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rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 01:23 PM
I know this isn't really fish related since most of the tank is built for my poison dart frogs but the pond will hold a pair of apistos and clown pleco or two lol.

Well its time again to build a new display vivarium. The tank will be 24"x24"x36" corner euro style vivarium made by Jason at Protean Custom Terrariums. My ultimate plan is to turn this into a desk/ or bookcase and make the vivarium the centerpiece. Lighting for this vivarium will consist of lights from Todd Goode w/ lightyourreptiles.com. I am going to be using his new 30w LED dome along with two 22" HOT5s. One HOT5 will have the arcadia UVB bulb and the other will be an 8K bulb. It will also have a fully automated system in it controlled by Ecozone. The cool thing about this ecozone module is not only will it be able to dim my LEDs to make it life like lighting, control my mistking system, tell me the temps/humidity in my viv along with the temps in my canopy, control my PC fans for ventilation, but also I can keep a constant update on it via my iPhone app. It will alert me when temps get to cold/ hot and also when the humidity gets to low!. I am so excited!

Here is the center piece of wood I'll be using:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/9397EED3-1F98-4F1A-B621-76C896540708-956-000000ECDA5B77F4.jpg

Here is the tank covered in salt from the delivery and the next photo is from the alcohol bath I gave it to make it clean :)
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/0500910A-DE6C-4C2F-AE54-3CCE45CAC557-877-0000015BC6966326.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/3CDC03A3-5416-4C9B-BB2A-ED84EBCA1568-877-0000015BCF89A50D.jpg

Here are a few of the plants I will be using in here as well :)
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/FF1888EA-EE0A-4D9C-9DB5-0C1600FCD906-421-000000D36FF808AA.jpg

More to come :)

rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 01:24 PM
Here I have created part of the 3-D background and dry fitting the plants:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/BC458A6C-7AE1-487A-B27A-5ED17612AFED-812-00000067FA1AE913.jpg

Next, I am applying a sealent to the background to make it waterproof/ resistant:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/0EB7B70A-3566-483B-A118-53B0565EA9F4-1444-0000008E43A9CFF7_zps9d3077da.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/1F8FB687-A1B4-4F8B-8128-10D673168788-1444-0000008F465CCCEB_zps25cd999f.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/C2ED54FF-BF7C-4DAD-A7E5-6DE4473B7EFE-1444-0000008E7E8631FF_zpsf1b944bc.jpg

The finished product:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/6E2AEA3F-FD56-43AF-93A1-D6A242309FC7-530-00000056ACF2863C_zps9635855d.jpg

Skip
02-05-2013, 01:26 PM
not fish related.. but awesome NONETHELESS!!

Second Hand Pat
02-05-2013, 01:27 PM
Yes very cool.

Trier20
02-05-2013, 01:31 PM
Very nice. I tried to talk my fiancé into letting me set on up. I got shot down within second. Lol! Poison dart frogs are super cool!

Skip
02-05-2013, 01:38 PM
Very nice. I tried to talk my fiancé into letting me set on up. I got shot down within second. Lol! Poison dart frogs are super cool!

when you come to NADA 2014 Austin.. i will give you one!!
i have extra :)

Trier20
02-05-2013, 01:41 PM
when you come to NADA 2014 Austin.. i will give you one!!
i have extra :)

It wasn't the vivarium she was really not in favor for it was the frogs. Said she was worried about the kid with the frogs. I appreciate the offer though.

Skip
02-05-2013, 01:42 PM
It wasn't the vivarium she was really not in favor for it was the frogs. Said she was worried about the kid with the frogs. I appreciate the offer though.

frogs are not poisonous in captivity.. just a little FYI..

their diet is not the same at in the wild.. :) :)
try that one :)

rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 01:43 PM
It wasn't the vivarium she was really not in favor for it was the frogs. Said she was worried about the kid with the frogs. I appreciate the offer though.

Poison Dart Frogs when captive bred are no more poisonus than the common bullfrog ;). They get their toxins from their diet in the wild.

rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 01:44 PM
not fish related.. but awesome NONETHELESS!!

I keep fish in all my tanks. This one will have cherry shrimp, clown pleco or two, and a pair of apistos.

Tazalanche
02-05-2013, 05:11 PM
Very cool. I can't wait to see the finished product.

