intro/preparing for my first vive

[gillenws]

greetings all... this is my second post (posted this earlier in the wrong section) and i am quite new to all of this.

so i guess i really want to make a paludarium. anyways for my birthday my girlfriend is getting me poison dart frogs that i've wanted for a while and we're going to build an environment together. we've done a lot of research as to the best ways to build a vivarium, the materials required, etc. we are planning to have mostly land, but we'd also like to include a water feature (either a waterfall or water running down a log, either one ending in a small pond). we also plan to use a background instead of a landscape with all four sides of the tank uncovered. as i understand it, my basic requirements to build this vive, which will be in a 29gal tank (36Lx12H, cant remember the depth), are as follows:

- light weight clay pellets for drainage
- a screen to fit between the drainage and substrate layers
- substrate (the coco bark?)
- GS for attaching a background and building a landscape
- lighting (actually came with the tank)
- plants (any suggestions here would be great, remember this is my first vive... i plan to have mostly green plants)
- thermometer/hygrometer
- water pump
- egg crate (for landscaping and building water element)
- wood pieces (cypress i believe was recommended)
- pebbles (for pond bed)

as per my reading the idea of this vivarium is to create a self-sustaining environment, using the heat from the light to maintain the proper temperature and a basic enclosed water cycle to maintain the plants while only needing to add food for the frogs. My basic idea is to use pebbles to create the pond bottom and separate them from the clay pellets with a screen, thus maintaining the pond below the main substrate level. is this the correct way to construct a pond? if not i'd appreciate any advice or links to any instructional materials. I plan to build the drainage layer with the clay pellets, cover with a screen and begin the substrate layer on top of that. if i decide to use egg crate to build a landscape, is GS the best way to start a substrate layer on it?

if any of this is incorrect or you have any comments/suggestions on any methods/materials i am open to any type of feedback. thanks in advance for any help!

[Chu'Wuti]

I'm going to let the more experienced folks comment on your questions regarding your pond construction. However, you'll also need a water filter, and you should be sure to get a digital thermometer/hygrometer rather than dial types. Quite a few people use the Acu-Rite brand digital combo as it is fairly inexpensive.

One other suggestion is to create your background on a separate piece that can be inserted into the vive and later removed from the paludarium/vivarium for easier and more complete cleaning.

Have fun with your project!

[gillenws]

alright ill add that to my notes in prep for buying all my supplies... thanks!