New Summer Project - 50G Build

[ApxWingman]

I got a little bit more done over the last couple days. Carved out a pool that will overlow into a waterfall and a path for the toads to get in and out of the water without struggling to climb over the edges. Also carved up the back ground to make it look a bit more natural. Today I I put the silicone over the GS. For the waterfall I used aquarium pebbles to create a rock mall, and used coco fiber and soil on the background. Once it is cured and dried up, I will be adding soil and plants. I am still looking around to see what I want at Walmart and Home depot. I will be getting a fern that will be planted in the pot closest to the waterfall. Any thoughts?

Here are some pics of the progress:

[ApxWingman]

So the background is done, I have the tank now off the table and on its stand. So heavy, but managed to get it done. So far I am really happy with the way it turned out. There are a couple spots that I missed when putting the rocks on the background, but will fix that. I have added rocks to the bottom of the tank. I am going to need to go out and get some more as it is a little thin layer on the bottom. I should be getting plants within the week (probably on the weekend), along with a Fluval filter. Once I am done this, I just need to put the pump in the tank for the waterfall and fill up the tank and add my FBTs and fish. Still looking to see what kind of fish I am going to add. I want something colourful. Right now I was thinking guppies, minnows, or tetras. I have heard lots of good luck with the tetras living well with the FBTs.

I don't have any new pictures at the moment, but will take a couple shots of it tonight or tomorrow to post up here. I am hoping that I will be done this in the next couple weeks, assuming all goes smooth for me.

[ApxWingman]

So I know I promised more pictures, but I must say that after my wedding last Friday we have been busy with getting some new furniture and straightening things out. I will get a picture tomorrow though since I will have the day off. Today I managed to make my way over to petsmart to get some crickets and picked up another bag of aquarium rocks and a fluval u2 filter. I have installed the filter and put the rocks in. I also got some riverside rocks (they were going to be used for center pieces, but we ended up not using them. They look different, so it will add a little different colour to the picture). This week, maybe even tomorrow, I will be going to pick up some plants. I have decided on a fern maybe 2, and something else that is a little more colourful still undecided. I think I will just see what home depot has and pick from there. I only have room for 3 plants, but I will be putting lots of water plants.

Does anyone know where I can get plexiglass cut to a specific size? The lid for my tank right now is 2 different pieces of plexi glass and it still leaves about 1/3 of the top open. I can't have this, as the crickets and my FBTs will definitely escape.

[Pluke]

I'm willing to bet that Lowes or Home Depot would be able to cut some plexiglass for you. It's coming along great man and congratulations on your marriage.

[ApxWingman]

I'm willing to bet that Lowes or Home Depot would be able to cut some plexiglass for you. It's coming along great man and congratulations on your marriage.

Thanks! When I go to Home Depot to grab some plants I am going to ask them if they can. I hope they can, it will make my life so much easier lol

[mrzoggs]

i would use glass. Lowes will cut glass for you and its fairly cheap. I just got 2 pieces cut 11x11 for $5. plexi glass will sag and warp over time. especially if you put heat over it

[ApxWingman]

So I got a lot more done today that I thought I would. I didn't end up going to Home Depot, right now I am using 2 pieces of plexi glass and a DIY lid with eggcrate and screen. This is only temporary until I get glass done. If it works out well, I may end up leaving it. I did not get any plants either, this is something I will be doing tomorrow as I am really eager to finish this. I ended up going to Petsmart today to grab a thermometer. I ended up getting some water plants (I forget the name of them and they don't say it on the bill. I also got lucky bamboo. I also got 2 snails, and 5 red minor tetras. I filled up the tank today and set the plants in. I am still not sure if I like the arrangement or not, so I may end up changing it. The fish are very active, the snails...not so much. Tomorrow after I get the plants in, I will be moving my FBTs into there new home, and should be all setup. The water temp is sitting around 70C, so I am considering getting a small water heater to stick behind the waterfall to bring the temp up.

As promised, here are some pics!

[ApxWingman]

i would use glass. Lowes will cut glass for you and its fairly cheap. I just got 2 pieces cut 11x11 for $5. plexi glass will sag and warp over time. especially if you put heat over it

lol funny thing about that, I ended up using the plexiglass as a cover. Turned out to work really well. I have something hanging the light overhead just far enough away that it did not heat up the plexiglass too much. Well one morning I woke up and it had fallen. My lights are on timers, so I had it set to turn on at 8am, and for atleast 2 hours it was sitting on the glass and melted a bubble into the plexiglass and joined 2 smaller pieces into 1 large piece. Thankfully no harm came to the plants or frogs, and no dripping of the plexiglass either. Since then, I have re-enforced the light so it will not fall again. I will eventually get a glass piece tho.