Problem with fresh set up and lack of knowledge - advices wellcome

[Orlauskas]

Hello, so lets start from begging. We got terrarium for a week now, its runing without any creatures, just waterfall , plants, rain system and hot spot lamp ( canopy with normal lamp will arrive Friday) .
Seller set up terrarium for us, and used clay balls on bottom and ECO Earth on top made from Coconut Fibre. Now I got two letters from my friens, saying that in Coco fibre nothing will grow as its bad nutrition.
So there is set up :
http://imageshack.com/a/img62/8845/w8km.jpg
There is a layer of Clay balls and Eco Earth :
http://imageshack.com/scaled/800x600/21/yo98.jpg

So will have couple of solutions, just need your advice please.

Solution number 1 : Dig eco earth in that places where plant will be and use Orchid mix + peat to fill base around plant potting place and just cover top with eco earth, us it stops substrate goes to frog skins (heard peat moss will stick on frogs).
Solution number 2 :
Plant plants in pots using some substrate inside pot only.
Solution number 3 :Get rid of all Eco earth and do it everything from start
So as you have more experience, please help to solve it .

[Mentat]

Your friends are right; which makes me wonder the knowledge level of person who built and sold the vivarium to you. Please take a look at this article so you get an idea what set-up should really be like: Frog Forum - Building Dart Frog Terrariums / Tropical Terrarium Construction . Also, in the vivarium section are many build-ups to learn from.

It's up to you which way to go; myself would first make sure there is a drainage access tube going all the way to bottom; and that there is a sheet of garden net between clay balls and soil (don't want the latter falling down and clogging clay balls. For substrate, recommend ABG type soil or similar. Once you get everything set-up can add starter colonies of springtails and isopods. Then let vivarium settle down for a month or so before introducing frogs. You can get the frogs and place them in a separate quarantine set-up for 30 days min. while vivarium cycles. Good luck !

[flybyferns]

Hello, so lets start from begging. We got terrarium for a week now, its runing without any creatures, just waterfall , plants, rain system and hot spot lamp ( canopy with normal lamp will arrive Friday) .
Seller set up terrarium for us, and used clay balls on bottom and ECO Earth on top made from Coconut Fibre. Now I got two letters from my friens, saying that in Coco fibre nothing will grow as its bad nutrition.
So there is set up :
http://imageshack.com/a/img62/8845/w8km.jpg
There is a layer of Clay balls and Eco Earth :
http://imageshack.com/scaled/800x600/21/yo98.jpg

So will have couple of solutions, just need your advice please.

Solution number 1 : Dig eco earth in that places where plant will be and use Orchid mix + peat to fill base around plant potting place and just cover top with eco earth, us it stops substrate goes to frog skins (heard peat moss will stick on frogs).
Solution number 2 :
Plant plants in pots using some substrate inside pot only.
Solution number 3 :Get rid of all Eco earth and do it everything from start
So as you have more experience, please help to solve it .

Hello,
Well.....they are right ...plants will not thrive in c. fiber.
Plus the water will not drain well ........leaving you with a soggy mess
I don't think you have to pull it completely.
I see a substrate barrier? If so, I would pull the plants and moss, dig out as much of the c fiber as possible and
place it into a bucket.

Pull the c fiber as close to the barrier as you can ---but without actually scraping at it when digging.

Then mix some of the the c fiber with the rest of the ABG ingredients :
Here are 2 recipes for ABG :

2pt Tree Fern fiber, 1pt peat, 1pt charcoal, 1pt sphagnum, 2pt coco, 2 pt orchid bark
or
2pt Tree Fern fiber, 1pt peat, 1pt charcoal, 1pt sphagnum, 2pt orchid bark

There are lots of recipes for ABG - but these 2 , above, are just fine.
The tree fern fiber and the charcoal are very important!

The charcoal should be about 1/4" to 1/2" pcs.

Don't forget to seed it with springtails and isopods !

[Orlauskas]

Thank you everybody for advices.
Spoke with many professional plant nurseries, most of it using Eco Earth with Coco fibre . So decided to leave it.

[Mentat]

Thank you everybody for advices.
Spoke with many professional plant nurseries, most of it using Eco Earth with Coco fibre . So decided to leave it.

That is your choice and it's fine with me; but have couple questions. Did you ask them professionals at plant nurseries if they fertilize their EcoEarth so plants can thrive on it? Are you planing to do the same in a vivarium destined for frogs? Good luck !

[Orlauskas]

That is your choice and it's fine with me; but have couple questions. Did you ask them professionals at plant nurseries if they fertilize their EcoEarth so plants can thrive on it? Are you planing to do the same in a vivarium destined for frogs? Good luck !

I didnt asked about fertilizing , but one of frog keeper from Holand, have this nice set up : https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...17558381_o.jpg and dart frogs, and he using fertilizing spray , in that way that its not harm frogs, will find out how to do it latter. And another one man from facebook group on it https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...35241395_o.jpg , and that who opening new shop, said using that substrate , so I suggesting it will work, if think logically, whats a point to do terrarium product, which is not working at all?
If something goes in different way than suppose to do it , always can pot with pots . Thx Carlos .

[aGreenCup]

I would consider a false bottom for sure, if your considering a waterfall. There is no need for fertilizer if your tank is environmental sound. Your frogs will produce waste which the pants will use. One thing to consider is the spectrum of light. 6500k is ideal, but 5500k will work for plant growth.

[Orlauskas]

I would consider a false bottom for sure, if your considering a waterfall. There is no need for fertilizer if your tank is environmental sound. Your frogs will produce waste which the pants will use. One thing to consider is the spectrum of light. 6500k is ideal, but 5500k will work for plant growth.

Hello mate, currently using : D3 T5 39w 12% 7000k what do you think about that please?