Oh Geez...it's here, my new Viv thread

[LilyPad]

I got my package today... I guess that means it's time to get this viv thing started! As of July 9, my frogs will have been in quarantine for a month and will be able to move in with Paddy (will post a pic of Paddy and Leggy together in a min so you can tell me if you think they are okay together)

I have a lot of ideas about what I want to do in this viv, but it comes down to how hard some of my mental plans are going to be!

I still need to get some screen material, to go between the hydroton and the substrate and also for the top of the tank. I'm going to move all of my live plants out of my old viv, Paddy probably wont be too happy for a few days, but I really don't want to go spend another $30 on plants right now when I have some really great ones growing in there. I'm also going to move her jacuzzi into the new viv, but that wont be done until move in time, obviously she cant go without her water!

I'll track my build in this thread, I PLAN to finish it over the weekend, next week I am crazy busy at work, so It'll be nice to get it done and be able to set for a bit until I can move all the frogs in!



Also, before anyone gets upset with me, the cypress mulch isn't for substrate, it's to help fill in my background, no one will be eating it!

[LilyPad]

Here is Paddy and Leggy. Leggy is a male, so chances are that he'll always be smaller than Paddy. Do you think they'll be okay housed together? He has 2 more weeks to grow, but he's not nearly as ravenous of an eater as the girls are, so it might take him more time to grow than the others. (And I just noticed from this picture that Leggy is getting the bands on his legs!!)

[John]

That's a pretty normal size ratio between female and male. Is Paddy a female? They're perfectly fine to keep together. What are you planning on using the screen material for? If it's to keep fruitflies in or out, get some of the no-see-um mesh sold at camping stores. I swear by it. If it's for separating substrate layers, just use fine fiberglass window screen material sold in rolls by the big-box hardware stores.

[LilyPad]

Paddy is a female, good to know that's a normal size ratio! Thank you for the screen advice, I need both.

[bshmerlie]

Wow...you've been busy. That is great. We are going to be starting a new contest here shortly so please document your build. We would love to see it. They look like a happy couple and will be great together.

[LilyPad]

Seriously, you guys created a monster. I was perfectly happy with my nice little viv until I saw all of yours!!

35 gal Hex Tank/stand/light - free
Plants - free (previously purchased for around $30)
Money spent online - $75
Money spent at Petsmart - $80
Money spent at Michael's - $40
Money spent at Menards - $40
Money spent to make the perfect tree frog viv - Priceless

I started yesterday afternoon, and have been working pretty much nonstop on it since then (I forgot to eat lunch until my blood sugar crashed!)











Still a few things to do...put the jacuzzi in at the top of the foam build, get the lid on, wipe down the glass, just little things, but it is looking fantastic I think!!

[LilyPad]

The more I sit here and look at it, the more anxious I am for the next 2 weeks to pass so that I can get my frogs in there!!! I think I will move Paddy in there sometime this week, and then when the other 3 are done with quarantine in 2 weeks, they'll be headed in there too

[artes]

I love it! I'm in the middle of sprucing up all my baby's tanks too. This forum is a terrible influence on poor, innocent frog owners.

Edit: What is the gray stuff you used for sticking?

[LilyPad]

I love it! I'm in the middle of sprucing up all my baby's tanks too. This forum is a terrible influence on poor, innocent frog owners.

Edit: What is the gray stuff you used for sticking?

Thank you, it wont be totally done until I can move Paddy in, but I want to give it a few days to get all established before I move her in. Then her jacuzzi and branches will be in there too, and the rest of her plants.

I used a few different things...silicone for the background and sticking the screen on. Great Stuff expandable foam to stick the branches on, and on the lagoon feature I was building with the pots in it, I actually used brown grout mix and then sealed the entire thing. It actually made it REALLY easy doing it that way. Originally I was going to coat the whole thing with silicone and coat it with ecoearth, but I was going through a TON of silicone and it was getting a bit pricey. So when I went to Menards to pick more stuff up, I found that and thought it was a good option with the sealant.

[Fae]

Looking great! I love it! So jealous Nice job Amy!

[DonLisk]

Nicely done Amy. Love the lagoon.... very creative.

Don

[Grrrit]

I really like the hex tanks. I like seeing people get excited about builds even more though! It gets me anxious to start another and another and on haha. Sharing info on them is always rewarding as well.

[LilyPad]

Thanks guys, I had a lot of fun with this project. The lagoon will be nice because I didn't want to have to reach to the bottom off the tank everyday to change the water. That fixes that, without it, I probably would have never used this tank. It also made more use of the height. I still want to get a magnaturals or two to make even more use out of the height, but that will have to wait, I'm broke from spending so much on this tank right now LOL

[LilyPad]

Grrr, going to have to put a fan on it, the humidity is maintaining between 80 and 90% Even with the a/c running.