Hey guys, I've been ghosting this forum for months now trying to gleam as much info as possible. While doing that I've also been working on a vivarium off an 18x18x24 Exo Terra. I've nearly have it complete and I just felt like showing it off and I'd love any pointers you guys may have.
To explain in-depth (and pictures), I did a drift wood barrier between the water and land. My LFS had some sweet flat drift wood that nicely split the tank base diagonally. I use ex terra's bio drain and put a rio pump in the far corner feeding a waterfall system on that side.
I used landscaping foam and sprayed the back and to create a texture and the water fall system. In the waterfall I put small reptile food trays as tiers to catch the water as it goes down (I'll put small plants in the trays when the system is established). I also glued cork halves to the back to use for places to put plants as well.
After all that I was going to get it set up in my front room (its been in my basement while I'm working on it) but then I stumbled on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX2Tb5NLSIQ]this video using this stuff called Hygrolon and I had to buy some. I couldn't figure out a good way of glueing the Hygrolon to the landscaping foam so I just bought some stainless steel screws and that secured it great. I tell ya that stuff is very absorbent. I have the water coming off of the water fall channeled into the water portion as well as a tube feeding water along the back to keep the Hygrolong moist.
I'm thinking with all the water passing through the moss, plants, and the bio drain it should provide ample filtration. I have an RO filter so I'll be using that to top off the water so there shouldn't be any threat of hard water.
At this point all I have to do is it some trimming and prep to the bottom floor of the vivarium land side, blend some moss up, apply it, and set it up to cycle. After that is all done I'll be adding a ton of plants, some guppies (for show/food) and I think I'll start with eastern newts. This is my first attempt at newts so I thought I'd start simple and go from there.
Anyways have a look at the pics. It's not a complete step by step of what I've done but I'm sure you get the general idea of where I'm at and where I'm going.
And also feel free to give some advice. This is all very new to me and my feelings won't get hurt.
Glueing the wood and top tray of the waterfall in:
http://s41.photobucket.com/user/Mic...53/Micah_Orvis/IMG_0745_zpstikk1zru.jpg[/IMG]
Just after spraying the landscaping foam and trying very hard to sculpt it
First wet run
Taken tonight. I still need to trim the bottom up a bit but it's almost done.
Micah
To explain in-depth (and pictures), I did a drift wood barrier between the water and land. My LFS had some sweet flat drift wood that nicely split the tank base diagonally. I use ex terra's bio drain and put a rio pump in the far corner feeding a waterfall system on that side.
I used landscaping foam and sprayed the back and to create a texture and the water fall system. In the waterfall I put small reptile food trays as tiers to catch the water as it goes down (I'll put small plants in the trays when the system is established). I also glued cork halves to the back to use for places to put plants as well.
After all that I was going to get it set up in my front room (its been in my basement while I'm working on it) but then I stumbled on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX2Tb5NLSIQ]this video using this stuff called Hygrolon and I had to buy some. I couldn't figure out a good way of glueing the Hygrolon to the landscaping foam so I just bought some stainless steel screws and that secured it great. I tell ya that stuff is very absorbent. I have the water coming off of the water fall channeled into the water portion as well as a tube feeding water along the back to keep the Hygrolong moist.
I'm thinking with all the water passing through the moss, plants, and the bio drain it should provide ample filtration. I have an RO filter so I'll be using that to top off the water so there shouldn't be any threat of hard water.
At this point all I have to do is it some trimming and prep to the bottom floor of the vivarium land side, blend some moss up, apply it, and set it up to cycle. After that is all done I'll be adding a ton of plants, some guppies (for show/food) and I think I'll start with eastern newts. This is my first attempt at newts so I thought I'd start simple and go from there.
Anyways have a look at the pics. It's not a complete step by step of what I've done but I'm sure you get the general idea of where I'm at and where I'm going.
And also feel free to give some advice. This is all very new to me and my feelings won't get hurt.
Glueing the wood and top tray of the waterfall in:
http://s41.photobucket.com/user/Mic...53/Micah_Orvis/IMG_0745_zpstikk1zru.jpg[/IMG]
Just after spraying the landscaping foam and trying very hard to sculpt it
First wet run
Taken tonight. I still need to trim the bottom up a bit but it's almost done.
Micah
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