18x18x24 AGTF Build Journal

[jarteta97]

For the third, and hopefully last, time, I'm revamping/rebuilding my AFTF vivarium. I'm hoping to put enough money and effort into this bad boy that I will never have to worry about their tank again (that never happens). Still, though, this will be a long build, so I get to both enjoy myself, and entertain (by my failures maybe ) the folks here for a few weeks or so. So why am I rebuilding . . . again? I've come to realize that I made a mistake when converting a 20H tank vertical, because, well, the ventilation sucks if you're an AGTF. Also, I put waaaaay too many bromeliads in there for tree frogs. So now I get to go down the long journey of a true build journal. I hope it doesn't kill me

I already bought the silicone and foam spray weeks ago at Home Depot, as well as two of my plants. Today however, I decided to make some sketches and that really started me on the build.




I think that I will probably reduce the water area to 10 inches on each side, especially for the right most plant. As for the right most plant, I'm still undecided. I really like the look of African Violets, but I'm also leaning towards either a begonia or a fern in that spot. I'm hoping for suggestions from our resident plant expert Bill I'm also still working on water level, because I don't want to compromise too much vertical space or soil depth. Would 2 inches be ok for ABG mix, or would I have to do 2 1/2?

And now the supplies I got weeks ago:




Any comments, suggestions, and even criticisms are welcome. Hope to get more done soon!

[22jscan]

Looks great

[flybyferns]

<I'm also still working on water level, because I don't want to compromise too much vertical space or soil depth. Would 2 inches be ok for ABG mix, or would I have to do 2 1/2? >

You plans look wonderful! Your Greenies are going to be very happy there.

IMO - 2 1/2 " of ABG is not deep enough. I use a 3" minimum.
Especially for the snake plant---as you want it 'in there'.
Have you though about building the soil up toward one corner?

The Pilea is going to be beautiful hanging down in the corner. It will start to grab the back ground and anchor there ----> perhaps even start to crawl.
I recently purchase 2 of the from BJ at the last White Plains show.
I have mine as ground cover in a tinc enclosure.. I divided it...and in less than 3 days it pop right back up.
It is grabbing most everything it's touching. So it will fill that corner really nicely !

Talk to Bill --- be sure you get a begonia that does not mind being stayed. The violets will be ok, but some of the begonias will be cranky.

Keep us posted

[deranged chipmunk]

I like the design. Well thought out.

I agree with Lynn, 3-4" of substrate minimum. You can always have 3" up front and slope it up higher in the back. It will help create a sense of depth.

I would go with a violet for the right side plant. Most begonias are going to grow too large for a background mounted planter, and as Lynn stated, they can be temperamental to say the least. If you don't want to go with a large violet violetbarn.com grows miniatures. That's where I get mine. Their prices are excellent, but plan on spending a few bucks there, it can't be avoided!! Right Lynn?? Lol


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

[jarteta97]

Lol, yeah I should have definitely realized that three begonias (or even one) on the wall would be way too much. I guess that in my mind, I saw plantlet and I guess it stuck in my mind as being small forever. NOT going to make that mistake again.

As for what I could mount in place of the begonia plantlets, I'm not 100% sure on what to put. I wouldn't mind maybe one small bromeliad (Bill's favorite, right? ) under the Cryptanthus, but I'm not sure what would be small enough besides a Tillandsia for the other too spots. I was thinking maybe another trailing plant in the top left corner and moving that tillandsia to where the rightmost begonia would have been.

Another think I would love is an aquatic plant, but I have absolutely no experience with those. Suggestions??

Also, how many gallon bags of ABG mix would I need for 3in in about 2/3 of the tank?

Oh and I forgot! I'm going to be ordering a 16-22 in ghostwood piece from NEHERP, so all the plants will have to be revolved around that. I'm thinking of putting the base in the water and bringing out to the right side up top, as I have no plant spots planned there. Lol, I need to buy this stuff so that I can actually position it!

[DigitalPunk]

ABG - Probably 3 - 4 bags. That Might be to much, but better to much than not enough

[deranged chipmunk]

There are a few trailing begonias that might work. And don't be afraid to add a second p. Glauca in there. Remember, plants in the wild rarely grow as solo plants. There's usually one or two more nearby.


