Member's Choice Build

[deranged chipmunk]

ok, my frog forum friends, i spent the day cleaning out my 18x18x24, that previously housed my white's tree frogs. (they recently joined my friend's breeding group) now i want to rebuild it into a paludarium, but i need your help. i can't decide what kind of tank i am going to build. i have so many projects running through my head (the tardis build, tweaking the steam punk tank, a 60g nature paludarium, ect) that i am out of ideas!! is there a certain style tank you have always wondered what i would have done with? maybe a build idea that you just don't know how you would pull it off? maybe another theme tank? i thought about a fern and violet tank, but i'm not too sure about that one. throw me some ideas, and i will build the one i like the most, with that member's valuable input, hence the name "Member's Choice Build"

there are only 2 conditions: 1) this will be a strict paludarium, NO animals will be housed in this tank, and 2) it is going to be 2 sided with a "side orientation". this means that the doors will be on the side and the viewing area will be nice, clean glass, like this:


ok, i know it's not spotless yet, i just finished ripping it apart, lol so get those ideas flowing, let's see what we can come up with together!!!

[Heatheranne]

Ooh! I pick cascading waterfall with ferns, violets (I know just the place to get some ), and some moss .

[Heatheranne]

Hint, hint!

[kueluck]

My vote is for moss-n-shroom. Just gotta find one amazing piece of wood as center piece, then go from there.

[Heatheranne]

That's a great idea too .

[Tongue Flicker]

How about an epiphytic cactus setup? I've always imagined how that'll be pulled up

[deranged chipmunk]

I like all these ideas. Neil, I'm not a big fan of cactii. Gail's idea is cool, but I would have to make some shrooms, preserve some or inoculate some wood. Heather's idea is cool. I'm currently leaning towards a combination of heather's and Gail's ideas.

[deranged chipmunk]

I'm actually surprised nobody suggested a carnivore tank lol

[Mentat]

I like Heather's suggestion and you could add mushrooms in there too. Do you mean carnivore plant tank? Those have very specific requirements and I'm not sure they share them across all species. Also, some need a "wintering" over period too .

[Heatheranne]

Bruce has had carnivorous plants in the past. He says the same as Carlos. They can be tough.

[deranged chipmunk]

If I were to do a carnivorous plant tank, it would be more of a biotope. Different plants from the same region. Same principle of doing a multi species animal tank

[kueluck]

If you go with moss and want some live spanish moss I can get you some later this spring when we head to the swamp for camping.

[Tongue Flicker]

I like all these ideas. Neil, I'm not a big fan of cactii. Gail's idea is cool, but I would have to make some shrooms, preserve some or inoculate some wood. Heather's idea is cool. I'm currently leaning towards a combination of heather's and Gail's ideas.

The epiphytic ones tend to be tropical so thought it would be a good contrast to your leafy planted tanks

[deranged chipmunk]

I have seen those Neil, but unfortunately, the ones that are available in the hobby here in the states excite me about as much as broms (ugh!) do.

[Tongue Flicker]

Hw about and oasis looking setup? I believe i haven't seen that done anywhere yet haha

[flybyferns]

Hi
I vote for my favorite ---for moss, moss, moss.

You may want to make room for this little baby as it has your name on.
I hope I don't kill it by April 6th. It's a huge responsibility

[Namio]

There's a state park (Prairie Creek) in northern California called the Fern Canyon, and as the name suggests, it is a canyon covered with several different species of ferns on both sides. Very beautiful. I believe part of the first Jurassic Park was filmed there. It'd be great if you can make a tank that simulates Fern Canyon. Google "fern canyon" you'll find plenty of pictures. Too achieve the Fern Canyon effect you do have to flip the tank back to its original orientation though, so that may be a deal breaker for you.

[deranged chipmunk]

I googled fern canyon and wow!! That's pretty awesome! That gives me some ideas for a 60g paludarium I am still deciding what to do with, and I think that will help!
Lynn, are you serious? Huperzia? You are way too good to me!

[deranged chipmunk]

Since there were some excellent ideas here, I am going to try to incorporate as many as I can. The tank will house ferns, violets, some miniature gesneriads, and I may even have a succulent in a dry spot, just for Neil!

Heather, the cascading waterfall is an incredible idea, and I am going to "Chipmunk it out". I have a special plan for the background. Something very, VERY unique, as long as I can get the materials this weekend.

[Namio]

I'm certainly looking forward to your new build(s), Bill! Also, I'm glad to hear you like Fern Canyon. I was there a couple of times and it was truly an amazing place. The ferns that occupy the canyon are also very pretty.