80 gal. terrarium build journal

[IrishRonin]

Ok, so I know it doesn't look like much but, hopefully it will look good by the end. I'm building this as a new exhibit for my new frog room at my work. I want to say a few things 1st- ive never done a GS background and this project is actually almost done but I'm having trouble getting all the pic together so i'll be updating really soon.

[John]

Good luck. Keep us informed please .

[IrishRonin]

will do john thanks

[Heatheranne]

Nice size tank. Can't wait to see pictures!

[IrishRonin]

So some how some of my files got corrupt and I lost the first few steps but here is an update. After 6 cans of GS and some shaping I started applying the silicon (6 tubes) and the texture. Its so big I had to do it in sections. You can also see that I siliconed in two 8" tall pieces of glass in the middle for a pond. Let me know what you think. more coming soon

[IrishRonin]

It wouldn't let me upload them all at once so here's some more. Sorry my camera suck, and with all the tanks inside my work its hard to get rid of the glare

[DonLisk]

Coming along nicely. Can't wait to see more progress :-)

[BG]

That is amazing how well its coming together. How do you find working with the GS. Is it easy and what did you use to shave it with. Sorry for the silly questions. I'm wrighting a book. lol

[IrishRonin]

thanks again guys, more updates coming soon. George- well the Gs was actually really easy to work with, I took some advice from other forum members about using a needle to poke holes in the thicker parts as it was drying and i also used GS advice about misting it with water to speed up the set time. To carve it I used an exacto knife kit that has about 20 different blades/heads so that came in real handy, I also used my hands to rip off chunks ( so they weren't so uniformed) but you have to be careful not to take off to much.

[IrishRonin]

Well I said they would be coming quickly so here's another update. Well to my surprise I actually found some small bromeliads at home depot, though they were in sad condition. As far as the rest of the plants I'm trying to save some that didn't get taken care of when I went on vacation. It took 25g of substrate to fill in both sides, and I did a fill up on the pond and it takes 11g of water. Once the plants all recover(hopefully) and grow in I think its gonna look great. I still have to work on the pond and add all my branches and bio vines. Any comments, suggestions or constructive criticism is welcome. Thanks again-more to come

[IrishRonin]

ok well Im back with more updates. So I finished the pond, made the top pieces, built and added a fogger, and added all my bio vines and branches. I put 6 dwarf frogs and 4 fire belly newts to the water as well as an albino black mystery snail to the pond. I also got 3 TLMF froglets to start with. Hope you like it

[IrishRonin]

[Grrrit]

Looks good! If you have any aquarium shops by you, take a look at some aquatic plants. I think it could add even more depth to this great build. I.m planning something similar for a 90gal tank I just got.

AndBe careful with the newts. I'm not very familiar with them but I heard they can be toxic.

[IrishRonin]

Hey thanks, yeah i have some coming I planned to get a cardamine lyrata, a borneo fern and then putting duck weed in, I figured sence you can see into the water you dont need to look threw the top, plus I love the way it covers. I am awar the newts are toxic, It was just till there tank was done, which it already is and there moved (2 days total) plus the water is filtered threw a nice 3 stage filter for like 40g and its only 11g. I cant wait to see your 90g

[J Teezy]

i know its too late now, but i think i would have made your Hydroton layer a bit more. If it were me, i'd take some of the vines and braid them together, i think they look more realistic that way and add more to the visual

[AlexanderSalamander]

I have a tiger legged and they are a great choice, but that is a huge inclosure for them. They will enjoy it, but, even at night, they are pretty slow and I would be worried about them all being able to find the crickets/other feeders, so just be sure to monitor their weights to ensure that they are growing.