First Vivarium - how does it look?

herper · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 11:31 PM

Hello,
I just built this thing a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm putting the final touches on it. All I need to add now is some live sphagnum moss to the rest of the floor and a glass lid to replace my screen one. I want it to be the future home of a pair of D. Azureus darts. What do you guys think? (By the way, it's a 30 gallon).

Sharkdude · #2 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 04:21 PM

looks fantastic!

Green Ghost · #3 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 04:27 PM

Very nice. Good work.

ZevR · #4 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 06:41 PM

Your vivarium looks great... I am about to set one up in a 55.... how many pounds of clay balls did you use? I am having trouble figuring out how many I should buy. '

Is your background a great stuff DIY background?

Do you have a water feature in the center? Waterfall?

Rainfrog · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 05:12 AM

Viv looks great!

ZevR: if you can go to a gardening/plant store you can get a huge bag for way cheaper than you get the smaller ones on-line. I think it is a 50 liter bag and I paid $35 or $45 for it.

herper · #6 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 09:23 PM

Thanks for the comments!

I have a waterfall, shown in the 3rd picture. It is small, but trickles into a little pool area. I built it into the background which IS great stuff (insulating foam), silicon, and coco bedding. It was a LOT of work, but it's totally worth it in the end. I just got a 50 liter bag of the hydroton for 40 bucks, and used about 1/3 of it. I think you would probably use 2/3 of a big bag, so it would be your best bet.

I'm having a little trouble with blue mold growing on a bit of the wood - have you guys had this problem ever? Is it dangerous to the enhabitants?

zigog · #7 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 11:55 PM

looks great id put a pond in part of it but everything els looks sweet

Rainfrog · #8 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:07 AM

Mold is common in new vivs. it is a wet environment. it should go away after a while on its own. watch that it does not take over.

baileyjames6 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-13-2008, 02:25 PM

Your vivarium looks amazing. I am about to start setting one up myself, what kind of plant is that all the way on the left with the red flower? I think it adds a nicely and would like to get one myself.

herper · #10 (**permalink**) 04-13-2008, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the comment!

The plant is a bromeliad. They are really great for tropical vivs. I have actually added a LOT more plants, so I should post a more updated picture!