[beingteri]

I'm new to this forum, but have gotten a lot of great information here so far. I'm one of those crazy, over ambitious people that have a tendency to make even seemingly simple things more difficult than it needs to be.

My latest project is a ginormous viv with a 50/50 + water feature of a waterfall and stream. This all started when I bought 3 polywogs from the local pet store...I thought it would be fun for my two and four year old to watch them develop into frogs. I don't have any idea what kind they are...the label said Rana, but that narrows it down to 250 or so. One died shortly after morphing...I think he may have drown. I had a small land area that suspended from the side of a 2 gal tank...but I don't think he got it. This prompted me to set up our 10 gal. with a better land mass...I felt so bad about the other little guy.

So I had access to a 200 gal. tank that I'm currently renovating into the ginormous vivarium. (Yes, taking pictures as I go...and yes, assembled and torn apart about 5 times already-less dirt and water) Oh, did I mention that I went and bought a handful of guppies and some dwarf platties so I could have a whole biosphere going on??

So, for the planted portion of the tank...I will have 2 elevated platform sections (one on each side) over the water level that will be open in the middle but also go under the planted sections. I read the Perlite shouldn't be used if animals will be in the structure...so I took that back. One other site mentioned using Hydroton or Terra-Lite as a base then laying screen down and over that the peat moss for planting. This is sold on some pet sites but also on hydroponic sites.

My question: The hydroponic sites also have several other growing media that would work as the base layer, but be much lighter than 20 gal. of Terr-Lite...has anyone used these products in your vivs or terrariums? They are said to be organic and inert...like Rockwool, Coco Fiber Bricks and Oasis Media?? I know how sensitive froggies can be and don't want anything to upset the balance...but I'm also trying to create a natural environment that has little demands from me. I really do want a little biosphere going on...and I'd like to sit back and watch nature happen. Well, at least as natural as it can be, considering I don't know what kind of from they are!!

BTW, one has that "large puppy" look...like he she has to still grow into her feet and legs (probably a bullfrog) morphed last, the second one to morph is smaller...was lighter green in color until recently...both have off white under bellies and brighter green around the mouths...NEITHER uses a tongue to eat. So far as I can tell, none of the fish have been eaten by either. But the Vivarium I'm building will be more on the tropical/subtropic side...right now I don't have a heater in their habitat, but do shine a sun lamp on them during the day. Sorry for the long post...I guess I ramble too!

Anyway, want to finish it up this week, fill it and let it start growing and purifying...and add my little buddies. Hopefully someone reads posts on a regular basis and gets back soon. Look forward to hearing from you.