Build Log

[ApxWingman]

Nice deal on the new tank :-)

There is a thread here somewhere on or with a link to installing a computer fan using some PVC couplings to place the fan into but for the life of me I can't find it. If I find it I'll post the links for you.

You will have plenty of fun building the new viv and can't wait to see your progress.

Thanks for that. I was able to find out how to do that on another forum (Vivarium Forums). The guy that gave me the tank is also going to give me a bunch of stuff as well to use in the tank. Not sure yet what I am getting, he is just letting me come over and go through all his extra stuff and let me take what I want. He is in the aquarium hobby, so I am not sure he will have too much for me, but will take what I can get. I already have a pump for the water fall. I am going to be getting eggcrate and pvc tubing in the next week or so and start getting it ready.

[ApxWingman]

So it has been a couple weeks, and I finally got around to getting eggcrate and cleaning out the tank. Here are some pictures. Let me know what you think. The tall section on the left is going to be for a waterfall feature. I have a pump, just need to get the hose, and it will be falling into the pond section. I am going to use GS foam to form the waterfall. Since it will be under constant water, what would be recommended to use to cover the GS foam? I will be using the black GS foam for this as well.

The area to the right will be the land area with a ramp into the water. I am also planning on making a background with gs foam, covered in cocofiber and plants. You will also notice I have a ramp going up the tank. Any opinions on it? I was just thinking some kind of higher ledge for them to climb up onto. I was also thinking I could use it and make some sort of stream of a downward slope. If I have it as a ramp, the waterfall hose would stick right out just beneath the ramp. Not 100% yet, still toying with some ideas. Any thoughts would be great.

Next, I will be getting black GS foam from Home Depot, and start getting the pots, and background finished. Any thoughts, opinions, or critiques would be appreciated.

The New Tank:





Waterfall:




Land Added:



Ramp:

[ApxWingman]

I also have a small square piece of eggcrate left as well. What my fiancee was thinking was move the long slope piece more towards the middle of the tank so it is away from the waterfall, and use the small square piece for something else, like a ledge attached to the waterfall. I was also thinking about making the slope just as land instead of a stream. Then I would take the small square piece and have the hose for the waterfall come out and poor water into a pool (made from the small square piece) and then have it overflow into a waterfall. This would create another area for them to soak in. (Does this make sense? lol). Any thoughts?

I will be going out this coming week to get the foam and start creating the waterfall and the rest of the tank. I will also need to pick up some tubing for my pump and make sure that it works and see how quickly it is pushing the water.

[ApxWingman]

What kinds of plants would be good for FBT? I am going to be putting in live plants, where as in my current setup I only have 1 bamboo growing in the water section. I want something that will be pleasing to the eye and provide a lot of colour to the whole setup. I want plants in the water and in soil. I will be using small pots that I will gs to the background

[ApxWingman]

so I finally went out today and got some GS foam and started to create the background. I have put in 2 pots, and will put another one in attached to the waterfall. Not sure yet what I will be putting in, but something will go there sooner or later. Here are some pics.

[ApxWingman]

I took the other can of gs to the waterfall section, and added more pots for plants. Where the hose is coming out from is the mouth of my waterfall. Put the hose in place to avoid having to crave out the hole later. The section on the side of the water fall I left open to allow water into the pump area. I plan on covering that up with a water filter and rocks, which will ultimately create a second waterfall. After all this is cured, I will start carving, and gs the sides of the tank, adding more pots. I plan on having a lot of live plants in here to help with the air quality and the humidity. Anyone have any ideas on what plants I can get, and where?

[ApxWingman]

any thoughts? comments? questions? critiques anyone? Whats the best place to get plants here in Ontario?