Just started my build, 1st timer :)

[deranged chipmunk]

Nice choice. Josh's has great stuff. Did you get the kit? Or did you choose individual stuffs?

[mariebaby21]

I got the plant kit. If I don't get what I want.. there is a fern I want and I added moss to my order... I'll just buy more
It will be about a 3 weeks to a month before I add frogs just to make sure everything is going well. So I'll have plenty of time if I need more plants
I also got springtails. I got the ABG mix and the substrate divider... but I have a hydroponics store right by my house for they hydroton (sp?) and they sell it pretty cheap. I think I could have bought a new puppy with all I have spent on this LOL

[J Teezy]

may want to look into using growstones instead of Hydroton.

check this out Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

[deranged chipmunk]

may want to look into using growstones instead of Hydroton.

check this out Growstone Demonstration at Max Yield Show in Denver, CO - March 2012 - YouTube

I watched this video a couple times now and i'm not seeing where growstones would be more advantageous than LECA in out application of it. Am i missing something?

[J Teezy]

absorbs the water instead of repelling it. Higher humidity. I personally don't like excess water just hanging out in the bottom of my tanks, hence why i use drains, but if i wasn't going to have a drain i would use growstones personally. Plus if you can see your drainage layer i think growstones looked better to the eye than hydroton

[deranged chipmunk]

If using it in it's intended application, i think it would be brilliant. But as a drainage layer, i think it would be detrimental. First off, no matter what their claim, it doesn't "absorb" water. Wicking allows the water to reach all it's pores. And underneath the substrate, i would believe that would be a wonderful place for nasty anaerobic bacteria to grow. And a lot of it at that. I agree it would look more appealing than hydroton. But j disagree that it would create more humidity, except in an application like yours where it is constantly drained.

[mariebaby21]

My plants came today! So I decided to go with the hydroton. I used 10 liters of it which gave me about 2.5 inches at the bottom of the tank. I rinsed the hydroton about 4 times to get the water to run clear. Tomorrow, all of my dry goods should arrive, ie... ABG, leaf litter, screen for between the layers of hydroton and the ABG, lighting, coco huts.. I'm so excited! I've got springtails coming too
I made a couple of small errors by going to fast, but that was mainly not getting parts of the great stuff completely covered. I will just cover those areas with a plant I'll take pics tomorrow of my progress

[mariebaby21]

Here are pics! All I need is to let it grow and then add my frogs! How many leucs can I put in this? It's 20g regular


First is of the finished product! Second is a top view looking down into it. Third is a pic I took outside before I brought it in and watered and misted it.
What do you think? I've never done this before so I'm pretty proud

[deranged chipmunk]

Those plant kits are nice if you aren't sure what plants you want. They are really helpful for beginners. I think it's great idea they came up with on that one