Disgirl
02-05-2013, 05:14 PM
Very interesting! In the public aquarium where I am a volunteer, we have several large vivariums with frogs, salamanders and newts. I always admire them and wonder how they were made, thanks for your pics here! I had no idea that poison darts are only poison in nature, from their diet. What do they eat in nature??
Barb

Trier20
02-05-2013, 05:43 PM
Poison Dart Frogs when captive bred are no more poisonus than the common bullfrog ;). They get their toxins from their diet in the wild.

I did know this but you try convincing a mom that the frog isn't gonna kill our kid. Lol

Trier20
02-05-2013, 05:48 PM
Very interesting! In the public aquarium where I am a volunteer, we have several large vivariums with frogs, salamanders and newts. I always admire them and wonder how they were made, thanks for your pics here! I had no idea that poison darts are only poison in nature, from their diet. What do they eat in nature??
Barb

If I remember right, correct me if I'm wrong, the bugs they eat contains toxins which the excrete from their skin making them poisonous.

Second Hand Pat
02-05-2013, 06:54 PM
If I remember right, correct me if I'm wrong, the bugs they eat contains toxins which the excrete from their skin making them poisonous.

Believe ants are the main source for the toxins.

rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 08:11 PM
I did know this but you try convincing a mom that the frog isn't gonna kill our kid. Lol

I do this for a living lol. Its not even hard anymore lol.

rainforestexperience
02-05-2013, 08:14 PM
I was actually reading a new article that they think it comes from mites and aphids more than ants.


Believe ants are the main source for the toxins.

Second Hand Pat
02-05-2013, 08:21 PM
I was actually reading a new article that they think it comes from mites and aphids more than ants.

Could be, I heard it from one of the nature shows called "Secret Brazil".

Trier20
02-05-2013, 09:58 PM
I do this for a living lol. Its not even hard anymore lol.

Lol ill take her support for letting me breed discus as success. No need to push the envelope

rainforestexperience
02-08-2013, 02:56 AM
Finally started to play around with the background:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/A57AB009-3E0E-48DC-A7D1-8F71A67C0706-6144-00000374298A4784_zps9311f3b7.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/466819C2-F957-41AD-91D3-FB4D66458FCB-6144-0000037425778970_zpsbd6768ee.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/86013A0C-F8B9-453F-AA9A-FA3373156457-6144-0000037420BB5504_zps1c540a31.jpg

Possible waterfall beginning?
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/28E75DC3-2FF6-4685-8DBB-2296391B92F9-6144-00000374320EE523_zps7cf271fa.jpg

rainforestexperience
02-08-2013, 05:42 AM
So here is where I left off for the night. It is really hard to be creative when your tired lol. The background isnt finished yet but the major pieces are in place :). I also placed the wood and dry fitted some plants so you can get the feel of what it will look like, plus I needed to water them so I'll let the misting system do that lol.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/170F6509-0B26-46DE-B712-ED10F21770F4-6357-000003A7F36125DD_zps8f257d1f.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/68279940-B7EF-4DDE-B52A-8D1541BEC387-6357-000003A7F7CA2AF0_zps2cff0833.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/3AA806DE-05E8-4BAD-AF23-31AB8250B6A0-6357-000003A7EF2C5C4F_zps2a14fb2f.jpg

joanstone
02-08-2013, 09:52 AM
Looking really nice. I look forward to updates. I recently made a paludarium out of a 75 gallon. It holds probably 25-30 gallons of water and the rest is a few terrestrial plants and lots of bromeliads and air plants. It's something I'd wanted to do for quite a while and am glad I finally did, you should enjoy yours.

Jeff O
02-08-2013, 10:57 AM
Very cool!
-Jeff

rainforestexperience
02-08-2013, 11:01 AM
Looking really nice. I look forward to updates. I recently made a paludarium out of a 75 gallon. It holds probably 25-30 gallons of water and the rest is a few terrestrial plants and lots of bromeliads and air plants. It's something I'd wanted to do for quite a while and am glad I finally did, you should enjoy yours.

I know I am since I have twice as many Vivariums as I do aquariums

joanstone
02-08-2013, 12:02 PM
I believe it, you obviously know what you're doing. I'd love to read more about how you're doing your background, etc. What works for you, etc since you've been doing them.

rainforestexperience
02-09-2013, 03:58 PM
I believe it, you obviously know what you're doing. I'd love to read more about how you're doing your background, etc. What works for you, etc since you've been doing them.

PM Sent!

rainforestexperience
02-19-2013, 12:31 PM
I found 15 tadpoles in the tank today :) I'll be sure to post pictures of the tank over the weekend.

TURQ64
02-19-2013, 07:24 PM
Interesting to see how the waterfall feature works out over time...Hasn't seemed to prove up in my experiences....always a brom fan here..

