Oy... The cost of transforming a viv

[LilyPad]

It's been about 3 years since I built a new viv. I forgot how expensive it can get!! I'm not even doing a completely new viv, I'm refurbing (finishing) an old one. So I already have the tank and lighting unit. It has a great stuff background that I ran out of silicone in the middle of, so it's not so pretty, lots of yellow showing. I originally had it woodland/subtropical for my spring peepers, but emptied it when I lost all of them, and sanitized it all with boiling water since I was unsure of why they all died so rapidly. I am planning on transforming it into a tropical/sub tropical viv though, for a future tropical frog friend. I'm honestly not even sure what kind yet, just need a project right now and can alter it as needed when I decide.

I forget how quickly the costs add up though...I needed new cfl's, hydroton, sphagnum moss, plantation soil, digi therm/hygro, a timer plug strip (which I needed for my other viv anyway) silicone, screening, pump, some fake vine for one spot on the background where nothing will grow - still do not have everything for a water feature - and then need to do some plant shopping once the basics are done.

I'm already at almost $100 with that stuff alone and have a lot more to go!

How much do you typically spend on viv supplies? (excluding the tank)

On a side note - I have the driftwood that I used in the spring peeper tank. My spring peepers (7 of them) all died within 4 days of each other. If I bake the driftwood, would I be safe using it again? Or could it potentially harbor whatever killed my little peepers in the first place?

I will post pics as I work on it this weekend.

[Ted]

Personally ,you don't want to know what I spend on this stuff..if I told you what I spent on a handmade canister filter,I would be asked to leave this forum.never forget,,advanced aquanautics thru totally excessive spending....

[LilyPad]

If only we had unlimited budgets.... I can't imagine what my vivs would look like (or how many, or how big) if I could spend what I really wanted.

[deranged chipmunk]

Hahahaha! Cost? $100? I drop that on the average plant order lol. There are a lot of things you can do to save cash, but there are a few places i never skimp on. Lighting and life support. That's not to say that I still don't buy thrifty (18" led lighting, $35 shipped ) but on average, my tanks run me about $500+. But
Most of my money is spent on plants lol


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[DigitalPunk]

I am right there with Bill. The plants seem to be where most of my money goes. I just finished a 18x18x24 tank for some Vents and managed to keep it under $289 with the tank included, but I have moved away from doing spray foam and silicone backgrounds and instead and keeping it natural on the inside without using any man made products or chemicals (other than a water filter and aquatic heater).

If you plan it out in advance and research the things you will need you can find come amazing deals on things and keep the cost down some.

Prior to this tank I would say i could spend near $500 on a tank the same size, it is easy to get carried away.

[LilyPad]

Plants are going to end up being my $$$ thing too, I already have a list of several that I want and have planned the layout for them. I enjoy having beautiful tropical plants almost as much as I enjoy my frogs though.

I need to start watching for sales and stock up on stuff ahead of time from now on.