (an entire 5 gallon bucket):
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I an using upside down ferns and african violets as the primary plants in this viv. I've also pulled the broms from an old viv, cleaned them up and installed them here. Eventually I will add more Cypress Salaginella in the right rear and a few varieties of Perperomia on the left and in the foreground. Here are a few images:
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Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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#20
I had a week long business trip come up that delayed some posts...work getting in the way of the hobby heh. So here are some shots of the stand build. This turned out a little bigger than expected, so we're mulling over stand v2. But for now, this will fully occupy the lower half of the TV nook.
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I have 4 of 6 JungleDawns installed. I picked up 2 of the new Grow and Glo's and 4 brand spankin' new "megadawns" (waiting on two more to arrive). I'll get shots of the hood with the installed bulbs when the final two lamps arrive.

I'm still working through venting. So far, the single 120 MM blow hole is clearing about 70% of the front glass. I am going to experiment with an 80 MM fan mounted perpendicular to the top vent within the hood to try and clear the final 30%. I am avoiding dropping a circulation fan into the viv, but that is another possibility. More to come.
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
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