my weekend warrior project, 125G paludarium

[deranged chipmunk]

I use this

It's a growing medium for hydroponics. It is loaded with some really nice, all natural good stuffs like bat guano, earthworm castings, crushed bone meal, dried sea kelp and a few other things. It does have vermiculite in it, so i use a planted tank trick and cap it with coco fiber. I plants my plants deep into the soil. If i get any of my soil on the coco fiber, i replace all the coco fiber around the area, just to insure the frogs can't get to the vermiculite. Since it is filled with natural fertilizers, my plants love it. I even use it in my planted tanks now. In fact, i just set up a planted tank for crs using that soil and a cap of kitty litter.

[flynmnky]

Dang... That stuff sounds like plant heaven. I put most of that stuff in my garden. Cool :-)

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh, and if the vermiculite REALLY scares you, you can always soak the soil, vermiculite is buoyant and floats. Then a little sifting and that should be that.

[deranged chipmunk]

And if you haven't already, check out my madagascar build thread, i am doing it more of a tutorial rather than a journal.

[deranged chipmunk]

ok, 6 weeks in now (i think) and i haven't updated in about 3 weeks, so i guess Michelle is in need of a fix...lol it's starting to look like something i can be happy with. although, truth be told, after building the mantella tank and then looking at this one, i think to myself "i can do better "......hmmm....i have a massive tub i can keep the boys in for a while....lol
PICS!!

[Pluke]

Why don't you just buy a greenhouse and turn it into a giant walk-in paludarium? That's the obvious next step.

[deranged chipmunk]

actually, i wanted to convert my basement into my own "tropical rainforest" complete with pond, but i was shot down. i'm thinking if i hide the pond from plain view and work my way out, i might have a shot....LOL

[Pluke]

Go for it. If you don't ask, they can't tell you no. You have my permission anyway, that's all you need. Just be sure to take pics.

[LauraCox]

I love well-done tank-builds. I'm so jealous. So jealous. I currently have an empty 125 gallon tank that i'm still trying to figure out what to do with. GREAT INSPIRATION HERE.

[deranged chipmunk]

Go for it. If you don't ask, they can't tell you no. You have my permission anyway, that's all you need. Just be sure to take pics.

"Don't worry about the big pond, dear, Pluke said it was ok to do it." Yeah, that should work......lol

[deranged chipmunk]

I love well-done tank-builds. I'm so jealous. So jealous. I currently have an empty 125 gallon tank that i'm still trying to figure out what to do with. GREAT INSPIRATION HERE.

Thanks for the kind words Laura, i truly appreciate it. and don't be jealous, just build a better one for yourself there are plenty of folk here with valuable info. Go for it!!! We need more big builds!! Lol

[exasperatus2002]

actually, i wanted to convert my basement into my own "tropical rainforest" complete with pond, but i was shot down. i'm thinking if i hide the pond from plain view and work my way out, i might have a shot....LOL

Welcome to my man cave....just watch your step.

[Locascio]

this is on my top 10 coolist things ive ever seen its the 8th wonder of the world lol your the man to love your frogs the way you do to take all that time out to purvide them with the best really shows alot about you as purson

[Wicked frogs]

Great job!!! A+

[deranged chipmunk]

thanks folks. i am really pleased how it is growing in. still thinking about tearing it down and rebuilding it. i think i can do better....LOL

btw...here's a teaser....guess what just made it's way to my "build table"


if you just said to yourself, that looks like the red eye tank from another thread, then you would be right. not sure if i'm going to do a journal on this one or not. i might just build it and surprise you guys. that way, if it fails, i won't look like an idiot....LOL

[deranged chipmunk]

Due to some poor planning on my part and shoddy construction techniques (my opinion), this tank requires repairs major enough that i need to tear the entire thing apart to complete repairs. I am going to take the opportunity to do a redesign as well. The problem now is i have no room for all of these plants. If anyone is interested in any of them, pm me and we can work something out i am sure. I will say this much though, if you want a plant and i am shipping it to you, i am offering no guarantees on them. I will pack them best i can, but i do not have heat packs and won't be purchasing them since most of the plants will be shipped out as an RAOK.

See you guys when the redesign is complete

[deranged chipmunk]

well, sadly, this is going to be the last update for this tank. at least in this configuration. it all goes bye bye on tuesday. it needs to be rebuilt, but i figured i could at least post up the last pics of this tank

i will take a full tank shot before i tear it down. i just have a few things in the way of where i need to be to take the pic.

[FriedrichsFrogs]

dam, sorry to see it go. the thing was a tropical paradise

[Sunshine]

But it's so pretty!!!

[deranged chipmunk]

wait until you see the rebuild Sherry