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Thread: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

  1. #41
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    New door arrived today and has been installed. Not a picture worthy moment, but man what a classy move by Petsolutions (Amazon Seller) They jumped right on my problem and got the door here really quickly!

    The waterfall ruined my weekend lol. I tried a few things to get it working the way I wanted. I made the tough call Sat night and put spray foam in the hose to seal it off and patched the background to remove it. I will leave the pump in the false bottom to use as a syphon.

    I did carve out a section of the foam on the top to hide the valve in (not that i need the valve anymore. I just decided I didn't want that thing hanging out of the tank when I didn't need it.

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    The top was test fitted and it fits perfect.

    The plant order was placed this weekend. The wife OK'd me to order 6 more plants, due to weather this week the shipment has been delayed till Friday. Next update should be the planted Tank and a completed project. I am not 100% happy with it, but I don't feel it is bad for a first try at this. Learned a lot I will take with me to the next 2.

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  3. #42

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Looks good. Water features are a pain. The number one rule to a water feature, try as you may, the water goes where it want to anyway. Lol that's not a bad thing in your case though, that brass valve would have been bad to have in the system. Even though they don't corrode as easily as copper, still not a good thing in the tank.

    What plants did you order?
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  4. #43
    Moderator Mentat's Avatar
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Glad you got door replaced! Don't feel bad about waterfall; they are a challenging to get them right. Ones I've liked the most are those were you barely get a drip coming out of a cork piece or similar without any tubes showing. Think a very small pump working against gravity or a deposit that get's filled by misting system and then drips slowly is the way to go .
    Remember to take care of the enclosure and it will take care of your frog !​

  5. #44
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
    What plants did you order?

    Nothing to exciting. We already have a couple Pothos for the tank and a snake plant. We ordered

    1 - Wondering Jew (I think we got the tri color)
    2 - Nematanthus 'Black Gold'
    3 - Nematanthus 'Christmas Holly'


    there are 2 or 3 others that are slipping my memory right now lol. We must of looked at 100s of plants to find ones the wife wanted to put in the terrarium.

    Right now the plan is to pot the 2 pothos at the top to they hang down the back corners and pot the 2 goldfish in the top middle and let them grown through each other and down the wall.

    The Wondering jew will go in the wall down by the substrate and allowed to grow out and cover the bottom.

    I think we got another Bromeliad, but can't remember if it made the cut.

    The tank is going to be covered in plants when it is all said and done. Once I have them in I will post pics for them before and after they are planted.



    ----- the water feature was ill-conceived by me this go round. I will put a lot more thought into the next attempt at a water feature.

  6. #45
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Got the ship notification on the plants and springtails. They will be here Saturday. The current plan is to get all the new plants in place put the springtails in the substrate and then in a week or 2 move the frogs in.

  7. #46

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Cool! Can't wait to see it planted!!
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  8. #47
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Long Post - Sorry

    Ok Plants arrived. Here they are with their common names

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    'Black Gold' GoldFish Plant


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    'Christmas Holly' Goldfish Plant



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    Mo Peppa Please - Bromeliad


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    Rabbits foot Fern



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    'Smithii' Bromeliad

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    Wondering Jew - This one was in rough shape. We hope it makes it without dying off to much.



    We transplanted the plants from the current terrarium along with the new ones into Roy, June, Mal, and Rivers new home

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    Full View

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    Right Side

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    Left Side



    A couple of the plants are not in line with the misters. We will spray those "manually" lol


    One of the snake plants is shooting off a new plant. It has 3 or 4 little points coming off it.

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    Spring Tails were added to the substrate and mixed in. Sphagnum moss and leaf litter added back in

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    We went ahead and moved Roy and June into the new space after we soaked the plants and let the temperature rebound. Originally we planned to wait a few weeks, but the temp home they have been in needed to be cleaned out and have new substrate put in and we didn't want to add that expense so moving day for them!


    Roy went and hid to go back to sleep. June walked around for a few showing off her pretty Blue legs. Here are the last 2 pics

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    Thanks everyone for viewing this and giving me tips and ideas. I had a blast and can't wait to get started on the next one. It will be for PDFs. Working on a small 29 Gallon project with my son. Might start a thread for his tank as well. We started work on it last night.

    Again Thank you everyone! Enjoy!

    Paul

  9. #48

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Nice job! It looks great!
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  10. #49
    Member dbizal's Avatar
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Been lurking on this build for a while now and just thought I would pop out from the darkness to tell you it looks amazing! Great job!

  11. #50
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Thanks Bill and db

  12. #51
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Wife and I didn't like the way the lighting looked in the new setup. We went out to Petco and picked up a Fluval Ultra Bright LED Strip for 18' tank. It was on sale for $53 and with the luck of finding an open box we took it home for $45. It has blue LED lights for artificial moon and is 7500K So I am pretty excited about it

    Here are a couple pics of the Viv with the new light installed.

    The Blue is not as bright as the picture makes it. We plan on using it very rarely, but like having it as an option.

