New project, HELP!!

[John61510]

Hello my name is john and i have 2 D. Aratus that I got about two weeks ago, after looking at everyones projects on here, I want to start my own.I haven't decided whether or not to do some type of waterfall/flow or to do a corner of water with fish. Any suggestions will help! What things will I need? What small pump is best? Anything? And what is the plastic stuff ppl are using for false bottoms that has the squares(they put it on top of PVC)? Thanks hope I get some help and tips and anything lol

[Sunshine]

Hello John! Welcome to the forum! I am new at keeping frogs myself but I will see if I can be of any help. What kind of setup do you have right now? Pics would help if you have any. Ok here goes... I believe Auratus is a terrestrial species, no? You will need a setup that has more floor space than height. The plastic used for false bottoms is egg crate used for lighting fixtures. It is sold at most home improvement stores. It is used as a drainage layer so the substrate does not stay too wet. I think that for a first vivarium it would be easier to use a drainage layer of LECA or hydroton, although these are harder to obtain. Can you tell me a little more about what you are looking for in your viv?

[Mentat]

Have not done a frog set-up yet; but agree the white squared material is found in the lighting area at both Lowe's or Home Depot and is called "Egg Crate Lighting Panel."



IRT pumps you want to get one that has the required flow and "water head" combination you will need. Many pumps will have a rated flow at it's output. That flow will be affected as the pump has to work against gravity and lift the fluid from the tanks water level to the output above the waterfall. Also make sure the pump you get can operate at the water level you plan to have in the enclosure, some need just an in. and others require deeper water. Good luck!

[John61510]

thanks a lot for the help, im still debating on what to do, im leaning twords a pool of water in the corner over some rocks but how would i keep the substrate out of it? right now i have them in a 10 gallon tank with marbles as my "Hydroballs" a plastic mesh divider and coconut husk as my substrate, 1 bromeliad and 1 coconut

[Mentat]

thanks a lot for the help, im still debating on what to do, im leaning twords a pool of water in the corner over some rocks but how would i keep the substrate out of it? right now i have them in a 10 gallon tank with marbles as my "Hydroballs" a plastic mesh divider and coconut husk as my substrate, 1 bromeliad and 1 coconut

In this section there are many vivariums threads that can get you ideas. I'm planning to use a piece of glass glued with silicone to enclosure walls and bottom panes. That will create a dam; separating the dry and wet sections of the tank.

The hydro balls can still be used under the dry section substrate. BTW, marbles or similar provide little surface area to grow beneficial bacteria to support the nitrogen cycle. Since the hydro balls are porous clay; they do substantially better in that respect.

[John61510]

i didnt go with the hydroballs because i didnt know about them, i thought they would fall apart, or i didnt know how long they would last but next i will, how often do you need to clean a dart frog tank? i think im going to go with a corner of water maybe with some bubbles

[DonLisk]

I'll pass on a few of my builds and hopefully some of the info will help in your decisions during your build. There are also many more build journals in the vivarium area too.

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...d-journal.html

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...se-bottom.html

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...cal-build.html

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...pic-heavy.html

Have fun :-)