My first terrarium

[malacoda]

This is my first terrarium...I made it completely from scratch...Its roughly 75 gallon...Progress is slow due to the fact that my gf jus had a baby so the lil guy is quite a handfull...anyway heres a pic so far

Anyone have a good way of covering up the false bottom? If i put like 2-3inches of stone down then block the rest off with GS will that provide enough water flow underneath? i will have a waterfall and stream to be circulating the water

[Landon]

thatll be enough flow but you want to make it so that tads, or frogs have no way of getting under there.

i would make a front for that false bottom, and cover it with some nylon mesh. i use a cross stitch type grid from an arts and craft store, but nylon screen will work fine too.

once youve done that you can hide it or cover it any way you like. the proper type of stones or wood would be my choice, but GS can be just as effective. you may have to try combinations of asome items to find out what works out best.

i cant tell, did you leave room on the sides of thet false bottom? it look almost like it goes all the way to the glass. ifi it does you may consider covering the glass in something before you cover the false bottom, so you dont have to look into there you could also leave 3/4" or so around the edge and fill it with gravel, or even attach the gravel to the sides with silcone. this is what i do because i think it looks more natural.

what are the dimensions of the tank?

looks sweet! good job so far!

[malacoda]

i have screen running across the top and down the sides so i can fill it with gravel...i was gonna run the screen down the front and put like 2-3 inches of gravel in the front then cover the rest of the screen in GS or a combo of gs and wood and or gravel

[malacoda]

Ok i got some driftwood and 40 more pieces on the way...anyone need some driftwood lol...this is my tentative layout as of now...it shows how the water is hopefully going to run


any ideas on layout changes will be greatly appreciated...this is going to house red eye tree frogs most likely...oh and whats the best way to clean the driftwood

[Gone_Fishin]

If you're just looking to clean up the driftwood, I've found using a wire brush and some elbow grease works well to get all the crud off the surface. If you were thinking more like kill off pests then you can boil it or bake it in the oven. Either method for ~30mins is what I've read, though I don't have an oven temperature off hand.
Most of the driftwood I gather is for fish tanks so I like to water-log it first to sink it but also leech out anything that might be present. The water-logging can take a long time (damn 8'' diameter stump >.<) and you're not going to need that, but I've noticed that a good soak can also get the fuzzy growth stage over and done with sooner so it doesn't pop up in the tank.
The layout looks good and with the water flow should be a perfect place for some moss or Riccia. Have you done a 'wet' test for how the water flows over the wood? Did a few trials with the rocks in my waterfall before I stuck them into foam and I'm glad I did; found a few paths for the water and 'leaks' I hadn't expected.

[malacoda]

i havent done a wet test yet i need put a trim piece on the bottom before i start puttin water in it and what not...i tested the top piece and the will flow the way i want...hopefully ill get the bottom piece done by the weekend so i can start puttin the stone in and stuff\

[Landon]

thats exactly what i was talking about with the FB. thats the same method i use.

did you mention the tank dimensions?

layout looks pretty good. what types of plants are you plannning on having in there though? ive found that tree frogs will get up to the highest place possible. if you dont have tall plants i would consider placing more wood up high. you can attach it to the sides or the back, but the more perches you have, the more likely you are going to see your frog out (and not on the glass).

i would definatly do a wet test, even if it means setting up a mock FB in your bath tub or sink. also, keep in mind unless you have really difinitive pathways, the water is going to go where it wants too. just make sure thats what you want too :lol: and be prepared to make changes
or let it be) once its installed.

FWIW, i bake my wood at around 200* for 20-30 minutes with good results.

[malacoda]

roughly...the tank is like 22.5D x 23W x 28H...i built it out of scrap glass from a friend of mines work who does micro filming...well its not really scrap they stop using it if it gets like a hairline scratch that starts showing in the micro film...but a couple pieces i didnt even notice anything lol...whatever free glass is free glass...the only thing is all the pieces are temperedso it made cutting dificult and drilling impossible

[malacoda]

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[malacoda]

would it be safe to use water out of a fish pond with koi in it...the pond is running water its not stagnant...and if not what kind of water i should use