900l dartfrog paludarium

[obeligz]

Hi.
I'm building a 150x60x100cm paludarium for geckoes, amphibians and fishes.

Water part is about 140 litres and is mostly below the dry area.

Had some problems with the water part, think I introduced a toxic substrate by a mistake but I think the water quality should be ok now, so hopefully I can put some life in the water soon.
I have started planting the land part but the viv is more of garden of misc plants than a naturalistic setup.

Initially I ran the viv on a 200W energy saving bulb, then I added 2x80" compact flurescents, then I switched one of the compact flourescents with a 150W, 5500K HQI. After this plants are doing OK, mosses are thriving on the ground but not so much on the walls.

The old misting system was too weak and it didn't mist the sides of the tank enough so I got a new misting system.
Now I have a 20 L pressure tank and when on, the pressure to the nozzles varies from 1-3,2 bar. I tested the system for several hours today and is works ok.
My question is, what is a good and natural weekly misting cycle in a tropical rainforest setup? How long should rain cycles last and how much variation? also how often?
YouTube - dartfrogs in the rain
I run my system with different nozzles to produce droplets in all sizes. I have found nozzles that produce a fine mist but I don't like my larger nozzles, any advice?

More pics and info about this project can be found here;
Reptilweb - Alexterra
(in norwegian, but feel free to comment in english)

Kind regards
obeligz

[Studdlygoof]

Had two quick questions...in your aquatic section...do you have some type of submersible light under your land section for it...and on you walls it looks like you have some kind of hanging flat baskets full of moss...what are they made of?....good looking tank

[obeligz]

Nah, just an ordinary Osram Dulux L 36W with an isolated socket, the bulb itself is in contact with water.
"hanging baskets" are orchid slabs from Wubben orchideen in the Netherlands. I extract mosses and orchids from the slabs to plant on the coco panels.

[Studdlygoof]

Good stuff...i like your water section...i'm in the process of finishing a similar style vivarium...my land section overhangs my aquatic section so i am adding a 55 w compact floresent to give me a 2 watts per gallon so i can have a successful planted tank...i might incorperate some you the cork slabs like you have as added planting mediums for some epiphytes...thanks for the info

[obeligz]

Nice Project. ^_^
What's on your right wall? wood?

[Studdlygoof]

A large piece of driftwood that I have a drip system incorperated into so that it will have water trickling between the grooves...i think this is my main wall for adding broms