[Xeahast]

This is my first aqua-terrarium (or terrarium in general) build and I wanted to share my first experience with you guys. My hopes are that it will inspire/motivate/help people who are building their own and to get some great suggestions from the veterans here.

I'm pretty ambitious, and so these are my goals for the tank;

-Medium/large sized pool and aquarium on the far right, probably 6"-8" deep.
-Large stone "free-fall" style waterfall starting near the top of the tank on the far left and draining across to the pool.
-Rocks and ground eventually largely moss-covered.
-Lots of vines, thick ferns, tropical flowering plants and possibly orchids.
-Natural and long-term equilibrium of plants, bacteria, fungi, fish and amphibians. The latter will most likely include Darts or Red Bellies and tetras and catfish.
-Use of as little plastics and chemicals as possible. I do plan on using PVC and eggcrating for the false bottom and silicon sealant to attach whatever backing I decide on, but absolutely NO spray paint or expanding foam.

That being said, this is what I have so far;

-55 Gallon all glass aquarium (19x47.5x12)(HxWxD) Full dual hood and stand included.
-Rena Filstar XP2 Full Filtration System
-Lots of fine white filter mats
-Creek rock (some with moss)
-Rotting logs/branches
-Moss mats*

*The moss mats were gathered in a temperate clime (State Park in New York) although the species grows down into Florida so I am giving it a shot in a tropical terrarium.

Thanks for reading and any discussion or suggestions are appreciated!

Went to Lowes to grab the eggcrating and PVC pipe. Walmart had the peat moss I needed to I grabbed three bags to be safe. I cut the PVC into 5" segments to support the false bottom. When I cut the eggcrating into the shape I wanted.

I lined the bottom with gravel as a sort of make-shift foundation for the PVC so they didn't slip.

After stacking on the eggcrating and lining it with filter mats, I realized the shape wasn't right. I needed some sort of natural-looking slope or edge to the water, and this wasn't doing it for me. So I got a log I had found at the State Park and laid it lengthwise across the tank, then used the eggcrating as scaffolding to make it even to the height of the log behind it.

I added a branch on the right to give the land feature a split-level effect, then added my peat moss and the moss mats, plus some ferns and ground vines I found on the side of the road.

Added a few rocks to make use of the wasted vertical space with a big log on top. Also added the water feature. Something was missing though.

Soooo I decided to go back to Walmart and grab some real tropical plants instead of the weeds I had found. I did keep the ground vine though; it looked nice. This is (so far) the end result. What do you guys think?

 

[Xeahast]

So all in all I guess I achieved all of my goals except the waterfall, but I think it looks better without one.

 

[sewingalot]

I am surprised no one has commented on this. It is truly an amazing project. The depth you created in a such a shallow tank is great. Subscribed.

 

[rbarn]

Tips:

1. If you want Dart Frogs ditch the water and any other critters.
2. Ventilation is critical to keeping unwanted molds down.
You will have to experiment with just the right amount of ventilation to keep molds down but sealed up enough to keep humidity levels high.
When you get wrong you will get fury mold, when you get it right everything thrives and you might get little mushrooms on the wood.
3. Automatic misting systems are worth their weight in gold. http://www.mistking.com/

 

[firefiend]

Tips:
1. If you want Dart Frogs ditch the water and any other critters.

Well you don't need to ditch it but PDF's are very poor swimmers so if you kept it, either make it shallow (1") or add lots of large stones and branches that make it ridiculously easy for them to get out and not have to swim.

2. Ventilation is critical... when you get it right everything thrives and you might get little mushrooms on the wood.

+1


I like this project. The end result looks great.

 

[Xeahast]

I am surprised no one has commented on this. It is truly an amazing project. The depth you created in a such a shallow tank is great. Subscribed.

Wow thanks! Glad you like it and yes it was definitely a challenge to give it that element of depth with only a foot to work with.

 

[Xeahast]

Tips:

1. If you want Dart Frogs ditch the water and any other critters.
2. Ventilation is critical to keeping unwanted molds down.
You will have to experiment with just the right amount of ventilation to keep molds down but sealed up enough to keep humidity levels high.
When you get wrong you will get fury mold, when you get it right everything thrives and you might get little mushrooms on the wood.
3. Automatic misting systems are worth their weight in gold. http://www.mistking.com/

Oh wow ok thanks I didn't know that. I figured they would need a lot of water since they're..well, frogs. I actually WAS thinking about ditching the water feature but I figured I needed some sort of drainage system for the live plants. If I water them daily with no sort of bottom water drainage won't that rot the roots and cause mold in the soil? Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Xeahast]

Well you don't need to ditch it but PDF's are very poor swimmers so if you kept it, either make it shallow (1") or add lots of large stones and branches that make it ridiculously easy for them to get out and not have to swim.

+1

I like this project. The end result looks great.

Thanks for your input it helps me a bunch!

 

[2in10]

Excellent work and design. Looks very good