XL Exo-Terra Build

[Riptide]

It definitely is a nice feeling! It's also a nice feeling to actually get this build underway lol.my goal for tonight is to get the base for the substrate in place and to get the Epiweb attached to the background. This coming week will be busy so hopefully I can get quite a bit done tonight and tomorrow afternoon so that the rest of the week stuff can just cure.


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[DigitalPunk]

Well here is hoping you get a lot accomplished tonight and tomorrow. I know you know this, but just so it is said, Make sure you don't rush anything or it will just create more work and frustration

[Riptide]

Success! I had just enough silicone to finish the work I wanted to get done tonight. Tomorrow I'll pick up some more tubes of the GE silicone 1 and finish the background. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll be able to finish constructing the root system and possibly get the foaming done as well.

I think it's a good start tonight :-)



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[Riptide]

A little more progress :-) I am actually pretty happy with the way it's turning out.



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[Riptide]

The build was coming along at a nice and easy and at a good pace but I had to go and try to make it complicated. I decided I wanted to build a little retaining wall around the edge of the land area and I also wanted to attach a branch from the back to one of the sides....easy enough so I grabbed a can of great stuff and went to work. There is nothing complicated about this build at all: The false bottom is spun plastic, the background is EcoWeb, the fabric is Hygrolon...so why on earth did I use GS?! Well after the retainer wall failed miserably and the branch almost fell down I went back to making this build simple.

The retainer wall is now just an 1" wide x 2" tall strip of the spun plastic with fiberglass rods through them to provide a nice solid structure. The branch is siliconed directly to the glass now and a layer of EcoWeb has been placed around it to give it just a little more insurance on the stability.

Tomorrow I tackle the branches that will make up the root structure :-)

Here is a FTS as of right now


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[Riptide]

Pretty much the same but a little more progress.

[deranged chipmunk]

looking good sky!! planning on a lot of epiphytes in this tank with all that epiweb?? lol

[Riptide]

Thank you :-) I am planning on a fair amount of epiphytes.

I've gotten the root structure built up to about 90% and plan on finishing them up tonight.



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[BigDutch]

Looking good! Im looking forward to the rest

[Riptide]

I was able to get the roots finished. I used a TB3/coconut fiber mix on the joints where the branches are attached to cover the glue in the joints. The only thing still left to be done is to build the screening for the lid and get the glass cut and drilled for the MistKing system. Once all that is done I think that it'll be time to move the shrimp in and plant it. I have at least another few months before I move Chubs into this build so there will be lots of time to let everything settle and grow in

Here is another FTS ( you can see the joints covered in the roots) and a shot of what the roots will kinda look like under water.

[Riptide]

I finally got the glass cut and drilled for the top and got the screening kit done. All that I really have left to do now is paint the sides and back then move it into the house and to its final resting spot. I'll plant the tank first then put the shrimp in, after that's done I'll have a good 3-4 months before I need to worry about moving Chubs into his new home.

Slowly but surely I'm getting there!


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[BigDutch]

Looking forward to the rest!


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[Riptide]

Last night I had a burst of energy and decided to get the Exo-Terra set up (at least 90%). The only thing that I have left to do is to hook up the MistKing and figure out how best to run the airline tubing to the sponge filter for the RCS in the water section.

Here is the initial setup, lots of tweaks to come in the next few months I am sure.

[Gomugomuking]

This looks really good. I just got my large exo terra (small tall) and am trying to think of ways to set it up. I like this.

[Riptide]

Here is an updated shot that shows about a months growth. Not a ton but there has been some establishing and filling out :-)



Any ideas why we have named him "Chubs"? The little glutton was in the empty food dish waiting to be fed, about 2 hours after eating.



this has nothing to do with frogs but here are my other two addictions. The freshwater tank needs a trimming.




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[Riptide]

I'll have to post an update picture later (the last FTS is still pretty accurate but it's grown in a little more) but the Emerald Queen Fern in the back left corner is getting quite large and rather unweildy so I was thinking of switching it out for a Red Aglaonema that I have sitting potted. Are there any reasons that I should not do this? If the Red Aglaonema won't work what are some other options that would provide a nice color variety and fill out the corner area nicely. I'm definitely a fan of the broader leaf plants overall.

I have also started debating whether or not the pothos is the right vining plant for this tank. I know that it can go absolutely nuts and overgrow other plants if not trimmed regularly. What are some other members favorites in terms of vining plants that would fit this bill?

i've looked a lot of different plants and i'm kinda at the point where everything is starting to look the same so some specific types would be great. Thanks everyone!

[LilyPad]

I like the pothos going up the side like that, it can work well so long as you're willing to trim it. I have had mine in my tank for 2-3 years and have only cut it back twice. Whereas, I have one on my desk in my office that I trim every month. So you can try it and just see how much maintenance it will be.

I did just add some Ficus pumila to my tank in hopes that it climbs and sticks to the reptile carpet I have going up the back without me having to mount it or pin it down at all like I have to do with the pothos. That has small leaves though, not like the broad leaves of a pothos.

I'm sure others have even better rec's. I'm not very knowledgeable on terrarium plants and constantly pick everyone elses' brains.

It looks great though

[Riptide]

Here is an updated FTS. I added the branch in the lower left tonight and that seems to help keep the fern a little more controlled. I think the frogs would like another hefty branch in there as well so it works out :-)



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[Riptide]

Thanks LilyPad I put the small cutting of pothos in the tank when I first planted it and it's just now starting to put out a new leaf. Like you the ones I have on my desks or throught the house grow a new leaf every other day or so, so I'm not sure why it grows so much slower in this environment. After looking at the tank more I think that my main issue is the lack of other colors besides green, I ususally like to mix colors since IMO it gives it a little more of a natural look (if not done in excess).

[deranged chipmunk]

Try mixing colors of greens and different texture leaves. That's the key to making it look more natural. Also, adding multiple plants of one species. Rarely ever do you find multiple different plant species in one place. It's normally groups of the same plant with some others tossed in.


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