Construction for two Whites Tree frogs

[Nath5]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post on this forum which is incredible. I am about to start building my first real tank. I have had frogs for much of my life but have always kept them in simple tanks with a bunch of fake plants. I have always wanted to build a much nicer tank with a water feature and live plants and figured I would make this my summer project.

After browsing many of the stickies and forum posts I have learned a lot but I also now have many questions. I just bought a 18" x 18" x 24" exo terra tank and will be building a false bottom using egg crate. I would also like to build up some structures in the tank using the egg crate. From what I have read it seams that many people are using Great Stuff pond sealer for this purpose. My questions regarding that are below:

1. What is a safe glue, or something like glue that I can use to build with the egg crate to create a general framework before I cover it in GS.
2. How does one add all the textures I see to the foam, when its freshly applied or after it cures.
3. GS is not water proof, I have read many different ways of water proofing it with many people arguing for and against each version. I would like to be able to paint the GS rock colored and then have it sealed safely against water. The tank will eventually be housing two whites tree frogs. What is the best paint / sealant to use.
4. What do you all suggest as the layer which sits on the top of the egg crate bottom, it needs to be water permeable. I have read that some people have used garden bed liner but I heard that it breaks down rather fast.

I have seen some beautiful tanks with some amazing looking plants, however, most of these tanks were for dart frogs which are much smaller in size when compared to whites tree frogs. What would be some good hardy plants which would be sturdy enough and safe for whites.

I would also like to add some real wood into the tank but, I have read that I must be very careful to find the right type of wood, one which will not absorb a lot of water and mold. What have people used and found to work well, the wood will not be sitting directly in water.

I am sure I will have many more questions as I continue this project, but this ought to get me started.

Thanks so much for any advice,
Nathan

[claymore]

Whites Tree Frogs are a more forest style of habitat... You really need a lot of ground space... Which leads me to the question if it would be wise to set up a Palu... If so, Make sure you give them some ground space.

1: An Egg crate Structure or ridged frame can be helled together with zip-ties, Otherwise I would use silicone.

2:Usually The GS foam is sprayed and then trimmed depending on the landscaping that you like.... Then you can use a bunch of different kind adhesives(GE silicone I or GE II is the most popular) to stick a substrate of ones choosing (Coco Fiber or peat is most commonly used).

3: GS is water proof once cured. As for painting and Non Toxic Acrylic paint will color the GS quite nicely but for a sealer your going to have to wait till Someone else can help you.

4: Nylon Window Screen is what is most commonly used for the substrate divider.

5: Most woods are great to be used for vivariums. Just stay away from cedar,pine, and any wood that has a strong scent...

Ghost Wood, Cypress wood, Mopani Wood, or any other Drift Wood are good for wet and moist habitats. Make sure to boil and soak the wood to remove all the tanic acids out of the wood and to remove any harmful micofauna.

[Nath5]

Thanks for the advice, I agree that there should be a good amount of ground space for the whites I will take that into consideration when I go about creating structures. I also plan on creating several elevated flat areas. I found a great post about creating fake rock walls using Styrofoam blocks and concrete. I will probably attempt this to create the waterfall I am hoping to include.

Another big question I have is how often does a tank like this need to be cleaned, and how does one clean a tank with live plants. Does the soil need to be removed and new soil put in every cleaning.

Does anyone know what a good water pump would be to provide enough water flow for a top to bottom water fall in a 24" high exo tera tank.

[beckdg]

1. what clay said
2. there's crete/grout and the binder/bonder method to add to clays answer...
3. water proof... depends on the definition you're using... it's a sponge once it's cured... but inert.... so it doesn't hold water back but is safe... gaps and cracks and pond and stone are usually used... big gap filler swells huge and leaves huge bubbles... windows and doors has an additive that makes it flexible... and doesn't always completely cure... can leach toxins sometimes.
4. what clay said
5. if you like the look of swampy waters you don't have to leach the tannins out. you're looking for something not soft (can't press your thumb into it), not scented and without sap. soaking and baking can kill the critters also. the flash point for many woods is just over 350* F so keep your oven ~300* or less and keep an eye on it once it starts to dry. there are other tricks you can use for preparing wood if necessary, but that's the basics and the common ways.

clean it whenever you get a chance. wipe down the glass, pick up any noticeable poo, turn the soil wherever you see mold/muck/issues (if you can). do not change the soil. vivs are naturalized environments. the forces/cycle of nature is mimicked on a small scale... microbes grow, mold grows, moss grows, plants grow and take hold... animals are added. changing the soil starts the cycle all over and is cause for mold re-occurrence.

you're looking for a pump with +/- 100gph @ 2' head height most likely. internal filters/pond pumps/repti-flow filters/canisters/waterfall pumps (cheap and usually sturdy)...
i'd definitely look for something adjustable or put a ball valve on the output to adjust it. pumps tend to run slower over time so being able to choke it back at first and adjust over time is a major plus and helps keep your desired flow.


definitely take the time to check out all the stickies. you'll get lots of ideas and answer a lot of your questions. also check this thread out... how it's done... favorite links thread

welcome to the site.