Vivarium Construction

[Zelda]

Hello. I'm starting my first Vivarium. I've done tons of research and bought a few books and read through them. I have some questions I would like some help on.
For starters I have got a 29gal Aquarium tank 30(l)x16(h)x12(d). In doing research it states "to have a healthier vivarium build one with a false bottom." So I'm doing that. My questions are as follows:

1. Do I need to put a screen over the eggcrate, and over the hydrotron substrate? Or will that increase the chances of spoilage?

2. When I put soil in, how much should I put in? I'm thinking of a couple inches.

3. Creating a waterfall, where do I put the pump? Down under the false bottom? Or do I keep it outside in a bucket of water? I have a 3/4" PVC for siphoning the false bottom in case of spoilage and needing to change out something.

4. Is 10-11" enough head room for the amphibians/plants in the vivarium?

5. Misting, am I fine using a 32oz water spray bottle?

6. What happens to the vivarium if and when I have to move? I live in an apartment so leases expire. When I move out, what will be the easiest way to move without affecting the vivarium or amphibians?

I think these are more specific questions I had. Any help is greatly appreciated. I want to make this vivarium last.

[Zelda]

So there have been 20+ people that have looked at this page. None of those people can answer my questions?

[Pittylova]

Well...I'll tell you what I've read here and on other sites. I'm still researching and gathering materials for my first viv but have been looking around for months.

As far as the mesh goes it is recommended between any "drainage layer", or "charcoal, etc" to help keep soil from interfering.

The amount of soil isn't something I thought about. I figured I would put in enough that would cover the roots and allow room for the plants to grow. I guess it depends on what you're planting? Again, I'm no expert just that's what I was going to do.

Most people seem to put the pump for the waterfall under the false bottom. There is a way to rig it outside of the tank in another tank, however I'm not sure how it's done.

The "head room" depends on the plants and animals you have. There are "miniature" plants that could be used, and creeping plants. But it depends on the type of amphibian. I don't think that sounds like a lot for a tree dwelling frog, but a FBT would be fine.

I use a spray bottle and mist the tank several times a day so it will be ok as long as you do it often enough. Partially covering the screen top with something like plexiglass will assist in keeping the humidity up, or just replacing the top with something more custom. There's also a post some where on here about making an auto fogger/mister by using a humidifier and some pvc. It doesn't have to be expensive. That's what I plan on doing for my new viv.

I'm not sure about moving. I guess it depends on how you well its secured and how its handled during moving.

[Zelda]

Yeah. I've seen that you were posting some of the same questions. I've been doing my research for a few months myself. (Books, Online) Some of the questions I have, as you have seen aren't going to be in a book. You're going to get them from the hobbyists that have been doing this for some time.
I appreciate the response.

[Pittylova]

Most of the books I've looked at were fairly limited in what information there was. Thank goodness for the internet lol! I've talked to several people on the boards here and elsewhere, as well as in PMs and they have been most helpful.

[Zelda]

Yeah. I know. Thats what I have been doing. I haven't PM'd anyone yet. Thats my next recourse. I had some frogs way back when I was younger, but I never had any money to upkeep it and the frogs died. Now that I'm older and have steady income and can afford to do what I please with it, I'm turning it into a hobby. That being said I try to get as much info as I can from all the sources avail. Ive talked to local pet store employees, some of which haven't known a dang thing and wasted my time. The book piece of it, I have found a lot of useful information however it has been very basic. So I come here for people that have been doing this hobby for some time.
BTW, the amphibians I'm going to get are Dart Frogs.

[Nubster]

1. You only need to use eggcrate or hydroton, not both. They serve the same purpose. But yes, you need screen to seperate the drainage layer from the substrate.

2. I have 3-4 inches in my tank and honestly I could have even went a little more and been fine. A lot will depend on the plants you use as to how much you will need to properly plant them.

3. Depends on the pump. Mine is under the false bottom and I have an opening behind my water feature that allows easy access to it incase I need to remove the pump for some reason.

4. Depends on the kind of plants/frogs you are keeping. I see you want darts. Some darts prefer to climb so that might not give them enough room. Some like the ground so for those that much room is fine. Others like to do both. You'll just have to decide on some frogs and research them to see what their requirements are. My viv has about 15" of headspace but the frogs I have pretty much stay on the ground all the time.

5. Yeah, that is fine for misting. Just make sure you use distilled or RO/DI water.

6. Have lots of friends that will help you move it. It won't be as bad as moving a fish tank but it won't be a piece of cake either. Just build it as lightweight as you can and if you have to move it, remove the frogs and water first and make sure you have enough help because there will still be some weight in the tank and if it gets twisted it could pop a seam or even break and of course without enough help it could be dropped as well and that would not be good. I see that you are building a 29g. so that would not be too bad. Two people should be fine with a third to open doors and move things out of the way would be plenty. Your probably looking at about 100 pounds, maybe a little less.

[froggsong]

First, (and please don't take this wrong, I just woke up, so I'm not all there yet, lol... ) the amount of views on a thread don't necessarily mean anything. Perhaps the people that read it didn't have time to respond (like me, I was cooking when I read it the first time), or maybe they simply didn't know the best way to answer your question. I have had over 100 reads on a thread before getting any responses before.

IMO, if the darts you get are arboreal, then you should turn the tank on its side. If they are terrestrial, then do it the regular way. Arboreal species NEED more head room, and don't need the floor room as much, plus a vertical tank looks awesome!

Nubster has given you good advice so far, so I'm not going to add much.

1. The screen over the eggcrate or hydroton is a must, it actually helps PREVENT spoilage, rather than adding to the risk. The screen keeps the substrate from eroding into your drainage layer, which the plant roots will grow into for aeration.

2. The depth of your substrate depends on how much root coverage the plants you buy need (plants with less roots don't need it as thick, but plants with larger roots need it thicker). You can also vary the depth of the substrate to accommodate different plants.

3. If you have the ability to, definitely go with a sump, it is sooooooo much better for your water quality, and for maintenance.

4. I covered that above.

5. You are fine using any size bottle, it depends on how much you have to mist, and how many times you need to refill the bottle. Also be aware that if you mist with hot water in the bottle, you are making a warm mist, rather than a cold one, which wont drop your temp as much, and will help keep the moisture in the air longer.

6. This is a problem I have faced in the past, and will likely face on a much larger scale very soon. IMO, when you move, the animals AND plants should be removed from the tank ( except any you may have growing on the BG). This is to protect all of the inhabitants (yes, I consider plants inhabitants as well) from possible breakage, and also to reduce the weight of the tank (and the stress on your back) and the stress on the glass. If you remove everything that isn't attached to the tank, you reduce the weight even farther. So, if you use an eggcrate FB, remove everything other than your FB and your BG. If you go with hydroton, remove everything but your BG. Replanting does not take that long, and you can change it around a bit if you want to. If you don't want to change anything, just take a pic of how it looked right before you began to remove everything. This has been what has worked best for me in the past, as even a planted 10G is pretty heavy. In my experience, if you are not moving that far, most plants will do well being moved in a bucket of water (to keep the roots from drying out). Just move the tank last, that way there is less stress on your herps.

[Tiamat]

sorry dude. I saw your post before and posted, or thought i posted an answer. Looks like my post is lost

Anyway, since other ppl did a very good job at answering your question, i won't bother again.

[froggsong]

You know Tiamat, I think there may be a duplicate thread, because I read your response before I posted to this one... I thought it was odd myself.