New Viv Build **PICS**

jm87 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Hello All,

Couple of pics of my newly build viv

its a 12x12x18 exo-terra with light canopy

Plants: Boston Fern and Peace Lilly
Substrate: Coco Fibre (single brick, though two would have been better)
Also: Cork Bark and 2 Pieces of River Slate (rounded edges)

Im using a 4% bulb

Will be housing two D. Azureus

Comments and Suggestions are welcome

Vivweaver · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 03:42 PM

I like how you used lots of dirt. That makes well for plant growth and expansion. : )

jm87 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 04:05 PM

Well i went in tonight and chopped a bunch of dead branches off the fern (dead when they went in, but didn't wanna chop till it was settled in) and leaves off the lilly...also the massive flower as it was too big

I swear the plants are growing everyday a massive amount

Added some moss today from the garden...we dont use any fertilizer or pesticides at home so its all safe, gave it a quick wash too

jm87 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 01:53 PM

OK....considering the advice given on this forum and others (Im on Vivariumforums, Dendroboard and Find Me A Reptile) i have done the following...gutted the tank and rebuilt

I was dreading this for about a week but it was a quick job as its only a small tank

I put about 1 - 1.5" of gravel in the bottom...not pea gravel but the larger stuff...

I then dumped a layer of cocofibre over this, about an inch and set my plants, and then planted them in deeper, making sure the coco-fibre is properly packed down...this will set when it gets damp too...

i also got rid of the slate pieces as I fel ti had too much but found a massive lump of wood in the garden, washed it thoroughly and burried it in plants and cocofibre

tank now:

Gravel...

Plants...

Side View...

Whole Tank...

More Plants...

All done

James

RecycledAgain · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 03:09 PM

I would consider changing out that Lilly, and substitute some broms. That lilly will out grow that tank in 2 weeks, it gets massive.

Yasmine · #6 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 05:18 PM

Did you place a piece of screen or something over the rocks? It may get nasty in there if you didn't..In time the dirt may settle down and make a mess. Looks good though. What are you planning to house in there?

jm87 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2009, 08:34 AM

2 juvenile azureus

the gravel is packed down as is the coco fibre so it wont settle.

RecycledAgain · #8 (**permalink**) 05-17-2009, 08:58 AM

Yasmine is correct, If you haven't included a barrier the coco will settle down in to the gravel. After a bit , the water will wick up and make a mess. The other question I had is have you planed for some way to remove the water that will accumulate at the bottom of the tank? The Exo tanks do allow some evaporation, but the daily misting will add moisture faster in the end.

Dan

Austin · #9 (**permalink**) 05-17-2009, 07:10 PM

Meh.In my experience theres no reason water will be going down there anyway. With most tropical plants heavy misting will do the job(no need to water w/cup) which doesn't cause water to go all the way down through the soil.

It depends on what your going to do.

jm87 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-18-2009, 02:23 AM

im of the same mind as Austin...im not soaking the plants daily with a jug of water...

besides, shouldn't the roots draw the moisture up...whats the point in seperating the gravel and substrate when, in nature, there is nothing doing this. if i had a water feature and false bottom, then i could understand it as a precaution, but as i dont, its just overkill...