Two Level 40 G Vertical Build

[kmichael55]

Utilizing a 40 G tank I have, dimensions: 12" x 18" X 30" to make a two level frog vivarium. The two levels will be completely separate but will share a water system. The top will be suited for a tree frog (undecided which one yet!) and the bottom will be either my new Chubby frog or a Pacman (I've really wanted one for a while now)



Really excited to get the Great Stuff in and do a water test to see if the bottom is water tight as well as check out my pump and see how powerful it is at about a two foot height.

[deranged chipmunk]

Oooooooo......this is adventurous!! I am curious to see how it all plays out. Fantastic idea Kate!!

[HerpDerp]

Wow, this is a great idea! I really look forward to following this thread!

[IrishRonin]

I am also really curious to see how this turns out.

[deranged chipmunk]

btw, with those dimensions, it's a 29g tank Kate, just thought you might like to know

[kmichael55]

Wow, you're right.... I just took my brother's word on the 40 G thing... hmm now I have to think about who's able to live in it....

No leaks, water test passed with flying colors!
Got a layer of G.S in.
Then plugged in pump....nothing....
Taking a break before going further...****.

[kmichael55]

So I ended up having to remove the "floor" of the bottom of the tank over the false bottom to access the filter. It was awful...I will ALWAYS double test a pump before making it this difficult to access. I had made an access "door" by not siliconing in a piece of the egg crate and attaching the top with cable/zip ties..it wasn't enough. I learned a lot of lessons haha

I bought this from Lowe's...it's a piece of junk! But, it came already housed in a filter box and on sale for $15 it was the cheapest I've seen a pump. The full height of the tank is 30"... I was hoping it could pump about 24" high, but I don't know...
There is nothing in the manual that says max height, just a vague 70GPH (is this with the two extension tubes or at 0" ?)

I'm going to buy a hose adapter at work today to go from the black tube to the clear vinyl tubing...

Am I correct in assuming this will increase the pressure? (Using smaller tubing?) Any tips on how to best maximize the pressure??

Also had to cut down the Great Stuff tower I had made in the corner to hide this (larger tubing and a support) to make the height smaller :/



Once I get the hose adapter and make sure the pump can get it up to the second level, I'll have to re figure placement.
Also, I realized today as I dumped out the dirt that was in those pots that it's potting soil complete with fertilizer and vermiculite and all...I'll vaccuum it out haha, no where near close enough to get frogs in it so don't worry!

[deranged chipmunk]

Kate, the spec you are looking for on the pump is called "head height". It is the maximum height the pump will push water. For a 30" tank, i would recommend a head height of no less than 48".

The 70 gph is without extensions. And yes, decreasing tubing size will increase pressure, but at a price, you also increase backpressure. Increased backpressure will affect performance and most likely burn the pump out prematurely. Learned that lesson the hard way.
Now you see why i water test my tanks for 24 bare. If they can't go that amount of time with nothing in the tank, it sure won't work completed.

[UncleChester]

Not meaning to be a downer here because I do think this is an interesting way to use a tank, but with a shared water system you will be exposing the frogs to each others toxins or any potential pathogens they may have. Something to keep in mind when it comes time to select the inhabitants.

Looking forward to seeing the completed project!

[kmichael55]

So it's still obviously a work in progress, just wanted to share this:

My frogs are ALL in one place now!! Plus My red eared slider tank at the end, now I just need to find a spot for my box turtle!! The two level that I'm currently building is bottom left...just had to see it in there!




Soooo it turns out my top level will be 11.6 G (empty) and the bottom 16ish (Holds about 5 G of water in bottom)

Here's a side view of the outside partially done being painted to cover ugly things in the tank...




Here's the top floor with some of the G.S. covered with NO VOC Gennex (BJM) Waterborne Paint tint... which I then seal with a clear coat.






The top:

The bottom:

[deranged chipmunk]

Very cool Kate. That looks awesome. If i ever get that organized, i'll post a pic of my philly phrog/phish room.... lol

[kmichael55]

Would LOVE to see that, I'll bet you've got a mini jungle!!

[kmichael55]

Totally hating how blue the "rocks" turned out, but that will be much less noticeable once substrate and plants are all in...I'm hoping!

[deranged chipmunk]

Would LOVE to see that, I'll bet you've got a mini jungle!!

Not yet, but we'll be close in the spring once i start ordering tree ferns

[deranged chipmunk]

They really are blue? I thought it was just the pic.....lol

[deranged chipmunk]

They really are blue? I thought it was just the pic.....lol

[kmichael55]

They really are blue? I thought it was just the pic.....lol

It is mostly the pic, they're grayer but still...I was too impatient to do a second darker coat haha

I re-found a great local pet store near my old house... the owner is just awesome and let me go on and on and on about my tanks, and actually listened!
Picked up some new aquatic plants yesterday:

Cabomba
Jungle Valisneria
Java Fern
Water sprite
one I can't remember the name but it grew from a bulb and looked kinda like a banana plant??
some hornwort and anacharis for my slider
and a couple swords

AND he had nightcrawlers!! I have been completely unable to find any since winter hit Cleveland, all the frogs and turtles were psyched

[deranged chipmunk]

Nice score! All low light, low maintenance plants. The one that looks like it has a bunch of bananas at the root is called a banana plant. Sorry, i don't have any experience with them. All the others i have grown. We call them "beginner's plants". But that doesn't mean they are bad plants. I like water sprite, but it grows too bushy for me. The jungle val will throw runners all over the place for ya. And you can never go wrong with java fern. Just make sure you do not plant the rhizome on the java fern. It will rot and kill the plant if you do. Tie it or super glue it to a rock or piece of driftwood, and it will grow wonderfully for you. I have several varieties of microsorum growing in various tanks.