SMB2
02-24-2013, 08:32 PM
Looks great Chris. Will need to see it in person. Have you seen the Amazonia exhibit at the National Zoo? Will have to give you a tour, they have one really nice vivarium.

PDF get their poison mostly from beetles and ants that have eaten plants with poison alkaloids. These are converted by the frog and secreted in the skin (at least the present thought).

rainforestexperience
02-25-2013, 06:22 PM
Here is a teaser for the inhabitants going into this viv :)

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/DSC00703_zps1b7cdc07.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/69F1BEC8-876C-47CD-8329-F3EBAA3C7C55-974-0000007C82DAEF4C_zps54147288.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/72FAC75F-02AD-4CDD-BAD8-B4F96870BF0A-974-0000007C7782CCE4_zps2086d827.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/DSC00705_zps6972ec97.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/DSC00697_zpsdef953c3.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/DSC00707_zps72723bbe.jpg

Just about finished making the waterfall and hope to set it in place and finish the background over the next two or three days!

rainforestexperience
02-25-2013, 06:24 PM
Looks great Chris. Will need to see it in person. Have you seen the Amazonia exhibit at the National Zoo? Will have to give you a tour, they have one really nice vivarium.

PDF get their poison mostly from beetles and ants that have eaten plants with poison alkaloids. These are converted by the frog and secreted in the skin (at least the present thought).

Yes I have. Always up for a tour though. I am hoping my schedule will allow me to volunteer at the zoo this spring and summer :)

SMB2
02-25-2013, 06:31 PM
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/Zoo02-11-2013_Bysshe_20130211_14314_zps669a7b86.jpg

rainforestexperience
02-25-2013, 09:21 PM
Do you breed them too or just an azureus from the zoo?


http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/Zoo02-11-2013_Bysshe_20130211_14314_zps669a7b86.jpg

SMB2
02-25-2013, 10:58 PM
:D From the Zoo

rainforestexperience
03-22-2013, 12:11 AM
Sorry for the much delayed update. Been busy with work and something big coming up in the near future for me. Anyways here is the update and hope you enjoy. Its still not finished quite yet but almost. All it needs is just two pieces of PVC to get the waterfall going and want to add two or three more plants.


The Waterfall:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/5C270F90-919D-4B33-8A49-7224019AE3C7-5403-000003B32728CABF_zps63244f91.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00780_zps6010fefa.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00781_zpsa23c7502.jpg

The background finished:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/FC9C9EC0-F9C5-4207-82C4-1435EE52BA65-5403-000003B320DBF589_zps806252c7.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/BEA2CA41-0E4D-4717-8B74-1D3DC47B1726-5403-000003B31CBE1D21_zps2df0bbf3.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/06C0297E-BF81-4B8F-9AF8-E5AF69B0200F-5403-000003B3170F8226_zps00ce5221.jpg

rainforestexperience
03-22-2013, 12:13 AM
Starting to plant:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00784_zps04031690.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00785_zps21e7b81d.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00788_zps931efdee.jpg
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00789_zps95a06fe2.jpg

Finished shot:
http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/Corner%20Viv/DSC00786_zpsbe36052a.jpg

Disgirl
03-22-2013, 08:31 AM
It's coming along great, lots of work I see. How long until it is finished? I look forward to a full shot of it with wildlife added. Well done!
Barb

rainforestexperience
07-28-2013, 10:11 AM
Im still not done with it. Just to many projects right now I guess lol

rainforestexperience
10-05-2013, 03:10 AM
Sorry for the delay everyone, work has been crazy. So since I last shared pictures I have moved from DC to Columbus, OH. I left this tank in DC for two months and this is what it looked like back two months ago.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/photo166_zpsf8b60232.jpg

I loaded it up in the back of my truck and moved it to OH and it did okay for the 10 hour drive. Sadly though the bottom had a spider crack in it. I partially tore down the viv to repair the glass w/ silicone so it could hold water. So far its holding water but not high enough for the waterfall to work :(. Anyways, while it was tore down I decided to rebuild it differently since I had extra manzanita wood laying around. Below are pictures of the re-build and current state. Ill try to post more pictures to this thread as it grows in.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/null_zps034d0c88.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/null_zps9a9bb6cf.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/null_zps3c4012c8.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/null_zps70302497.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/rcteem/null_zps1a7e3236.jpg

jimg
10-06-2013, 03:22 PM
Nice!!

rainforestexperience
10-08-2013, 11:29 PM
Nice!!

Thanks!!!