Help/Advice on my first big vivarium

[espriella]

I’m starting to buy materials for setting up a big vivarium for my 4 little d. pumilios.

This is the first time I’m trying to build a vivarium, I currently have my frogs in a 20gallon fish tank with just 2 bromeliads, a lot of dry leaves and more termites than I can count, they eat but they are not singing.

I need someone with experience to help me out to see if I’m in the right track.

So far my plan is the following:

1.Have the tank made out sort of like the following:

The box at the right is the one I’m keeping the frogs right now.
2.Try to do something very similar to what “Marty” did for his incredibly good looking 90 gallon vivarium (90 Gallon Vivarium Construction Progress)
3.For that, I’ve already bought:

a.Two small 8 watts fountain pumps (one for waterfall and the other for mist)
b.Digital Timer to have 1 minute mist every 12 hours
c.560MLs of aquarium friendly silicon (to glue black sponge to the background, and substrate to where the bromeliads will be.
d.20kg of Waterproof cement-based coating (Latex modified 100% waterproof). To cover black foam and others. I’m wondering if the “latex modified” part might be harmful to my frogs. If so, please advise on what I should get.
e.Some chuncks of styrofoam for wall curves, they will be completely covered by the cement based coating so no Styrofoam is exposed to the frogs.

4.And I’m planning to buy:

a.Substrate, for different tropical plants I’m planning to use. Not very sure what I should ask for this part actually. I’m in Costa Rica right now and no one seems to know what EpiWeb is.
b.Some small pointy rocks for water drainage, I’m planning to have 1 of the pumps under these rocks so it pumps water up the waterfall and to change water when necessary. Any advise on drainage?
c.Black foam for background (glued to the glass with silicon)
d.2 fluorescent 30cms lamps for plants with their base and switch. Planning to attach it to the top.
e.2 very small fans for air circulation.
f.Power strip for timer, pumps, fans and lamps.
g.For plants possibly 4-5 bromeliads, some orchids and other tropical plants.

In the end I would like to have something similar to this:


Is there anything vital missing? Will the frogs be safe with these materials? Any advice or comments? Anything will be greatly appreciated. I'm new to this, but I'm very motivated to learn, and invest time and some savings on it .

Thanks, I'll try to keep step by step pictures of it's progress and post it here.

[beckdg]

3.
__a. you'll need a mister pump... misting needs to be done under pressure regular pumps can't duplicate.
__b. 2 minutes a day will likely be a bit much
__c. how many tubes is that? you may need more... 100% silicone should work fine
__d. please elaborate on "cement based coating" it sounds fine... i'm using latex based cement patcher for my crabitat... i would still check the label, msds and possibly with the company if things don't sound right
__e. styrofoam is fine... just don't shape it outside on a windy day.

4
__a. from what i understand epiweb is just recycled plastic spun into a web like mat or block. for that you could just use a sump filter block for a fish sump filter... or several. there is a small mom and pop web based business near me that still sells and epiweb equivalent... eco web. there's a bunch of other things you could use for a substrate also. organic soil, peat, coco fiber, leca, etc. all come to mind.
__b. i would do round rocks... or leca
__c. why black foam?
__d. i would go with 2 t-8 or thinner bulbs full length of the viv for your plants.

don't forget access to your pumps. most cork will break down fairly quick if left wet. corkbark is an exception to this rule.

follow the threads... 3 of them... and the links i provide... should help with your walls... Blue/Pink foam board

this might help you, idk? ... good places to buy... please add to it!

also check out the builds on blackjungle.com, my favorite link in my signature and the rest of the stickies on this site.

welcome to the site btw.


EDIT: still adding things... http://www.instructables.com/id/SXWZ1OSFB11UAC2/ ... https://baskinglizards.com/automated...ystem_free.pdf ... the second one is the good one.

[espriella]

Thanks a lot, it really gave me a lot more clarity on the possibilities.

