First Construction - Start to Finish

[Nath5]

Questions About Plants:

1. Does anyone have the dimensions of those little pots that I see embedded in the back walls on many vivariums as can be seen in the pictures from RudeReefers tank here:

my method of building fake / faux rocks

2. I recently bought two Asianic Ginseng plants from Home Depot and wanted to know if they would be safe to put in the tank with dart frogs.

3. Does anyone know of a good place to get nice hardwoods that won't rot or get moldy.


Thanks,
Nathan

[Nath5]

I may cut a way the front, but I don't want to fuse the stream bed to the glass. As this is my first tank I am nervous that I will do something wrong and the tank will become contaminated. If this does happen I am trying to keep it so that the tank can be dismantled which is why I am leaving the back wall in three separate pieces. As for handling the water at the end of the stream I am planning on drilling several small holes through the bottom to allow the water to drain. Does this sound like it would work.

Also could you look at my other post and see if you know any of the answers to those questions. Thanks for all your help and encouragement.

-Nathan

[RudeReefer]

that should work.. also if you do cut the front out, gravel will keep the frogs from getting down there if you stick it in the spaces. In my first small vive I used a drinking straw as a drain.. worked good! But you already have your great stuff in place. I do not know the size of the pots.. I wish I had a loose one here. The frogs love caves, especially up high (depending on the frog) .. keep that in mind too.

[Nath5]

Yea I looked back over several threads and decided that I didn't have enough nooks in the back wall, so I am in the process of creating one or two more. I also plan on adding some smaller hills else where in the tank with some caves there too. I plan on lining the stream bed with pebbles so that should keep the frogs out.

[Nath5]

After looking at the tank for a little while i decided I needed to add some more complexity to it as it seemed very flat to me so I added a place to plant a plant in the front as well as another small hide area. I am worried that I do not have enough flat space for the frogs and am trying to figure out how I can add some more surface area up higher. For example some rock shelves on one side, but I haven't figured out how to do this yet while keeping the tank looking somewhat natural. I would love some suggestions.

Here are some pictures of the new additions:









More Questions in the following post!

[Nath5]

Questions:

1. I asked this earlier but ill ask again, is Asianic Ginseng a safe plant for the darts?

2. Any ideas on increasing surface area for the frogs?

3. How many Dendrobates Auratus the Black and Green ones do you think would fit in this tank?

4. Will the window screen keep all the substrate from falling through or will small particles make it through. Should I add a second layer?

Thanks Everyone

[BigWillieStyles]

Your build looks really good, but I was just wondering why you went for the foam over polystyrene?

Are you planning on having a water pump under the egg rack. Just wondering, once everything is in place, can you easily access the pump and the water?

[primeline31]

Vere nice build. I'm in the planning stages and you've provided many excellent ideas and for that I thank you.

I have a suggestion to save us a few bucks.

You can get big slabs of that green foam from any cemetary for free.

All florists use it to create funerary arrangements. After the funeral, the flower arrangements are taken to the cemetary with the deceased for a final disply and after the burial, they are taken to the cemetary's trash area to await pickup.

The workers always let you take what you want because it means less for them to toss on the truck. Even if you don't need the foam now, if you're passing a cemetary, see if you can pick up a chunk or two.

[komodoking]

Fantastic Build man, keep the pics coming

[motor-head82]

build is looking great man! ive been doing alot of research on doing my own build since seeing reefers build...and just like you i had questions on paint...thanks to you and reefers forums i think im ready to start! keep us updated