20 Gallon Tank -View from one End

[bshmerlie]

Has anyone done a 20 gallon tank from the perspective of one end? I'm limited to 12 inches wide on my frog rack so that is the only way I could fit it in. Just looking for ideas if anyone has done a setup this way. That tank would be 12.5 inches wide by 24 inches deep. Just some pictures if anyone has anything cool looking. I'm worried about not being able to see the frogs if they stay in the back of the tank.

[LilyPad]

I have no idea how to make that work but it sounds like an interesting project! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[bshmerlie]

Thats me... strange projects. I'm just tying to give the frogs more floor space with the limited space that I have. I don't have a lot of room width wize but depth I do have.

[Kisa]

The pets store down by my place sets their tanks up this way. Though, they're tanks aren't nearly as long as a 20 gallon (they keep most of their animals in tiny tight fitting 5.5s or 10s), it's still pretty hard to see into them...but your frogs definitely would appreciate the extra space.

You can always keep the feeding area localized in the front (which would technically be the side) of the tank so they come to you when they're hungry at least?

I'm sure you'll figure it out! You're smart, and great at designing tanks.

[MikeM670]

You could do a slope from the back to the front as one way to have more visible space. Keep the taller plants in the back and maybe open space with moss near the front. Always feed from the very front would force them to come forward and eventually they would be used to the open space.

[DonLisk]

I'm guessing you could get away with doing this with just substrate (a slope rising to the back as Mike suggested) and try to do something like this to view through :-)

[Voltage]

I've seen a few 10 gallons on racks done this way. I've always thought of doing it if I ever had a rack, so here's my idea. You can use gs in the very back or you can do gs in the back with clay on the sides (looks better) or just all clay.

[bshmerlie]

I really don't want to do anything on the sides because the tank is already going to be narrow at 12.5 inches. Hmm.. I wonder just how thin I could go with the clay before it would crack and be a problem? Right now I actually have clay on three side of the tank that I will be using and it is extremely heavy. Maybe I could do just a swipe of silicone and mash in coco fiber. That way the tank wouldn't weigh so much. But would it look like it was down in a tunnel?

[Voltage]

I did many experiments before trying a background. Clay can go as thin as about 1/2, but that thin it would need to be very humid in the tank. I also tried just silicone and peat moss on the glass, and in my honest opinion, is unsightly and like you said would look like a tunnel. Maybe if you did expanding foam lines along the sides to kind of have a root effect, that would makle it look a million times better.

[DonLisk]

You could just use some Malaysian Driftwood to run the length and that may look cool.

Once grown over it could look like below but with cleaner glass

[nos187]

You could make/buy a vert kit and get some nice thumbnails =)

[Griffin]

You could just use some Malaysian Driftwood to run the length and that may look cool.

Once grown over it could look like below but with cleaner glass

what type of moss is that?tropical sheet moss?

[Lacibeth]

I really don't want to do anything on the sides because the tank is already going to be narrow at 12.5 inches. Hmm.. I wonder just how thin I could go with the clay before it would crack and be a problem? Right now I actually have clay on three side of the tank that I will be using and it is extremely heavy. Maybe I could do just a swipe of silicone and mash in coco fiber. That way the tank wouldn't weigh so much. But would it look like it was down in a tunnel?

I think if you do any solid background down the sides, it's going to give you a tunnel effect aka hollow log. I like voltage's suggestion of roots or vines of GS/silicone down the sides. If you're looking for thin what about the epiweb that Jason just used?

[bshmerlie]

You could make/buy a vert kit and get some nice thumbnails =)

I have a pair of Auratus that are going in it. They've been in a temp tank for almost two months. Its time they had a permanent home. I just want to give them the most space I can and my rack is 24 inches deep so I have the room to turn it. I know its not ideal visually but more space for the frogs is my ultimate goal.

[nos187]

ohhhh i missed the part about the auratus! Yes your definitely right then about the horizontal.

[DonLisk]

what type of moss is that?tropical sheet moss?

Java Moss. It grows grows quickly in a damp but not soaked environment.
That is one of the tanks at Black Jungle and has probably been in place for years.

[Ren]

Thats me... strange projects. I'm just tying to give the frogs more floor space with the limited space that I have. I don't have a lot of room width wize but depth I do have.

Check this out, I'm assuming your thinking something like this perhaps only smaller...

[bshmerlie]

Yeahhh.....exactly like that only smaller and without the amazing wood pieces and awesome background and increadible special effects that you've got going there. So, minus the sheer awesomeness of your tank it will be similar. Here is a picture of what I have so far. I just need to pick up some plants and moss. I'm going to use clay on the background behind the tree and then a little bit on the sides up to the tree. THen I'm going to cover the clay with creeping fig to make it look all green around the tree. Then I'm going to use small leaf litter in front of the tree to look like fallen leaves and then green moss on the hill all the way to the front of the glass to look like grass. I will have small plants on both sides along the glass to look like little bushes. Leaving the center section open for viewing. I hope it turns out like I imagine....a tree on rolling hills. We'll see. Here's a picture without the plants and moss. I was just working on the layout. Now time for plant shopping.

[bshmerlie]

Okay, here's what I have so far....not finished yet so be nice. I'm not happy with the moss in front so I'm going to order some sheet moss from Joshs Frogs. That should give it a more carpet look in the front. I will probably put another couple plants closer to the front as well. The creeping fig will fill in more in the back and hopefully cover up all the clay. I was thinking of recessing in a small water bowl in the front right after the leaves. I also need to get some more leaves as I ran out. I don't usually show you guys unfinished tanks because I tend to change them a lot until I'm completely satisfied with it. So this is a rough draft...hope you like it.

[MikeM670]

You are a artist!