harpua2002

Hey all, I started this project quite a while back and I have recently rekindled my interest in finally finishing it. I got the idea and plans from this article on Cichlid Forum: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article...background.php

If you checked out the link, we're at the point where we're just finishing up the styrofoam "rocks", siliconing them into place, and getting ready for the Great Stuff part. We'll use the Great Stuff to fill in bare areas, and sand it down as we have with the styro. Then we'll start coating it with concrete and pigment just as the author of the article did.

The plan for this tank once it's finished is to keep either poison dart frogs or possibly red eyed tree frogs, not sure yet. The channel running up the center of the middle panel will hold a tube connected to a Mini-Jet pump to create a waterfall. There will be a layer of gravel on the bottom along with whatever amount of water works for us, and possibly some crypts grown emersed planted in the gravel. For the rest of the tank, we're researching tropical plants, probably a lot of epiphytes like orchids, bromeliads, ferns, etc. to grow up the side of the "rock wall". For lighting, we are looking into Coralife's quad tube 20" power compact fixture, but are open to suggestion as we don't know exactly how much light we need. We still have a long way to go on the project but thought you all might be interested in a photo journal thread as it develops. Thanks for looking, thoughts and comments are always welcome!

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Lucy

Looks pretty cool, it'll be interesting to see how it progresses. Keep the pics & update coming.

Shawnie

neat project! ill be watching for updates also....

Amanda

Wow, that really cool!!

alicem

I'm likin' it. Veeeery interesting.

You've got us interested now, so be sure to keep your updates, well, um, updated.

For the lighting, those are understory plants that one can grow as house plants.
I don't know your light fixture, but be careful not to burn them with too much of a good thing.

Other plants to fill in on the "rocks" might be a moss of some type.
alicem

harpua2002

I really appreciate the advice. I've been looking at this site for ordering plants:
http://www.blackjungle.com/Merchant2...tegory_Code=P1
But I haven't been able to find much info about lighting requirements. My guess was that it would be similar to aquatic plants, and given that the tank is quite tall I guess I went overboard. Still, I'm assuming that I'll need a power compact or T5 fixture of some type; I wouldn't anticipate being able to grow much under normal output lighting. The tank is narrow so we're looking at 20" options. Our other option is the 24" HO T5 fixture we already have (2x24W T5). It would hang off the sides a little bit, but save a lot of money on a new fixture. If that would work, it would be great- any thoughts on this?

MissMTS

Sounds like a great project. I have been wanting to try one of these out myself, but I am going to have to wait a while before I get started on it. I am very interested to follow the progress of your project! Good luck with everything

tom28

thats one of the coolest ideas ive seen on here. ill be watching the progress, good luck

alicem

Hi again, harpua2002
I googled "lights for vivarium" and "lighting a vivarium" and found similar reading material.
Several sites about frogs and other herps showed up and instructions for what you have already built.
If that isn't enough info, you could also google "paludariums" to see if that helps.


It's possible the t5 lights might be the way to go, I'm just not sure about using HO bulbs...
Maybe start with what you have and add to, or replace, as you see you need to?

I hope you can find more/better info on your project from others that have experience doing one.
Yours will be really nice when it's done.
Until then, here is my favorite website for visual inspiration.
Move your mouse over the "galleries" drop down box and then down to "paludariums"
http://www.aquariumdesigngroup.com/
alicem

harpua2002

LOL... thanks for the searches! I've been Googling this off and on for over a year now and I've come up with very little in terms of lighting guidelines.

As for the T5 fixture, it is a HO T5 fixture. I don't think it's a matter of putting normal output bulbs in there (I wouldn't want to try, the ballast is different than normal T5). If memory serves me, and it most often doesn't, the tank is about 30" tall. Really tall. That was the impetus for thinking I'd go with a PC or HO T5 fixture. Honestly, I haven't used a normal output fixture in several years, LOL. I don't even know if I have one.

alicem

I figured you had. I seemed to find very little too, but then I haven't done the research like you.
It may boil down to trial and error then, and not an exact science.
Like tanks full of water, each situation is different.

I kind of thought that too... probably would blow the bulb very quickly.

You may want to allow for a way to "vent" any extra heat from the lights, if necessary.
Since your tank is very tall, your HO might just be perfect. It's certainly worth a try and, since you already own one, the price is right.

alicem

harpua2002

LOL... I agree that the price is right, but after you mentioned burning the plants I got a little concerned- you seem like you have a lot more experience with terrestrial plants than I do! I once kept a 45 gallon heavily planted tank with medium light plants with that fixture. The tank was 3 feet long and 2 feet tall, and the HO T5 fixture is only 2 ft long, 2x24W bulbs. The plants went nuts. I'm now wondering if I should go with a PC fixture instead; the HO T5's put out FAR more light per watt than PCs.

Here's what 48W of T5 light did for my 2 ft tall 45 gallon...

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alicem

Wow, would you look at that! Now that's alot of growth. Nice tank.

Yes, I've done a bit of "terrestrial" gardening through the years.

The HO lights really cut through the water. I know with my 90G (24" tall) it is difficult to get light to the bottom,
so I'm happy to settle with low light plants.

Since there is no water to buffer between the light and the plants in your vivarium, it worried me some...

You will have time to experiment with it, since you'll probably want to get the plants settled in before introducing the crittters.
Is there a way to set up the light over some of the plants that you would like to put in your setup, in an old aquarium or something?
Some way of simulating the final setup?

I've seen bromeliads sold in the house plant dept. at Wally World.
Actually I planted it in a big ole pot in my front yard last year.
It was in total shade, but with light patches around the yard, if that makes any sense.
alicem

harpua2002

Yeah, supposedly the ones we've been looking to order are much smaller varieties.

I'm not sure how much room for experimentation we have; as you can see from my sig we already have tanks all over the house.

HN1

I'm glad I don't have to work on the plants and get to figure out the froggies....

MaddieLynn

Wow, this looks neat!