12x12x18 Exo-Terra: Build Log with Pics.

[heartagramtc]

hey all, i have an exo-terra 12x12x18 its been built about 3 times now, but i want to completely revamp it and make it as realistic as psible to a rain forest in such a small space. i would like to have dart frogs. but we shall see. I really would like to have a rock wall custom built. and i want to try to have running water weather it be a waterfall or just a trickle going down the wall/branch. the tank ive customized by adding acrylic to the top to keep humidity. sorry for all the questions in advance just want to pick the brains of those with more experience.

so i guess we can cover things in sections.
first. is it possible to get running water in this tank? how would i best go about it? false floor? expanded clay? what type of pump would suffice with out being too much power? any ideas to where to place it to keep easy access for cleaning or maintenance? would i need a pool for the water to drain into? or can it just flow into the ground and re-circulate?

second. the rock wall. i am pretty confident in my artistic skills, but i am a beginner at this so im not sure in the best materials, i am planing on making the base structure from the foam like the cheap coolers, and creating the water flow with chunks of the foam to direct it where i want it. i have seen the habbacrete which looks awesome but im not sure yet about it. i dont know if maybe grout would be better/cheaper. cost is an issue for me. also what type of paints do i use for painting the background? base, and drybrush colors.

i do have a few ideas in process but will they work im not sure. like creating a waterfall like a wall fountain. you have the top the middles and then the resivoir thats like a pool which houses the pump.

another idea i have is with a FF make a false door with a rock that i can just pull up to access the pump underneath.

again sorry for all the questions but i want to do this project right, and make it look awesome. thanks for all those who post their thoughts. much appriciated.

[heartagramtc]

Well since apparently no one knows how to build a vivarium, or how to answer questions. I just jumped into it and started building away. Again this is my first time using styrofoam for a background.

Here is my tank w/o anything in it. empty in all its glory.


here are some pics of me creating the background with one of those styrofoam coolers from 7-11.
i decided to do a multi-level background with built in planter for a plant.
here are some pics of my tool i was using. its called a "bone" saw.


here are some rocks i tried making


this will be my mid layer with the built in planter box.






now here is my pic with the first level that has a "ramp" that goes up to the second level with the plant.






This next pic is with the top most layer that will have a coco hut up on top.






Now here are some pics of what it will look like in the tank. also the black foam going across will be made into looking like a root growing on the rock face.






I am planning on going with the thinset/grout method. i will post up more pics as my progress continues.

[froggsong]

Wow, you did a great job so far, even though no one answered your questions! I must have missed this one. I have gotten behind on the threads and haven't gotten caught up yet. What are you using to glue the styrofoam together? I love your "root", you got the shape perfect for it. You did a great job with those rocks too, you have a bit of an artistic side, don't you?

If you are planning to house darts, from what I understand they don't HAVE to have a pool, but it is a good idea to have a shallow one so they can get wetter if they want to. So, you could go with a FB (it is going to take up 3-6 inches, depending on the substrate depth needed for your plants), or you could go with the LECA. I think you might be better off with the LECA, based on what I think you want for a water feature. If you use the LECA, you can have a small fountain pump buried in the LECA, circulating your water up to the water feature and making sure it does not stagnate (this would be the best way to have the water simply recirculate through the substrate). Also, with the LECA, if you need a deeper area for soil for a plant, you can easily hide a planter down in the LECA to allow for deeper soil. You could also do without terrestrial plants and use epiphytic plants, then cultivate some Java moss for a substrate. It would grow quickly and make a gorgeous carpet, and you wouldn't need a separate substrate, it could just grow right on top of the LECA. Or, you could use terrestrial plants in buried planters and do the Java moss in the areas around the plants. I'm sorry this is all a bit late, but I hope it still helps.

[heartagramtc]

Thanks! well for attaching the styrofoam together, i am using aquarium silicone. i figured if its safe for an aquarium its safe for a vivarium.

yeah for the substrate i was going to go with the LECA, as i have a 50lb bag of the stuff. what would you suggest for the water feature? im trying to think how or where i can run it to. maybe just down the wall itself? i just bought some dried bamboo that im going to try to cut in half longways and use that to make like a waterflow type water fall. any suggestions? maybe you know a way to make the background better suited to have a flow of water on it? last question how do i cultivate java moss? and best way to apply it?

thanks again!

[heartagramtc]

?????? anyone???

[froggsong]

so impatient, lol... I'll have to brainstorm over the water feature part, but from what I understand with Java moss, all you do is separate it out and put it wherever you want it to grow and keep in moist. Should grow right on the LECA. Just buy some and spread it out over the LECA and make sure that you keep the water level high enough to keep the moss moist.

[froggsong]

I'm thinking of using super glue to gle my styrofoam together... I'll have to test it first and make sure the glue doesn't melt it though... I have seen super glue eat through some things before...

[heartagramtc]

So impatient?! lol i did post it two days ago. im not sure if the superglue will melt it or not, i just used the silicone. also where can i find java moss?? do they sell them in pet stores? nurseries? or do i have to go to a specialty shop? again thanks for all your input!

[froggsong]

Ok, a question... Can you still remove the BG, or is that GS sealing it to the glass? If you want to run a water feature down the BG you are going to need to run a tube behind it. If it is sealed, you can always cut across the foam under your "root" so that you can remove that part, carve a channel in the back for your tube, and then replace it.


I think a good place for the outlet would be the red mark (with the tube pointed at the back of the tank so it will flow down the root, rather than just over the side there), and a good place for the channel (carved into the back side) would be the pink mark. That would make the water run down your root, and I think that would look very cool. You'd have to figure out a good way to carve the channel for the tube to pass through the part that is sealed to the glass with the GS, but it shouldn't be too hard. You could always break the seal between the GS and the glass and remove the whole thing in one piece too, that way it would be easier. If you do it like that and have the water outlet where I marked, if it doesn't flow the way you want, you can carve a tiny notch in the GS in places where you want the water to trickle over the edge, and it will follow the easiest course down (the way you want it to).

Hope that helps!

EDIT: I changed the pic a little bit. The blue line is where I suggest you cut the foam to pull out the bottom section to carve the channel.

[froggsong]

I think the balls of moss they sell in petco and petsmart are balls of java... Otherwise you can order it online.

I was just poking fun, I promise. I really don't know how I missed your post on the 4th. I am using a new browser and it does some funny things with the forum...