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  13. #52
    Riptide
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    The tank looks great! I love the contrast in the light and dark that the LEDs create. IMO it gives the tank a feeling of being much taller.

    I'm sure your frogs are loving their new home! Great job!

    Sent from my GS3 using Tapatalk

  14. #53

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Looking good. Led's are starting to be the way to go. As soon as they make a system with a more complete spectrum, I am probably going to convert all my tanks to led's
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  15. #54
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
    Looking good. Led's are starting to be the way to go. As soon as they make a system with a more complete spectrum, I am probably going to convert all my tanks to led's
    I was pretty impressed with this LED strip. For one I like that the LED lights are not zapping the humidity out of my terrarium during the day. I am actually going to have to reprogram my Mistking timer and reduce the frequency of mistings now.

    I love the look it give the tank as well. Thanks everyone for the comments!

    I am knock deep in my Sons Dart frog tank at the moment. Still debating on starting a thread for that one.

  16. #55

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    I just wish my led fixture had one or two more red lenses. Around 4000k or so. But otherwise, I've been please with it.

    You so have to do the journal for the dart tank. Can't build a retf tank and then a dart tank and not do a journal. Just remember, your next build should always be bigger and better!! :-)
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  17. #56
    Member dbizal's Avatar
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Is there any benefits from using LED lights to standard? If so I would love to know as I haven't bought lights for my build yet.

    Would love it to look like your tank though, it is stunning with those lights.

  18. #57
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Quote Originally Posted by dbizal View Post
    Is there any benefits from using LED lights to standard? If so I would love to know as I haven't bought lights for my build yet.

    Would love it to look like your tank though, it is stunning with those lights.

    I am no lighting expert, but the lights I was using would slowly beat the humidity out of the terrarium over several hours. They produced little to no heat, but whatever it was about them was drink the air out quick.

    The LED lights cost more up front, but the cost savings in Electricity/Energy makes up for it. The LED lights can cause the colors in the terrarium to appear my natural and not as washed out as well.

    But like I said they are costly. I was lucky in finding these for the price i did. Joshs Frogs has them for sale on their website but for $89. In my opinion it is worth it.


    Bill,

    I will get a build thread going for his tank. His is a small 29 Gallon Aquarium so it won't be bigger, but I am using his build to test out a new method I want to try on the background. Once I am done with his I will start on My Dart tank. It is a 40 Gallon long tank.. I think it is 36 inches long, 18 Inches Deep, and 16 Inches tall.

  19. #58
    Riptide
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    Default Re: RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    I agree that you need to do another build thread for the PDF tank

  20. #59

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Well, one benefit is you'll probably never need to replace bulbs. I replace my t5's annually. And with 8 36" and 4 48" bulbs all costing about $20 per, that adds up quick. They also do not throw off heat into the tank. But the housings do tend to generate quite a bit of heat. They also do not lose intensity through a tank like florescents do. The downside being is their par value isn't quite as equal as a florescent light. But for terrestrials, that's not as much of a concern as it is for an aquatic tank.
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

  21. #60

    Default RETF Custom Terrarium background - Advice and tips needed/welcomed

    Quote Originally Posted by DigitalPunk View Post
    I am no lighting expert, but the lights I was using would slowly beat the humidity out of the terrarium over several hours. They produced little to no heat, but whatever it was about them was drink the air out quick.

    The LED lights cost more up front, but the cost savings in Electricity/Energy makes up for it. The LED lights can cause the colors in the terrarium to appear my natural and not as washed out as well.

    But like I said they are costly. I was lucky in finding these for the price i did. Joshs Frogs has them for sale on their website but for $89. In my opinion it is worth it.


    Bill,

    I will get a build thread going for his tank. His is a small 29 Gallon Aquarium so it won't be bigger, but I am using his build to test out a new method I want to try on the background. Once I am done with his I will start on My Dart tank. It is a 40 Gallon long tank.. I think it is 36 inches long, 18 Inches Deep, and 16 Inches tall.
    Actually, the price of led lighting is coming down fast. I got my 18" strip for $50 shipped.

    I used bigger and better as a metaphor, sorry about that lol

    What method are you trying to cover the background with?

    And that 40 is a 40b (breeder)
    1.0.0 Oophaga Pumilio 'Black Jeans'
    0.0.10 Phyllobates Vittatus
    0.0.3 Phyllobates Terribilis 'Mint'
    0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Patricia'
    0.0.5 Dendrobates Leucomelas
    0.0.2 Dendrobates Tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
    0.0.2 Ranitomeya Variabilis 'southern'
    0.0.3 Epipedobates Anthonyi 'zarayunga'
    1.2.0 Phyllobates bicolor
    0.0.3 Dendrobates tinctorius 'azureus'
    0.0.1 Avicularia Avicularia
    0.0.1 Gramastola porteri
    0.2.0 Canines
    1.0.0 Tabby/Maine Coon Mix
    2.1.0 Genetics Experiments
    0.1.0 Bed Bully

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