40B Vertical Conversion Build Journal

[DigitalPunk]

As promised

First I ripped the 40B apart to get ready to convert it to a Tree frog tank.



The original drainage hole was to high. I drilled a hole lower down and used the negative from the new hole to plug the old one. I installed a bulkhead to allow excess water to drain off the tank automatically.



Traditional drainage layer with a layer a quilt batting added for extra filtration (keep more soil particles out of the drainage layer)



Decided to do a "Flybyfern" style moss fine in the tank for the reds to hopefully climb on and enjoy. Here are all the needed supplies laid out. I first drilled a hole through the magnetic ledge and threaded the rope through. The end of the rope was knotted to keep it from pulling free. The crochet hook was used to weave the sheet moss and sphagnum moss through the loops in the ropes weave.



The process is time consuming. From beginning to end i spent roughly 6 hours weaving moss to complete the near 6 ft vine, but the results are stunning and well worth the effort!






Here is a close up of the sheet moss I used. I bought it from NeHerp. They sell it as "NeHerp Moss"



I bought 4 of these aquatic heater suction cups from petco for like $2 or $3 and will use them to mount the vine to in the tank. I should also add that prior to starting I used the rope to roughly map out how I wanted the vine to hang in the tank and cut the top to length.



The completed vine in the tank. The wood will be used in the final version, but ignore the broms in the planter. they were just sitting there to keep them from dying. The pothos was also ultimately removed from the wood.




And here is the final layout. The plants in the substrate were a gift from my good friend Heather and the rope for the vine along with the idea to make a moss vine are from My other good friend Lynn.



Hopefully this will be the final layout for a long long time lol.

[LilyPad]

It looks amazing, Paul, I was planning on doing a moss vine for my next tank also. Lynn had such an awesome idea