New Viv Construction - pic heavy

[DonLisk]

Here is a basic run down of my latest viv construction for my Dendrobates Leucomelas Bumblebee Dart.
This was initally published on the Dartfrogz forum and edited with additional comments for here. Hope you enjoy it and many thanks to Riko and those who suggested and provided help during this build.


Planned Materials: Waterfall foam, Driftwood, Cork Flat, Cork Round, Planting Pots, Clay Ball Bottom, Zilla Jungle Mix Substrate, Air Plants and Bromilaids, Peat Moss, and unknown plants to be names later.

Step One
Equipment: 20L tank, 1 piece driftwood, 1 medium cork flat, 2 cans Tetra Waterfall Foam, several small planter pots.

A. Cleaned tank and laid it back down, then placed driftwood and cork flats into place.
B. Siliconed above items into place and let cure for several hours.
C. Began adding the waterfall foam around driftwood and cork bark to seal around pieces.
D. Let foam settle for 1 hour.

E. Placed pots for plants and filled in around pots with waterfall foam doing small areas at a time.
F. Finished filling other background areas with foam and created shelf area on right above pot.
G. Let settle for 2 hours and then took initial pics.








Step Two

A. Trim out foam to desired appearance.
B. Apply Silicone and peat moss/coco fiber.
C. Remove Excess peat and coco.
D. Touch up areas missed.
E. Detail cracks.

Materials: GE Silicone I, Zilla Jungle Mix, Eco Earth Coco Fiber, Rubber Gloves, More Rubber Gloves, and some fresh air afterwards

Steps
1. I began by cutting in the areas that I wanted to re-sculpture. Stepped back to view for a bit and made more adjustments to the foam. I basically followed my preplanned adjustments as viewed in the image above.
2. I applied silicone to small areas, spreading it thick over flatter surfaces and trying to cut it into cracks as much as I could. It definitely has to go on thick. If you want c racks you need to have them cut deep and exaggerated since the silicone will fill much of it and hide smaller cracks.
3. I applied the coco fiber over some areas by sprinkling it over top and then pressing it in with a clean rubber glove. Pour it on since excess will fall off.
4. I continued steps 2 and 3 changing over to the Zilla Mix and covering the whole background.



5. Allowed this to settle over two hours and then started to shake off excess. I then let set one more hour and then lightly brushed off excess with a paint brush.
6. My next step was to use a knife to lightly trim out cracks of excess to add detail.
7. Used a razor to clean excess off the glass and then cleaned inside tank glass surfaces with water.

The following pics are the completion of step 2.








Well, it turned out to be a pretty productive day.
The fumes were pretty much gone from the last silicone work so I decided to head to Zoo Creatures in New Hampshire for some supplies.

I picked up a glass top, T8 light fixture, bulb, one cork round, some Zilla Jungle Mix, and a coffee for the ride home.

Step Three
A. Put in bottom layer of clay balls.
B. Cut to fit substrate screen material.
C. Put in Jungle Mix substrate.
D. Put in a small piece of driftwood center tank.
E. Wet Down entire tank to soak the substrate.
F. Cut down cork round to make a small hut and a stump.
G. Dropped in some magnolia leaf litter.
H. Added in some Starling Ivy that I have in my living-room and put in one air plant.
I. Placed top and light fixture into place. Fired up the light and was pretty happy with the viv so far.

Notes: Not sure if the ivy is staying since I believe it grows extremely fast.
The upper left placement of Ivy could be replaced with lemon button or similer.
Right of air plant will be one more air plant.








Step Four
Purchase and add plants

I purchased the following plants for completion of this viv.
Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston Fern)
3 Tillandsia Air Plants
Hypoestes Polka Dot Plant
Lemon Button Fern
Arilia Snowflake
Bromeliad
Ficus
Starling Ivy

A. After topping off the substrate, I made a few touch ups to the background by using small amounts of Gorilla Glue and after it foamed up I pressed in some jungle mix and coco fiber. This filled in spots that did not fully cover during the initial silicone work.

B. I headed to a local nursery and selected the plants listed above. Finding a small Bromeliad was pretty tough since most I found were very thick at the base.

C. I rinsed down all of the plants in my tub (don't tell the wife) and then placed the plants around the tank to get a view of how I wanted to proceed.

D. Once I found the placements I felt comfortable with, I began planting each plant making slight adjustments in the layout as I went along.

E. Once everything was in place, I watered the entire tank down to soak the roots and then hit the lights.

The pics below are the finished result.
Final modifications were made after some of the pics shown such as moving the rom to the back wall.










Final mods

[Ebony]

Wow!!!...Amazing

[bshmerlie]

Don thank you for this wonderful thread. It is very well done and very informative...I especially like the fine touches such as labeling the plants. (I for one suck at plant names ...i wish everyone would label them).This is exactly what I was referring to in my Terrarium Builds thread. You've built an awesome tank and I am glad that you are sharing it with us here on Frog Forum. Thanks again. Anyone think they can top Don's build thread?

[DonLisk]

Thanks for the complements.

There was a lot of help with this and hopefully others post similar threads here. It definitely helps seeing what others have done, how they did it, and have a place to ask questions.

I asked a ton of questions as this was being built. So glad there are so many more experienced out there who stepped right up to help. Riko and some folks at dartfrogz forum (a ton of experience there for dart specific questions) were instrumental to getting this done.

My only suggestion to someone wanting to do this for the 1st time..... patience, wait for things to cure and let it air out. Foam and silicone take time to set, completely dry, and the smell to disappear.

[lnaminneci]

Excellent!! Gorgeous terrarium and build Don!
You did an Outstanding presentation of it! Thank you very much for sharing, and I am a picture freak so I love, love all the pictures!

~Lesley

[DonLisk]

Excellent!! Gorgeous terrarium and build Don!
You did an Outstanding presentation of it! Thank you very much for sharing, and I am a picture freak so I love, love all the pictures!

~Lesley

Once it cycles and grows in I'll post plenty more. Love taking pics here.

[RikoAustria]

Gotta say it again... It looks great Don!