Hey! New to the hobby...almost!

Courtalope · #1 (**permalink**) 06-14-2010, 03:09 PM

Hey all. I'm thinking about using my vacant 110 gal for a viv tank. It was our reef tank but when we moved we switched tanks so it's drilled and waiting. Lol. I've been lurking around trying to find some inspiration for the build, I've read so many good topics here, lots of awesome tips here too. I hope to post my pics soon, I've been having trouble getting started with an 8 month old baby home, but hopefully tonight I can at least get the glass painted!
Cheers,
Courtney
southeast FL

beckdg · #2 (**permalink**) 06-14-2010, 10:32 PM

welcome courtney. glad you could make it.

friendly suggestion... start small, then jump into the big build. it's a lot of time, effort and money usually to do a big tank for your first. it would be a shame/waste if it wasn't perfect. first tanks rarely are.

Courtalope · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the reply! It's funny that you should mention downsizing, it's been a topic lately as my husband and I prepare to build. About 2 yrs ago we wanted to do a viv in this tank, then I got pregnant so we put it on hold after we bought all the materials to do false bottom, water feature & background. We kept reefs for 10+ yrs so we have so much laying around! I old my husband I was concerned with the amount of work and time it takes to build a viv and maybe using a spare 29 tall instead... If that were the case I wouldn't want to do a water feature because it isn't drilled, that's what my husband and I keep going back and forth with!

beckdg · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 08:47 AM

drill it then.

froggsong · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 12:15 PM

Definitely practice on something smaller before you jump into the bigger one, even if you just pick up a ten gallon or something (most cost effective practice vive, IMO, and easy to find a place for in the house, lol). You'll be happy you took the time to get familiar with the techniques you are thinking about using in the bigger one before you start on it.

Courtalope · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 06:45 PM

We actually have 4 drilled 5.5 gal tanks we r "holding" for a friend. Maybe I can try one of those out first...food for thought!

Would A viv that small be incredibly unstable?

froggsong · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 06:58 PM

Well, you wouldn't be able to put very many plants in there, and you'd probably have to use miniatures, but I think you could do it. Were you going to put animals in too? Or just make the practice one a terrarium? With animals, you'd have to house something really little, like thumbnail frogs.

beckdg · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2010, 07:28 PM

or a tarantula...

Courtalope · #9 (**permalink**) 06-16-2010, 08:07 AM

Oh no I could never keep a tarantula!! We have banana spiders that live in the citrus trees and Im terrified of them!
I mainly want to focus on keeping plants, my husband likes the idea of setting it up for frogs so when our son is older he can pick them out. I saw an exhibit of dart frogs at mnh in ny a few years ago so I'd love to recreate something like that. Would you have any opinion on whether I should plan an open or closed system? I'd set it up in the same location, so on a screened patio that faces south and doesn't get any direct sun until 6 or so and it's filtered by trees.