Trying Something New

[Second Hand Pat]

That is too cute Chuck
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

So I have most of the terrarium supplies but have not opened the boxes yet. I have one more box coming which is the living things like plants. I am also doing some basic research and frogs need to be quarantined to ensure they are healthy, eating etc. Just like fish lol. I will also need to maintain my own colony of flightless Fruit flies. So the education continues.
Pat

[danotaylor]

Wonderful Pat. The lessons in life never cease really do they? Not for the inquisitive souls anyway! Really looking forward to tracking this journey with you from a distance!
I did figure out how to upload my 500gal Malawi tank vid to YouTube…and remembered when posting to take the “s” out of https so it loads to SD as a viewing window vs a link
Take care my friend!

[Second Hand Pat]

Wonderful Pat. The lessons in life never cease really do they? Not for the inquisitive souls anyway! Really looking forward to tracking this journey with you from a distance!
I did figure out how to upload my 500gal Malawi tank vid to YouTube…and remembered when posting to take the “s” out of https so it loads to SD as a viewing window vs a link
Take care my friend!

I am glad you are following along Danny

and so today I added the substrate to the terrarium. First you lay a layer of porous balls. Look like a small eggs, then a screen to keep the balls and the dirt layer separate. Then you add the dirt mix which contains mixture of charcoal, milled sphagnum moss, fir bark, minerals and trace elements. This is the planting layer. Last you add sphagnum moss. Now you have to decide on the hard-scrape. I found a lovely piece of cypress root and I hope it fits. Here's some pics

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[danotaylor]

So far SO good! I used those terracotta (clay) balls in my aquaponics system when it was up and running...SO nice to plant into, easier on my old guy knuckles than planting into gravel Do you fill the bottom under to soil with water Pat to create the moist humid environment for the frogs?

[Second Hand Pat]

So far SO good! I used those terracotta (clay) balls in my aquaponics system when it was up and running...SO nice to plant into, easier on my old guy knuckles than planting into gravel Do you fill the bottom under to soil with water Pat to create the moist humid environment for the frogs?

Thanks Danny, I have not yet. I plan to plant today so will add water then. What plants did you have in your aquaponics system?
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Playing around with the hardscape. Thinking I may need to go with a smaller wood.

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[LizStreithorst]

It's such a beautiful piece that if I were you, I would look at the tank, frogs, and all before you replaced it. Where did you get that piece and how large is it? When do the frogs arrive? I'm on pins and needles waiting to see everything once it's complete.

[danotaylor]

Pat I agree with Liz. I really love that piece of cypress root. I've never kept terrestrial amphibians before but I kinda feel like their use of the space would be so different from fish and that they will use that piece in a way that enhances viewing vs obstructing it. Just my 2 non-experienced cents worth LOLZ

[Second Hand Pat]

It's such a beautiful piece that if I were you, I would look at the tank, frogs, and all before you replaced it. Where did you get that piece and how large is it? When do the frogs arrive? I'm on pins and needles waiting to see everything once it's complete.

Liz, I am sticking with this is piece of wood, it's beautiful piece. Some of the suggestions from a dart frog group on FB (yes, FB can have some uses) is to use spray foam to attach the wood to the background and use aquarium silicone to waterproof the foam. So I am taking the terrarium apart to do that. I have had the wood for years Liz, I have quite a collection of aquarium wood.

When the terrarium is put back together, planted and doing well most folks wait a couple or more weeks to add the frogs. So most likely frogs are six weeks out or so. Another thing is I will need to culture my own fruit flies so that is another learning curve which Al has been helping with (thanks Al).

Hang in there with me Liz, we will get there.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat I agree with Liz. I really love that piece of cypress root. I've never kept terrestrial amphibians before but I kinda feel like their use of the space would be so different from fish and that they will use that piece in a way that enhances viewing vs obstructing it. Just my 2 non-experienced cents worth LOLZ

Thank Danny, depending of the frogs selected most will use the whole space in the terrarium. Some frogs do prefer to stay on the ground but most are climbers based on my understanding.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

I know this sounds contrary but sometimes you can get good info on FB. I joined one of the dart frog/terrarium groups and have really received some good suggestions. One suggestion is to take my cypress root and "glue" it to the background in an outright position. You use a spray foam to attach the root and then cover the foam with silicone. So I have removed all the substrate base layers and am waiting on the foam and silicone

I may also redo how I am doing the base layer by building an egg crate box under which the base layer will sit. The egg crate will need screen over the box to keep the base layer and dirt layers separate. More later
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Pat are you going to go whole hog on this an make it a bioactive vivarium?

Al

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat are you going to go whole hog on this an make it a bioactive vivarium?

Al

I is Al and pretty sure it makes it a whole bunch more complex.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

It does Pat but it will make the vivarium much more stable over time.