First tropical terrarium build: Exo-Terra 18x18x18 for a gold dust day gecko

[@marko@]

This is my first tropical terrarium. and my first terrarium with an actual substrate. Im using the exo terra 18x18x18 and the exo terra stand. so far i have the substrate in the tank and the background, and the wood.

The stand looks good with the tank, but it was made sloppy (holes for the screws were slightly off, making it incredibly hard to set up):



Next i needed to set up a drainage layer. im using the black jungle terralight. then the background (cocofiber), and finally i used a coco brick for the substrate, and added the wood:


questions? comments? suggestions?

[slowfoot]

That wood is fabulous! Do you mind if I ask what kind it is and where you got it?

[@marko@]

i know. i absolutely love the wood. the one in the back that looks like a fallen tree, its hollow. the gecko will be able to enter from the top (there is a hole there) and from three holes in the bottom.
they are both ghost wood from blackjungle.com

i saw them talk about their ghost wood, but it wasnt in stock at first, then i checked a month later and they said they had a small quantity and i jumped.

[froggsong]

That wood IS gorgeous. I like that the gecko will be able to use one of them for a hide. I have a piece of hollow drift wood in my CWD tank, but it is too small inside for him to fit in it, so I am going to use it as part of the water feature when I can get his other tank built.
What kind of plants are you planning to use?
I really like it so far, it has so much potential. I think it is going to turn out very nicely.

Oh, and just because I'm so excited and this is my first post since it happened... Behold!!! The mighty MODERATOR!!!

LOL, I know, I'm such a dork. ::big silly grin::

[sinflspeed]

Looks very awesome. I realy liek how the light sits ontop. Almost looks like they werre made together. Good choice.

Meghan- Congrats on the bum!

[sinflspeed]

Sorry meant to say BUMP!

[froggsong]

ROFLMAOTICS!!! Oh my god, that is hilarious... I'm glad you posted again instead of editing, that was an awesome laugh.

Thanks!

[sinflspeed]

OHHHHH man I just reread it and laughed myself.

[@marko@]

Originally Posted by froggsong

That wood IS gorgeous. I like that the gecko will be able to use one of them for a hide. I have a piece of hollow drift wood in my CWD tank, but it is too small inside for him to fit in it, so I am going to use it as part of the water feature when I can get his other tank built.
What kind of plants are you planning to use?
I really like it so far, it has so much potential. I think it is going to turn out very nicely.

Oh, and just because I'm so excited and this is my first post since it happened... Behold!!! The mighty MODERATOR!!!

LOL, I know, I'm such a dork. ::big silly grin::

thanks. i was actually pretty suprised when i opened the package and saw such nice peices, since they could have shipped me any chunk that fit the size demensions. it makes me think really good of their company. they dont cheat at all.

well im going to put in 3 or so tillandsia (abdita, ionantha, and caput medusae). one on the back cocofiber, and 2 on the wood.
a korean rock fern (dont know where, since i dont know how big they get, can anyone tell me?).
a heart fern.
2 anubias (coffeefolia, and batari nana petite).
crypts (wendtii).
emersed glossostigma.
some tropical kind of maroon and mint green climbing vine that has been growing in my moms bathroom forever. it propagates very easy. i think it already has little roots at each node along the stem (would make sense since it grows like an epiphyte) since it gets good roots in just 3-4 days after i take a cutting.
and moss wherever there is room and it will be able to grow.

thanks on the compliment (about it having potential). i really hope i can get it to look nice.

Originally Posted by sinflspeed

Looks very awesome. I realy liek how the light sits ontop. Almost looks like they werre made together. Good choice.

Meghan- Congrats on the bum!

thanks. i was actually suprised how well they fit together, since its actually an aquarium light i used on a 10 gallon tank. its forty watts of PC light with half 10,000k half 6700k. is that medium light in a terrarium?
too bad i still need to place a basking light and another flourecent light (15w) with some UVB output for the gecko. ill try to keep the top looking nice though.

Originally Posted by sinflspeed

Sorry meant to say BUMP!

Originally Posted by froggsong

ROFLMAOTICS!!! Oh my god, that is hilarious... I'm glad you posted again instead of editing, that was an awesome laugh.

Thanks!

lol.
thats ok, i got another bump.

Originally Posted by sinflspeed

OHHHHH man I just reread it and laughed myself.

and another.

[slowfoot]

Originally Posted by @marko@

i saw them talk about their ghost wood, but it wasnt in stock at first, then i checked a month later and they said they had a small quantity and i jumped.

Oh, man! It looks like they still have some available.

Must. Resist. Temptation!