Getting a little overwhelmed... First nice build.

MikeSantor · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 11:17 PM

Hello VF!

So my son has been on a frog kick for the last couple months. I had a few FBT when I was younger and loved them so I figured he would get a kick out of them and I would enjoy building it. When I had them it was a pretty darn basic set up. Im looking to go the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I want to try and get as much live plants to grow as possible.

The tank I will be getting is 36''x 18''x 16'' and im hoping to get at least 2 FBTs. I have read a bunch of mixed things. Some saying you should only keep 2 per tank, some saying they don't need much space and you can keep a decent amount as long as they are the same size to avoid cannibalism. From the 4~ hours I have been online reading, it seems like the easiest/hardiest plant to get to grow is the pothos plant. Would you come about getting this plant in the Midwest? I'm From Chicago but have never bought a plant in my life...

Another thing I have read a lot of mixed things on is heaters for the water section. I'm going to go 50/50 so should I just get a heating pad and put it under the aquarium on the water side?

My Biggest question is should I set up a water pump and mister. from what I have read FBTs can live pretty darn long so to be honest, im not apposed spending a few hundred dollars building a REALLY nice set up. I LOVE the waterfall that all the pet stores sell but they ALL have really horrible reviews. If anyone knows of a quality waterfall/filter combo that would be AWESOME!

I just want a general idea on some stuff before I go to the pet store tomorrow. There is a pretty famous reptile shop by me but you know they will try to sell me everything and anything they can...

Sorry for all the questions but the internet has a TON of contradictions.

beckdg · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 12:06 AM

you can have as many fbt's as your enclosure can comfortably handle and your willing to keep up on as far as i know.

chances are you know someone with pothos in their window that's dieing to give it or clippings away. it's a very common, hardy house plant.

no heating pad for electrical purposes. just in case. aquarium heaters aren't too pricey anyway. i'd say whether it needs it would depend on the setup. testing your water temps should help.

a water pump/filter is a good addition to any tank with enough water to keep it from getting stagnant and help support the growth of beneficial bacteria.

why not make your own waterfall? you'll be able to pick out a nice pump that should last you as well as make everything the way you want it as opposed to being stuck working around a store bought unit.

don't worry about it keep in mind though that nice vivs/palu's are usually not set up overnight.

welcome to the forum.

MikeSantor · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 02:42 AM

thanks for all the tips. this right here is what I will strive for:
Tinc Vivarium #2

How do you get mushrooms to grow!? That is AWESOME!

PS, I have been online reading WAY too long for one session...

EDIT, check out picture 33, How do they get the water to just stop like that? I have some plexiglass. would it be exceptable to cut a piece the depth of my tank and the height I want the water and glue it in my tank to make a stop for the water? What is the common practice? Thanks!

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 04:08 AM

You can do that for the water, sure. I know you had other questions... I'll have to see about getting back to you tomorrow. Sorry, I'm falling asleep here...

beckdg · #5 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 05:13 AM

mike... do you have any experience with planted fish tanks at all? you picked out a really nice setup but it is pretty advanced for keeping actually. for example pic #36 is a slideshow that starts with the filtration for the water portion.

glass would be better suited for silicone application. looking at pics #32 and 33 it looks as if that's what he did.

mushrooms just need the right conditions just like any other plant/fungus. i suspect he just lucked out and something he put in there already had spores on it.

MikeSantor · #6 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckdg

mike... do you have any experience with planted fish tanks at all? you picked out a really nice setup but it is pretty advanced for keeping actually. for example pic #36 is a slideshow that starts with the filtration for the water portion.

Nope, never had any fish. I have had a long list of pets but the only thing I ever had that required filtration was a turtle I got and had for YEARS. It was a basic kit pump though and wasn't too advanced of a set up.

I'm about to get the family ready and go down to this reptile house. I Defiantly realize this is pretty advanced So I'm hoping that I can get as much in a kit form as possible.

Main components I'm looking to get today:

Tank
Pump/filter
Mister
All my substrate.

If I can get this too look as quarter as good as the one in the link I posted, I'm going to build a second one for my office at work. These vivariums REALLY caught my attention.

Thannks for all the Suggestions and advice so far!

beckdg · #7 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 10:15 AM

i personally will probably never buy a substrate from a pet store again due to inconsistent quality and high markups. your mister might be better sourced online... i'd at least check prices first.

check this out before you go anywhere... it might help quite a bit... good places to buy... please add to it!

not a problem... we're here to help each other.

MikeSantor · #8 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckdg

i personally will probably never buy a substrate from a pet store again due to inconsistent quality and high markups. your mister might be better sourced online... i'd at least check prices first.

check this out before you go anywhere... it might help quite a bit... good places to buy... please add to it!

I actually did read through a lot of the links on that page last night. This is the shop Im going to: Chicago Reptile House - ChicagoReptile.net - Home I know a lot of people think VERY VERY highly of this shop. My cousin has been breeding snakes for years and has been a snake owner for something like 15 years and he turned me on to this shop. Supposedly they know there stuff so I am hoping I can take everything I have read on this site and everything they tell me and make some good decisions.

I read on blackjungle the way the different layers of the sub straight goes and its really confusing to read. Im hoping the shop could better explain how to do the sub straight in a 50/50 setup.

beckdg · #9 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 12:02 PM

OK... sounds good. keep us updated.

ps. i had no idea you were near chicago.

D3monic · #10 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 12:19 PM

Jeff (co-owner) of chicago reptile house is really cool. I am there atleast once a week. Thats where I got all my pipefish from as well. I used to be an aquatica loyalist but after my club had a meeting at the artist formally known as go fish I havent been back there. He takes really good care of me as well. Heck thursday I REALLY wanted to get things moving on my build so he fronted me $100 worth of stuff and threw in a few freebies. Not to mention the blond that works there isnt too bad to look at.