My First Vive Build: Build Log with Pics.

[beckdg]

no problem... i will say it might pose a challenge finding what your looking for though... good luck... i had fun finding mine and don't even remember what brand they were... they are replacements for a cannister filter that i don't even own though and worked just fine.... the only thing i didn't like is they cost me $15 each and i needed 3 of them. you should be able to find something cheaper though.... plumbing supply houses should help.

[Venomos]

Looks very good! Cant wait to see the finished product! Anymore updates soon?

[seahawksfan_74]

Well after taking the summer off I have come close to completing this project... well I'm not sure that it will ever be really completed but I have done a fair bit. I have plumbed in a valve on the water feature, installed a door and started planting. Unfortunately my plan for the door closed in my openning for my pump and valve. It was about a month after I siliconed the left side in that I realized my error and I have yet to fix the problem. I think I have a solution in mind but I need more plexi, which is unfortunate. I have planted philodendren along the top, two vines (are they vines?) in the large planter and one just on the background. They are all doing very well. I originally planted the palms that are near the front in a very small planter near the back, however I decided to dig out the area that they are now on near they front. They are still alive but many of the fronds have tips that are dead. I am not sure why or if they will bounce back. I found the bromiliad that is mounted on the water feature at Rona, a Home Depot like big box store here in Canada. I think it is doing well, however it has only been mounted for a few weeks... time will tell. The humidity seems to be fairly stable in the 80's and 90's unless I leave it for a few days with the cover off the screen. I think I will be ready for RETFs by March when my wife has offered to buy them for me for my birthday.

[beckdg]

i use the following ones on everything i have plumbed into my canister. it allows me to take everything off piece by piece since moving 700+ pounds of aquarium and such is quite a task. they come in a couple different sizes since the filters they're made for come in different sizes with different tube configurations.

Marineland Quick Disconnect Valve 2 Pack 1/2 Inch-Aquarium Filter Tubing if you go with these search around for better prices (including shipping) or to see if your local fish store stocks them... some do!

you can get other valves at any decent hardware store. ask someone who works in/with or understands plumbing and they should be able to help. take note of the id (inside diameter) of your hose and either bring it with you or illustrate with the rolls they have in stock. they should be able to get you a ball or gate valve (either will work for your purposes) with hose barb ends. it will not be a cutoff/disconnect though, yet it should be cheaper. the downside will be the ease of taking things apart.

also whenever possible get a hose slightly smaller than your barbs and heat the ends in boiling water to stretch them over the barbs. once they cool off they should never leak or fall off. as a matter of fact to get them off you may need to cut them in some cases. it does make for a no worry, leak free seal though.

[beckdg]

oops, got stuck on the last page and answered an old post... looks good!

[seahawksfan_74]

Thanks Beck for the ideas on the valve. I ended up buying a compresion fit valve. I am not thrilled with it but it's working. If I ever have to replace it I will keep your other ideas in mind.

[Dustin1231]

any updates on the tank?

[seahawksfan_74]

Sadly I became busy and the tank was neglected in my basement for a while. The philedendron has died from the roots back a couple inches. The brom is doing okay now and the tips of the dwarf palm are always dead. I now have it in my classroom where I can care for it more consistantly however it doesn't seem to be bouncing back. I think I will try taking the philedendron out and re rooting it then replanting it. I am not sure what to do for the dwarf palm. At this point there are no plans for any herps, though since the classroom temp can vary a lot. I might try a little lizard like an anole if I can get the plants to grow in well and I can find a thermostat and heater that will regulate the temp.

[froggsong]

That's actually not a brom... I can't remember what the name of it is though.

[seahawksfan_74]

Cool, thanks for the info. It said brom at the home centre I bought it at, but they are infamous for not getting it right