40g phantasmal frog build

[DartEd]

Well I finally started my build this weekend. I have completed about 95% of the background, placed my net planters and film canisters, constructed my false bottom and siliconed most of it. I have received my ABG from glass box tropically and am awaiting on my plants, wood, vines and decorations from NE herpetoculture. There's a lot of detail in the background that didn't translate in the pictures. There are lots of ledges and film canister "caves" for egg laying. I'm going to be setting up a small pond to the right front. I'm using egg crate false bottom with hydroton for the outer edges and I got some really nice broad smooth rocks for the pond. Its really coming together so far. I hope I can translate my vision to the end product.

BTW when the GS cansays to wear gloves, it isn't optional. I can't get the stuff off my hands.


Placement and initial foam

[BonnieLorraine]

Make sure you drill some drainage holes through the foam into the bottoms of the net pots, or else you'll have plants drowning. Otherwise, it looks great, can't wait to see it finished!

[mshine1217]

A good start, keep us updated on your progress

[DartEd]

Today I placed my false bottom, lined the edges with LECA, poured in my ABG and lined my pond/riverbed area with some stony riverbed gravel. I poked holes in my net planters as advised. I'm starting to get really excited. I was just on the phone with NEHerpetoculture and they told me my monkey pods, plants, wood, vines and other decorations would ship today. I can't wait. I got some really cool creeping vines, some funky broms and tillandsias and some really nice broadleaf plants. Only thing left is to get the glass lid cut but I happen to have a buddy that owns a glass shop nearby. When I asked how much it would be he just said "ehhh we'll work something out". Knowing him, that translates to," your money is no good here ".

i also scored a prolific pair of SIs along with their 8 froglets off of DB. So I'm taking the 6hour round trip ride to go get them this Sunday. For the price, they're worth the drive. I figure Ill use my 20g viv as a grow out and keep the adults and heartier juveniles in my new 40 gal. The 20 is already seeded with springtails and I have three producing melangocaster cultures.

Here are a few pics of he progress. The dark stuff under the ABG is a half inch thick one inch line of wet coco fiber that I used to hold the screen above the LECA in place. It's only about an inch wide from from to back but it worked.

[DartEd]

Here's the viv planted out and then redone to my liking. Tell me what ya think. I'm just waiting for my lid.

[DartEd]

[DartEd]

Tomorrow it goes on the rack, gets a lid and I fill the pond.