NEW 2ft frog viv

[angel_saza]

NEW 2ft Vivarium. Please leave a comment

After much anticipation (long story), i finally have my vivarium up and running. It's a custom tank, measuring 60cm x 32cm x 45cm. I also had a custom stand and lid made too.

The tank features a stainless steel false bottom, which sits about 5cm high. On top of this is a double layer of thick green shadecloth, which is there to stop the substrate from falling through. I decided to go with a soil mix which contains cocopeat, orchid bark and sphagnum moss. I also put a layer of sphagnum moss to cover the soil mix so the frogs won't get covered with soil. To allow a bit more depth for the soil, i have put in some wide pieces of driftwood. The wood surrounds the water area so the soil can't fall in.

I made a water feature which also doubles as the housing for my water heater and pump. It's simply a box with a curved arm attached to one corner. This arm is the river part and it delivers water to the frog-accessible water pond. This is all made from polystyrene - shaped, siliconed together, grouted with tile grout, painted with green and brown acrylic paint and sealed with a pond sealer. I added co**** sand to the grount to create a rocky texture.

The background is an Exo-Terra foam background which i also grouted (without the sand), painted and sealed to match the waterfall.

I have live plants in this tank. I have 2 small philodendrons, a couple of dwarf mondo grasses and some baby tears.

I also put in a medium jungle vine and a coconut nut, which finishes off the tank nicely.

The waterfall runs really nicely and sounds relaxing and haven't turned on the heater yet, but it's set to 27 degrees.

I'm hoping to get my 2 sub-adult green trees in here in about a week, after they have gotten over a bacterial infection that they picked up in their temporary tank.

I would like to thank my uncle for putting quite an effort into constructing the stand and lid and for my family for putting up with the rigmoral that this tank has created in the past three months

 

[leighroyaus]

looks pretty damn good

 

[Adam]

That is THE best setup I have seen so far!!!! You have inspired me!!

 

[angel_saza]

Thanks leigh.

It took me about an hour and a half to set up from an empty tank. but getting materials and making the waterfall took a good few days.

I was only in mildura a few weeks ago, i just missed the flodding i popped into petstock, where i was dissappointed with their reptile equipment range, and another aquarium shop around the corner. their prices were a little cheaper than over here, which i was surprised about.

 

[angel_saza]

I thank you too Adam, and your welcome very much for the inspiration.

 

[hogey5]

looks great

 

[Adam]

Is the metal stainless steel? Where did you get the metal from and how much was it? I can't wait to make some like that. Love the live plants too, I think they are very important for frogs to have.

 

[Inkslinger]

Love the coconut idea looks great, well thought out and constructed.

 

[angel_saza]

MY dad was able to get the stainless steel from his work, so it was free. The main structure of it is a stainless steel weave about 2cm long. It has stainless 'mesh', like flywire, attatched over the top. I've attached a close up photo..

The photo of just the false bottom was taken before i had attached the mesh, but it gives you an idea of the weave. The second is the only photo of the false bottom with the mesh attached that i have without anything else over it. I attached barriers made from the mesh around the edge of the pond. I also split some plastic tubing and put it over the edge of the exposed steel because it was sharp.

 

[Kratos]

Looks great, but is it hard to clean?

 

[angel_saza]

It's not overly difficult. Fine bits of soil has managed it's way through the false floor into the water area, but i attached an extension of plastic tubing onto my hand siphon and got most of it out. My pump was getting a bit clogged from the dirt, but i've got it sitting on a filter sponge now, so basically it's filtering the water.

Spot cleaning is a bit tricky coz the frog poo blends into the soil and i cant see it.... until it goes mouldy, lol. The soil still smells fresh so that hasn't gone off yet... i'm expecting it to, but hopefully not for a while. When it does go off, i'll have to change the whole substrate.

Other than that.. all is well thanks