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

[jarteta97]

Thanks Paul, luckily I accounted for three bags in my budget, so that will be good. If I come up a little short, I can always order another or mix in maybe a little coco fiber.

And Bill, I'll look into the trailing Begonias. I think you've mentioned you have a good begonia site once? The NEHERP description for the strawberry begonia plantlets say that if planted up high, that they will trail down. As for another Glauca, I was thinking of putting one at the top of the ghostwood and letting it take over that on the right wall.

[deranged chipmunk]

Nice. For begonias check:

Stevesleaves.com. Or violetbarn.com


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

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh, almost forgot, black jungle has an excellent selection of begonias as well.


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

[jarteta97]

Wow, I really like violetbarn's prices. I'm thinking I'll get a miniature african violet there.

[deranged chipmunk]

They have excellent pricing. I get all my violets there and other gesneriads. If only they sold aroids, I would never shop anywhere else. And wait until you see their packaging. Talk about quality control!!!


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

[jarteta97]

Well, I'm ordering now. Here's the list:

5 black film canisters
4 2in net pots
exo terra small compact top
NEHERP jungle dawn LED
3 gallons ABG mix
2 100 gram bricks AAA New Zealand sphagnum moss
16-22in NEHERP ghostwood
Live oak leaf litter
NEHERP live terrarium moss 5x6in
1 Pilea Glauca
1 Neoregelia "Chiquita Linda"
3 cuttings of Dischidia ruscifolia "million hearts"
1 miniature African Violet "Robs oolong" from violetbarn.com
16oz springtail culture w/ food

[deranged chipmunk]

The 2" pots are great for the mini violet. In fact, you don't want to go bigger, it will suffer, but they are small for most other things. I would go with 3" or larger.


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

[jarteta97]

I already have 3 3", don't worry. Those are for anything really small I might have in the future. Plus, if worst comes to worse, I can take all three 3" out of my old tank as well.

[jarteta97]

Well, I went to Home Depot and picked up supplies:



Fiberglass screen, two pvc pipes for support and drainage, another foam spray and silicone, and a container for springtails.

I also found this random tillandsia surrounded by bromeliads in a purple owl pot, lol



And I found this unnamed "house plant" that looks surprisingly like pilea glauca

[DigitalPunk]

Getting a nice pile of supplies going Can't wait to see this tank as it moves along.

One tip for you. Dollar stores have a similar tub for springtails for well $1 they are not great for much else but perfect for culturing springs in them

[jarteta97]

Yeah, I saw the tub at Home Depot for the same price, and I was thinking, definitely worth it. Now all I need is some Brewer's Yeast from Walmart or Target, and some good charcoal. When my package from NEHERP comes in, I bet I'll wet myself from excitement, lol.

[deranged chipmunk]

That's a nice Glauca you found there!!!


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

[jarteta97]

Alright, big update. My package from NEherp came in today, as well as my new water filter, and I'm really picture happy. It's a bit like a miniature story:

Btw, thanks Paul for the water filter recommendation. I really like the fact that the sponges can be lain flat.



Here's me eagerly awaiting the FedEx truck while it's pouring down rain.



It finally arrived!



I felt like a little kid in a candy shop! They even sent me a whole freaking extra piece of ghostwood and my neoregelia chiquita linda had three pups on it!





Here's my impromptu lighting station, lol



The difference between jungledawn LED and a CFL



And now the plants:



Pilea Glauca:



NEherp moss:



Dischidia Ruscifolia "million hearts" cuttings in ABG



Two little tillandsias I found at Home Depot:



My Neoregelia "Chiquita Linda"



Here's how I setup my Bromeliad. I basically duct taped it into a little plant pot I had, with no soil or anything in the pot. Hopefully this will allow the root portion to have lots of humidity, but not actually be planted in soil.



My ghostwood pieces next to each other:



Here's my springtail setup. The idea is that when the build is done, I can just dump this ABG into the tank, along with the rest, and they'll reproduce and flourish. The seashell is where I'll put the brewer's yeast, and if I need to pull any springtails out, I'll just pull out the seashell when they're crawling over it to eat.




Ideas/suggestions are most certainly welcome, thanks

Josh