Hello all I am new to the forum and have questions about a tank I am going to setup for frogs(Not sure about which ones I like as there are so many to choose from). I really find myself completely fascinated with the Red Eyed Greens or the Poison dart types the most for there color.
I am a complete enthusiast for anything living though and have kept aquariums for 46 years on and off with running a home based fish breeding business a couple times in the distant past so I have a pretty wet thumb already. OK here's what I am planning so far.
46BF tank and matching stand with a set of dividers in the tank to separate the land mass area for live plants and the frogs to most live. This will leave a decent sized portion in front for water where the (hopefully) some tadpoles will be later on. (did I mention that I would like to breed what ever species I end up keeping)?
Top down will look something like this below:
((please excuse the "x's" below in the picture they are place holders for the other symbols so just ignore them))
---------------back---------------------
| p x|xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
| u x|xxxxxxx(Land)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
| mp|xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
|--------------------------------------|
xx-xxxxxxxxxxxx(water area)xxxxxxxxxxx-
xxx--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--
xxxxx---------front-----------------
The water area and pump areas will be connected with an underflow through the shorter(4" instead of 5) glass piece.
Above the pump area I will construct a foam rock waterfall for sound and overall effect. Not needed by the frogs but I like waterfalls and their sound.
I would like to hook up a canister filter to keep the water area clear also.
I will put something in the water area like live aquarium plants which I am very successful at keeping already(lilies like the Nymphaea sp.) letting them take over the water surface for froglets to crawl out onto. There will also be some attached rocks with sand siliconed on their surfaces to allow adults and young alike to crawl out of water if they fall in(safety first)
My questions come to this.
1) I need to know more about the plumbing of a drip system that would not flood the dirt/land area to much(I will setup this area with drainage using clay beads I have already purchased) has anyone here setup really nice drip or misting system? One that I want to build would use the already present water from the front of my tank and have that water return to the water area with some type of plumbing using PVC/pump. This is where I'm not to sure as I have not built one of these already. Any ideas or thoughts from failures will be appreciated.
2) What works best for "drip" methods?, a solid piece of plastic with holes drilled all over for true dripping? or just some type of "soaker" hose type setup. The filter will be a HOB from Hagen using some aggregate rock gravel for the filter medium. Will this flow to much water to any system do you think?
3) I have some wood pieces but they are very short and will be integrated into the foam background, this leaves me with the need for one or two long pieces that are 2 foot or more for the frogs to climb around on to get close to the light which will be the links below:
Light = Amazon.com: Exo Terra Compact Top Canopy for PT2613 - 90 cm: Pet Supplies
One bulb = Amazon.com: Exo Terra Repti-Glo 2.0 Compact Fluorescent Full Spectrum Terrarium Lamp, 26-Watt: Pet Supplies
Another bulb = Amazon.com: Exo Terra Night-Glo Moonlight Lamp, 25-Watt: Pet Supplies
I own two 26 watt bulbs for natural 6500k aquarium use already for the main lighting for plants to finish off the fixture.
Might these bulbs get the desired heating for certain frogs that I have mentioned above? or will I still have to add a heat source like this:
Amazon.com: Penn Plax Ceramic Heat Emitter for Your Terrarium or Vivarium, 60-watt: Pet Supplies
4) Will that wattage be enough for this size tank?
I have purchased some of the material like Exo Terra Plantation Soil, 8 Quarts, 3-Pack and the Hydro balls from Zoo Med.
5) I will need to use some type of filter mesh screen for the separation of hydro balls from the Exo Terra PS, what will work best for these to materials to separate them(regular window screen)?
Well that's about it as this is long enough for those who answer to read through(sorry for the length, but I like to be complete)
Thanks ahead for any advice/help!
Doug