150 gallon/6 foot palu...1st time build.

[kitcolebay]

Well, far from complete, but got a little more done. Got all the plumbing figured out and roughed in. Just have to run to the store this morning to grab a couple more fittings. I did test my misting nozzles to the pump and they worked pretty good. I'm also picking up my humidifier for my fog line this morning. Ordered the black contact paper to trim and place on the outside to block what doesn't need to be seen. Once I know that everything is set to stay, then I'll work on sealing in the pond, attaching the background, and sealing up the seams.

Hopefully I'll make some progress next weekend if my son and I get a chance. He just turned 16, so we will be gone part of the weekend to take him and a couple friends to a Rise Against concert. Also, have a party to go to on Saturday. Maybe...Sunday?

Here's a couple pics of it roughed in...

Right side...



Left side...



Full view from left...



The 2x4 in center is just there to prop up the overhang until I get it secured in place. Still a lot on my list to do!

As always, please feel free to comment, suggest, or criticize. I'd love to have the feedback on how I'm doing and what I could do be better.

Thanks, Chris.

[kitcolebay]

My wife has given me the green light! She would like to see it done and in its final place by May 12th(The day my step-daughter is moving her stuff into the garage temporarily)! Coincidentally that is FrogDay!

Can you all help me? I'd like to go up to FrogDay and actually shop for the new inhabitants. Can I have this ready in time to house some new friends? Which frogs would you suggest for me to start with? What all do I need to do before then? I have a lot to do in a short time(which I didn't want to do). I wanted to go slow and careful, but now opportunity knocks with a challenge! If darts are the suggested frogs, then I need to get busy learning and doing cultures, right?

Once again, I could use all the guidance I can get to complete this properly and make it to FrogDay!

Thanks in advance!

-Chris

[jermajesty]

What i see is....
1. Make sure waterfall works and is sealed.
2. Make sure pond area doesnt leak and the filter works.
3. Seal the background (i believe you wanted to do the gorilla glue method)
4. Put substrate down, land and water
5. Get correct lighting and misting set up and working for sure.
6. Plant, water and land.
7. GET FROGS!!!

sorry but i cant really help you on the frog stuff, but im pretty sure that the darts need the different cultures of microfauna and fruit flies and stuff like that.

[J Teezy]

i know its too late but let me give some advice on drilling glass. If you were to do it like you originally intended i would have a shop do the holes in the lid. If you buy the glass from them then let them drill it then if they crack it its on them. I've drilled holes in tanks for drains and misting nozzles myself, it's pretty easy and i've never cracked one yet (knock on wood) but there is always the chance. My glass shop drills just about any size up to a 1" hole for about $5 a hole but of course they didn't have a 5/8" bit i needed for my misting nozzles, i was going to have them do it since i needed 3 holes and if they cracked it then they would redo it, but now i have to do it myself.

As far as bigger holes, glass-holes.com sells bits pretty fair priced, but I'd be nervouse myself drilling a big tank especially the bottom since tanks over 40 gallon tend to use tempered glass for the bottom pane, and well drill bit + tempered glass = instant break.

If you ever in the future decide to drill glass look on youtube there are plenty of videos. My key advice is Medium speed, low torque, and take your time. let the weight of the drill do the work, DO NOT push on the drill at all. Its a slow process. Keep the bit cool and hope for the best =). if the glass is going to crack its goign to do it at the end when you are breaking through. try to keep the bit level so it doesn't catch on the glass when breaking through, thats what will crack it. If you know you are close to breaking through don't stop the drill. keep going till you get through it. And always drill from the inside out if possible because you'll most likely get some chip out when you break through and you want that to be on the outside of the tank

[kitcolebay]

Well...

Good and bad...The following pics are today's progress(kinda good news...the jury's still out).
Bad news is my pond has a leak. That was my biggest fear. I have another game plan to attack it this week. It came after my not-so-gracious round or two of swearing. Thanks to a brainstorming session with my wife and son, my wife headed me into the direction of removing all of the bottom and the rocks on the bottom several inches and bank up the sides with a pretty substantial amount of Great Stuff for ponds. Making sure I have a smooth, clean surface on the side and bottom to adhere to. Worth a try. The rest of my ideas involved a considerable amount of ripping out, rebuilding, and a tremendous amount of cussing!

Here's the pics...

Full frontal...


Left brom...


Right brom...


Right side...


My first frog!(thanks to my son!)...


And LED's...


It looks better if you have a strong imagination and picture it with a waterfall feeding into a pond full of WATER!

Any thoughts? Are my 2 clearance broms to big for my tank?

Thanks, Chris.

[jermajesty]

I think the brom size is fine, but would add more plants like vines or creepers to take up room and make the entire thing look more "green".
Good luck on the waterproofing haha
-Jeremy

[J Teezy]

i would plant some riccia or sheet moss on the background if it were me

[kitcolebay]

A couple more recent pics.

Went to FrogDay yesterday. Met some great people, bought some plants, and... 0.0.6. D. Leucomelas!(No frog pics yet).





At the moment, I still need to black out the lower front portions and I plan to fill/cover the pond to make more land portion for the leucs. The pond just didn't turn out the way I hoped. I will be leaving the waterfall and creek and letting it drop down to pool up just a tiny bit to pile of rocks. All the water will still exist below for running through the 2 canister filters powering the waterfall/creek.

[crestiezz]

Lookin' good!! how are you draining the land area?? do you have a pump under the substrrate layer feeding into the waterfall pump or what?

[kitcolebay]

I have a PVC pipe in the back corner set up to siphon out the false bottom, but then opted to to go a different route. I drilled a few small holes to allow the water to balance out between the false bottom and the pond to allow it all to circulate through the canister filters. That way I didn't have to worry about any stagnant water, monitoring the water level underneath, or if the waterfall leaks below. Learn as you go....lol.
Next one will be done a little differently. Just don't let my wife read this!
Like I said, it was my FIRST build. Lol.