My "build"

[awelcome]

I can't visualize how I would wrap it to the log? I did pick up floral wire though. I am still considering attaching the spikier green one to the background. But I am kind of considering going with the skewer method just so I don't have to try to twist wire behind it after it's in, or guess before putting it in. If I do the skewers should I at least put a little moss to have something to help pin it... I know too much Bill said was a bad idea (well he said any) but maybe just a tiny bit to help pin and hide the piece of skewer?

[DigitalPunk]

Start with the wire pointing at the ground on one side of the wood and wrap it up over the top and down around the wood. Then cross it to the other side. You may even need to do a wrap around the base of the plant to hold it more securely. The warp around the plant doesn't need to be so tight it is leaving marks on the plant, but tight enough the plant doesn't move to much. Keep wrapping it around (forming an X on the top of the wood (the wraps around the wood can be as tight as you can get them. Make sure the wire isn't pointing out for the frog to hurt itself on it. I then lay sphagnum or any other kind of moss over the wire to hide it from view. After a few months the wire can be removed and the plant will hold itself in place.

There isn't any real technique to the wire. You are just holding the pant where you want it until it can hold itself.

[awelcome]

ok, so basically whatever works lol. Might be tricky to get it flush enough to the log not to leave gaps though, but I'll play around. When you go to remove it wouldn't it be kind of stuck in the roots? Is it a hassle to get out, and does it have to come out?

[DigitalPunk]

No it doesn't have to come out and it can be a hassle. More so because you have to disturb the tank to do it than anything. When I remove mine I use a pair of side cutters and cut off sections of it so I don't have to move the object it is wrapped around to much to remove it all. I mostly remove it to get the potentially sharp wire out of the tank and get it to a more natural environment, but you can absolutely leave it in.


But yes. Whatever works. If you have gaps then you can press them down to the wood. Gaps are fine, your frog will not try to wedge itself between the wire and the wood.

[awelcome]

ok few bumps in the road... once you start putting stuff in and get a 2 inch drainage layer it really fills up fast! I definitely don't have room for the turtle log she normally hides under, so I propped up a couple of leaves to cover the sides so she may feel secure there... and hopefully once plants grow more there will be even better hiding. But that leads me to my first question... once the plants start filling in is she going to be able to move around in there?! I tried to leave at least one path to the back corner but I don't know much about that creeping vine that I planted or that burgundy thread on and how much they will fill in that space. Another issue was just not being able to put in a few things I had picked out like the vine because with wanting to have a slightly higher substrate to the back I just don't have the space I thought I might. I HOPE I planted the plants well.... it's not like I have a lot of options in there lol. Probably one of the biggest issues though is the leaf litter.... it's just SO huge and with everything else in there I don't even know if I need to put much. I certainly don't think I can utilize it as it's meant to be piled together a bit, but I more used it to cover the moss in places to not only add visual difference/appeal but also so the frog has some smoother spots to hunt. I do have some stuff I might still try to attach to the glass on top for decoration, but not sure. I kind of hate the water dish taking up so much space and might look for even smaller one, or phase it out eventually, which will give more space down there for whatever, but for now it stays. My only other concern I think at the moment is where to feed her... she's used to an open spot for feeding.... would you do the log? or just as bare a place as I can find on the leaf/moss? I am liking how it's looking though.... but before I completely finalize things I wanted your thoughts of course. I don't know if I got a side pic, but the base layers really do fill up a lot of the tank.... I didn't even use all the drainage though, and it's no more than 2 inches for sure, and the substrate is only high on the back corner.

So here are the pics I quickly snapped... what do you think? Second and third pics show the leaves I propped up for privacy, and the last pic I hope shows you the little path I have back... does that look adequate for space to get back there for sure, even when the plants grow?

also, the base layers and water dish partially cover some of those front air holes... do you think with the gaps around the door piece and what's left, and opening it a couple times a day it will get enough air?

[awelcome]

I have put the hygro back in there, and am trying to bring the humidity back up to see how it's going to work... but it's staying around 70 so far. How long does it normally take to bring it up from the start? I don't know the first time I did it because I didn't have the hygro until the next day. I wet the ABG before putting it in, moss soaked and I squeezed some out, and I have misted, but still it's not going up. Temp is at 73ish though so that's fine. Should I have put any water in the drainage layer? I also put the water dish in and partially filled it back up (so as not to spill when I move it). Thoughts? I hate leaving the frog in that bowl set-up for too long without having the hygro/thermo in there to monitor too so hope to finish this soon.

[DigitalPunk]

it's looking good

I will try to answer all your questions and put you at ease It is amazing how fast you run out of space (even in bigger tanks) once all the pieces start to come together.

1. Leaf litter - Feel free to break up the leaves into smaller pieces. If you put about a 1/2 inch down your cobalt will also hide under it. No matter the planning they will find the spot they fell most secure and use that.

2. Water bowl - Darts do not require a water bowl. Having a small one isn't a bad thing, but they will get their water from the very humid air and water that is on the leaves, glass, and moss.

