My First Vive Build: Build Log with Pics.

[seahawksfan_74]

The first few are of the aquarium I am using in all its broken glory!





Next I cut the acrylic to make the three pieces I will need for the base, door and top. I have siliconed the base into place, I will test it this weekend to make sure it is water tight.



I fit the egg crate into the aquarium to make sure it was sized right.



Then I created the bones for the base of my viv, this includes the FB, and some of the BG. There is a large openning for access to the mechanics of the water features.





I have been covering the FB with foam, this has been a three step process over the last few days. The day after I foam each time I have sculpted the foam using a Dremel tool. This created the waterfall, second collecting pool and stream.















Just this evening I have added aquarium gravel to the base of the pond. I have use silicone to adhere it to the GS up well above the planned waterline. I followed the contours of the GS to make what I hope will be a nice natural look.





This last photo shows how I used a Dremel to dig out a large piece of GS that I had added to the BG to use as a planter.



That is where I am at as of right now. I hope this journal isn't too long or too many photos. Any ideas suggestions or thoughts are welcome. I hope this photobucket thing works or this will be a pointless post!

[seahawksfan_74]

I still have coco fiber to add, the large stones for the waterfall and the top half of the BG. I am sure I will be working on this for a few more weeks, but I have made a lot more progress then I thought I would. We will see what I can find for plants and driftwood. The budget may force me to skip driftwood for now. I can always add it later... we will see.

[froggsong]

Just go searching for driftwood. You don't have to buy it.

It looks really good so far. I can't wait to see it progress.

[beckdg]

FREE... driftwood is FREE... idk where merchants get off selling a free piece of wood for $50, but i get mine... well after it has drifted onto the beach at my local river/waterhole... check out my fish tank... i have plants growing in and on it... and other than boiling it was FREE... you can always buy something fancier later, but for now... FREE is a great price don't you agree???... sorry i just like that word... some say my little town has a motto... "if it's for FREE it's for ME"... lol... FREE

[froggsong]

I have a motto myself, "If it ain't free, I probably don't want it... If it IS, get outta my way, 'cause it really hurts getting trampled by 260lbs."

hehehe...

Also look for overturned trees, or loose stumps. Root wood is more water resistant and looks sooooo cool.

If you have an eye for mopani wood like I do, you can find GREAT deals on large pieces at Petco. The medium sized pieces list for 9.99, and MOST of the large pieces are mismarked as medium. Plus, it goes on sale almost constantly. I've gotten three pieces now for 5 bucks or less apiece.

Keep an eye on craiglist (is there an equivalent in Canada? I forgot you weren't in the US when I wrote this... The seahawks thing is throwing me off and making me think you're here around Seattle, lol) for people getting rid of driftwood too. Sometimes it's free, sometimes it's really cheap. I got two huge pieces for 10 bucks.

Go hiking, you can find great pieces in the woods. It doesn't just have to be driftwood. I usually take something to use as a saw or whatever in case I find a branch ON a tree that I just have to have. I know, people say not to take live branches, but I do, and I still will, even when they say I shouldn't, lol... If I can find dead stuff I like better, that's great, but sometimes the live stuff is just what I want (and easier to bend if necessary).

Also, if you spot someone doing landscaping, stop and ask them if you can go through the pile of branches before they chip them. Sometimes you can find great pieces that would otherwise be turned into mulch. Bigger branches can always be cut down (which they may do for you if they aren't terribly busy).

[seahawksfan_74]

Thanks for the great advice. I have a great Elm in my front yard that dropped a really interesting branch, but I was afraid that if it wasn't "pet quality" driftwood it would hurt the frogs or rot in no time. I will boil it tonight and add it in. Woohoo! Yeah I like NFL and when I was in my teens I wanted to pick the saddest least likely to win team and cheer for the under dog. The Seahawks were the best option.

[seahawksfan_74]

Oh yeah LOL about finding driftwood here at this time of year. We are in the midst of a Winter Storm Warning. 5-10 cm of snow today, water is still a month or two away. Thought the melt had started earlier this week before this cold snap. 5-10 cm is like 2-4 inches I think.

[seahawksfan_74]

This is the piece of wood from the tree out front. Notice the snow on the first pic. Should I really boil it?





I will only use the top fork as the rest would overpower the size of the vivarium.

[froggsong]

Nice piece! Just throw it in the oven while it's still saturated and bake it dry. I bake mine on 300, but you can go with 250 if you are more comfortable with that (or don't want to keep checking on it every two or three minutes). Just open the oven door every 5 minutes or so to let the steam escape. Once you see parts of it starting to dry, check it every couple of minutes until it is dry all the way. Be careful taking it out of the oven when it's done (obviously, lol).

[MTviver]

do not lean over the door when you let steam out! seriously. ouch.

make sure you give everything plenty of time to cure too.

where are you in canada? sounds like the weather here. It was 50+ this weekend, this morning was 25 and 5 inches of snow.