I'm looking to make a walk in vavarium with large water feature, and multi levels.

[Tyson]

helped lots actually! as far as the multi level, kinda had the idea of a plateau thing with grasses, ect and a dig in area where he could bury himself, then the water underneath that way if he fell in two feet, wouldn't hurt him, but he could swim, dig, and have multi level, thats kinda what I was imagining, but if I made one portable, the wife sure will be happier LOL but man, this stuff sounds great!

[IrishRonin]

you know I have wanted to put a nice grassy area in a viv for a long time, but I have come up with 2 problems. 1- grass usually needs to have a lot of soil to root in, which is a lot of weight. Though I did find some "super grass" that will pretty much grow any and every where. 2- keeping it manicured, I like long grass but at a certain point it will need to be cut and unless you've got a tiny mower... Anyway what you've got in mind sounds really cool. For the multi level thing you could make it like a terraced hill with the grass on top and pond at the bottom that way he couldn't really fall, maybe tumble but not fall. Well keep me posted on what you decide to do, you've got my brain running a mile a min. now LOL

[Tyson]

some grass only needs 4-6" of soil, if its made with a wood frame for the upper level, would be very light, very strong, and plenty of grass for the little guy to stretch out on you could even use an organic seaweed based fertilizer on it when you take him out for a bit, stuff is really good, and no pesticides. Got this info from working at a hardware store. Grass seed is something I couldn't get the info out of my head if I tried lol.

[Tyson]

I think I know what grass I'm going to use now. Going to go for Wheat instead hard red wheat, tossed around in clumps so its more like in nature. The other grass is too much work, I know that the wheat will work good. now to autocad the layout for the lights, ect. This thread sure is a good one! people are going to get a lot of ideas for there projects.

[Tyson]

I picked up a mini cattail plant, so its tops will only be a foot above the water. I have it in the 70 gallon tank water feature right now. But when I get my other tank done, I'll transfer it over.

[IrishRonin]

Well Im glad I could help, I cant wait to see what you come up with. Did you settle on what your gonna build it in? I like the wheat idea, especially in random clumps just keep an eye on the seeds when they appear or else you'll be over run before you know it. Thanks for the info on the grass, Im gonna have to look around again. I hope this can help a lot of people, everyone should get to have this much fun.

[Tyson]

I"m thinking I'm going to build it tank style, with the back piece being twice as long as the rest, thinking square in shape, open on top, with 3 lights hanging down over the grass area, and going for plexi on the hill shape, because if I do, I can hide filtering material under that hill, and drill holes into the water area, so it draws underneith, and I'd have that entire area filled with filter media and ceramic chips. giant sump kinda, hidden away under the hill he sits on. with a tub coconut for him to dig into. This way I can still take it apart and move it and the wife wont be upset then LOL. Not sure of the footprint, but it wont be tiny,,, if it was a fish tank, Id say maybe 300-500 gallons, but not sure yet on that part. Going to make two of them, side by side, and they can share the 3 light bulbs hanging down. and then they can talk to each other if they want