3. Feeding - The piece of wood would be a perfect feeding spot Esp since it is front and center and you can enjoy watching her cause fly genocide in the tank

4. Drainage layer - Yes you want to add some water to it. If your leca is 2" deep I would put 1 to 1.5 inches of water in it. Just keep an eye on the water and if it gets close to the soil you will need to syphon some out. Just pour the water through the substrate slowly and watch it fill up

5. Plants - You can train the vining plants to grow where you want them by moving and pinning in place as it goes. Trim the stuff back you don't want

6. Humidity - Adding water to the drainage layer will help and a few days of misting will help.


again it is looking really good. You are now officially cure from your PetStore bad information exposure Welcome to the light side. I am starting a timer now to see how long it take you to decide you are going to do a bigger tank, then I will know you are truly addicted

Paul

[awelcome]

before I get too far into this.... is it going to take a lot of water? I already dug a tiny hole into the substrate by the front door so I could watch is closely and not over-do it and I have put at least a cup of water and not even seen ANY make it under the barrier yet, it just soaks in really quickly. I did wet soil, but not like submerged or anything. I just want to make sure I am not going to bog out my substrate or something.... and that I should keep pouring?

[awelcome]

also.. I did cut my barrier slightly larger than the tank but not as large as I thought, so it really doesn't come up the sides much at all.... and as a result some substrate does get below on the edges... is that ok?

[DigitalPunk]

The math behind it all is Tank Length X Tank Height X desired water level divided by 231

So for you it is 12x12x1 / 231 = .62 Gallons.

If you dug a hole pour the water in that way. Pouring it through the substrate just helps saturate the substrate more.

[awelcome]

I am kind of an impatient person I have been told... I dumped about 1/2 gallon in there on the sides of the glass and I think it's pooling at the bottom now (it's actually much harder to tell then I thought it would be). I am going to let it keep filtering down for now, close the door and see if it changes humidity soon now. I just don't want to go too far and have to run out and buy a siphon so soon.

[DigitalPunk]

Slower is better Another benefit to having water in the drainage layer is when you do add the microfauna they will go down but the water in the drainage

[awelcome]

so I assume it's ok that some of the substrate is leaking through on the very sides? It seems to be helping already though, and it's already closer to 80%

And I am so glad you didn't tell me to start over when you saw it.... I was so afraid I messed up somewhere and would have to redo hours of work lol.

[awelcome]

another concern.... since the ground layer ended up SO close to the front vents, when I do get springtails in there, are they going to come out through those holes and infest my house?!

Wanted to mention also... and I will actually try to get a picture of it, the background worked out fairly well except that I had a harder time trimming it exactly right, and ended up with a couple spots on the sides the flies might get through.... but the top is secure! I have the barrier sort of stapled in with the wire all the way across and then it's lifted out of the tank on the lid so they can't get behind it... or at least not unless they are very determined and find the tiny corner sections that aren't as tight.!

[DigitalPunk]

The substrate leaking into the drainage layer could be stopped if you had the barrier material cut longer so it created a bowl for the soil to sit in, but some leaking is not a reason to tear everything apart.

You did a very good job maximizing the space in your tank. I bet your Cobalt will love it!

[awelcome]

Thanks! Yeah, I did try to cut it big, but I guess I didn't go big enough. It also seemed to slip over a bit at some point because the one side does go up a little more and the other side is almost flush. Oh well.... as long as it's not going to be a problem I'm ok with it then.

I really hope she likes it... I might move her soon actually. I just tested the temp/humidity of the bowl she's in and it's hotter in there, and not too much more humid at this point.... so I would rather she not have the optimal humidity just yet than her be too hot. I will wait a little though... just turned on the A/C. I think my tendency to worry and over-prepare came in handy here today.

[deranged chipmunk]

It's looking good! And you have been getting excellent advice from Paul! Except, I think he forgot to mention to you about how to drain the bottom of the tank when it gets too full.

Ummm, Paul, if you want to keep minion status, you better hop on it buddy!! Lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[awelcome]

he said to siphon it... I assumed I could just dig back a corner and siphon there?

[awelcome]

maybe this is a silly question.... she's been in there now for a little bit, and she immediately climbed up on a leaf, up onto/over the spiny brom and onto the background. She was likely a little shaken from the transfer. Anyway... she's been sitting there now the whole time, and I wondered if you thought she could for sure get down? I even tried to get a bit of flies up there for her, but she hasn't moved. Should I give it time? If she doesn't move after a long while what should I do? Anything?

[DigitalPunk]

I did say Siphon it In a bigger tank you can permanently install the syphon access in the back ground so you don't have to dig out the soil to do it, or you can drill the tank at the max waterline and install a bulkhead so the water drains out as needed.

You frog is likely stressed out. Let him/her be for a bit and get use to the changes. By a bit I mean a day or more. Your cobalt will calm down and start to explore.