• Im going to look into the misting systems.
• It was 2 silicone tubes, but I might end up needing more.
• I'll check with the cement company just to make sure, but if latex based cement is ok, then I think it's going to be fine.
• I'll go with the styrofoam then, I guess this is where the 2 silicone tubes might run out.
• For substrate I'll probably try a combination of coco fiber and substrate for orchids and bromeliads.
• I bought the round rocks today on the way home, they are very very light and seem to be perfect for drainage.
• I guess black foam wont be necessary with the styrofoam to cover the background. I was just trying to mimic Marty's post

I'll go look into the links.
Thanks again,

[beckdg]

2 tubes might be more than enough depending on your final design.
i think the cement will PROBABLY be fine too. i live in america though so i don't want to assume what's over there.
if you're doing insulation foam boards or styrofoam you should be able to cover and secure them quite easily using concrete and siliconing it to the glass in the back.
if you can find epiweb or get firstrays to ship you ecoweb without breaking the bank by all means follow Marty's build to the "T". i'm not so sure of your possibilities there though.
did i mention fiberglass replacement screen? that's a good divider between your soil and your drainage layer.
you could probably find coir rolls somewhere in your area too. they'd make for a decent background cover you could plant in.

a lot of people around here make false bottoms too. that's another option if you'd like. there's also the coco fiber background method. not my favorite but it looks great just like the others. gives it a natural woodsy feel and almost seems to add depth.

hth, beck

p.s. don't forget to look into those links... there's helpful info in there.

[RecycledAgain]

For the frogs, What kind of O.Pumilio are they? You are in Costa Rica, are they wild caught or captive breed? I'm also curious how old you think they are?

Dan

[DartFrogGangsta]

@ BeckDg

hey, do you know if it is "bad" to have exposed styrafoam? ? the pink stuff....... i made a water fall and didnt conver the back of it, so it is still layers of pink...

is it toxic to dart frogs ???

[froggsong]

The pink foam is inert. It won't hurt the frogs unless they eat little shavings of it (as in, unless you left little shaving of it from when you carved it).

[beckdg]

Originally Posted by froggsong

The pink foam is inert. It won't hurt the frogs unless they eat little shavings of it (as in, unless you left little shaving of it from when you carved it).

that's about it.

[phoenixflames44]

Originally Posted by espriella

I’m starting to buy materials for setting up a big vivarium for my 4 little d. pumilios.

This is the first time I’m trying to build a vivarium, I currently have my frogs in a 20gallon fish tank with just 2 bromeliads, a lot of dry leaves and more termites than I can count, they eat but they are not singing.

I need someone with experience to help me out to see if I’m in the right track.

So far my plan is the following:

1.Have the tank made out sort of like the following:

The box at the right is the one I’m keeping the frogs right now.
2.Try to do something very similar to what “Marty” did for his incredibly good looking 90 gallon vivarium (90 Gallon Vivarium Construction Progress)
3.For that, I’ve already bought:

a.Two small 8 watts fountain pumps (one for waterfall and the other for mist)
b.Digital Timer to have 1 minute mist every 12 hours
c.560MLs of aquarium friendly silicon (to glue black sponge to the background, and substrate to where the bromeliads will be.
d.20kg of Waterproof cement-based coating (Latex modified 100% waterproof). To cover black foam and others. I’m wondering if the “latex modified” part might be harmful to my frogs. If so, please advise on what I should get.
e.Some chuncks of styrofoam for wall curves, they will be completely covered by the cement based coating so no Styrofoam is exposed to the frogs.

4.And I’m planning to buy:

a.Substrate, for different tropical plants I’m planning to use. Not very sure what I should ask for this part actually. I’m in Costa Rica right now and no one seems to know what EpiWeb is.
b.Some small pointy rocks for water drainage, I’m planning to have 1 of the pumps under these rocks so it pumps water up the waterfall and to change water when necessary. Any advise on drainage?
c.Black foam for background (glued to the glass with silicon)
d.2 fluorescent 30cms lamps for plants with their base and switch. Planning to attach it to the top.
e.2 very small fans for air circulation.
f.Power strip for timer, pumps, fans and lamps.
g.For plants possibly 4-5 bromeliads, some orchids and other tropical plants.

In the end I would like to have something similar to this:


Is there anything vital missing? Will the frogs be safe with these materials? Any advice or comments? Anything will be greatly appreciated. I'm new to this, but I'm very motivated to learn, and invest time and some savings on it .

Thanks, I'll try to keep step by step pictures of it's progress and post it here.

WOW! this is the greatest program I have ever seen! What is it. Where can I get it.