Exo terra 24x18x24 Project

[eric048]

I did its awesome but I still don't know how to do the water feature I kind of know how to the background just the water feature

[thadmy]

Water features are tough and most of the time especially the water falls they work for a week or so then stop working and you have to take apart the tank to fix it... My first tank all I did was raise the land up higher than one section of the tank where I left it shallow for a pool....

If I was going to do a water fall, I would place the pump under a false bottom made of egg crate, then run a hose from the bottom of the tank in the corner for a waterfall then GS the side of the tank with the hose and pieces of rock or wood in place so that they will hold them. Then from the hose at the top I would cut into the GS so that there would be a river running down the back side of the GS which would allow the water to go over the wood/ rocks like a stream.

This sounds easy but I'd say for your first build to pass up on the waterfall and stream for the simple fact that the frogs won't really use it much its only eye pleasing...

But it is your undertaking, I would say before you do it to read up on all the blogs you can and then draw up plans and work them through. Old saying would apply "Measure twice, cut once"....
Just what ever you do make SURE you leave an easy access to the pump and waterfall in case something happens

[eric048]

So instead of sticking coco bark or moss to the river part I should use gravel? Is the gs waterproof

[thadmy]

If you run the GS all the way to the bottom of the tank I would cover it with small rocks so that the dirt doesn't wash off the wall into the water. And yes once the GS cures and dries it is waterproof. It is used to seal cracks in basement walls to keep water out.

[eric048]

alright I think i can do of get what to do, it is still a little confusing but I hope to start building it sometime next week, also where is a good place to buy plants, places that don't use fertilizer and other nasty things, only places by my house are the usual home improvement stores and an ACE. Any ideas?

[thadmy]

There are TONS of places you can order from only, but I buy most of my plants from Lowes. I just come home rinse off the dirt real well then plant them in substrate outside the tank for a week so that any fertilizers in the plant can come out.

[DonLisk]

Below are a few helpful link to build logs, misting systems, and false bottoms that I have posted over my time here, hope some of them help you.
Oh, and one note on GS and Silicone: GS can be sprayed right to the glass and I do this often. But if using other than black the unsightly white and yellowing GS is visible so some will use black silicone the glass where they want to put the GS first.
GE Silicone II window and door has been the standard for doing vivs my many keepers and it is not advisable to use the kitchen and bath version due to the Bio Seal used in kitchen and bath versions of the GE II.

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...valuation.html

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

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

[eric048]

thanks, also what can i mix into the coco fiber to make it have more nutrients for the plants without harming my frog? so Don I can spray the black gs on the back end with no worries? and then coat it with silicone and add the coco fiber or whatever to the silicone?

[eric048]

I found out that Great Stuff has an expanding foam made for ponds and outdoors, is this safe? what type of GS is safe there are like 6 or 7 types?