Mossy Vivarium

[MikeM670]

Amazing build Mike.. thanks for the step by step and photos. When do the frogs move in?

Thank you for the kind comments on my new vivarium. I'm probably going to give it a few weeks before I introduce some new frogs. I have a idea what I want but will have to see. Good thing I'm working this Sunday when the reptile show is going on in Wheaton, IL or I might come home with some new friends.

[clownonfire]

Michael, I blame my new job for missing this thread, and being the last one to congratulate you on another great viv. Don had to give me a link to this thread. This is a prime example of When work screws with your social life...

It's beautiful. And it will inspire me for the waterfall I want to build for my new 50 gallon. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? No you don't....

1. Landscaping paper... I guess you can get that from Home Depot? Is there a brand you like?
2. Where do you buy egg crates, or window diffuser? What do you use to cut it and to hold it together?

I will make a drainage layer, but I'm thinking about a false bottom just underneath the backdrop wall, so the recycled water could be easily used by the Repti Flo...

Thanks Mike,

Eric

[MikeM670]

Eric,

The landscaping fabric was a heavy weave grey material. I already had some in my garage and it seemed to work very well. I purchased it from Home Depot a few years ago. The egg crate or light diffuser also came from Home Depot. You can find it near the building material side of the store. To cut it I just used a side cutter and clipped it flush with the surface where I could. You will see what I mean after you get some. As for holding the egg crate together I used zip ties. One thing I should of done was wrap the pump in the fabric to help keep the junk out of the filter. Right now I just kill the power to the pump and let it back flush using the water in the tube to clear out any junk it might have on the intake screen.

[MikeM670]

While searching for moss information on the web I came across this website. I had used the term moss milkshake and up it popped. I am very interested in this and some of the moss varieties they have which have low light requirements.


http://www.mossacres.com/default.asp

[Ribbitmethis]

I had the same type of problem with my pump for a while. I started experimenting to figure out how to fix it by rubber-banding coffee filters around the pump... needless to say, that's ineffective. It clogs up. After some further experimenting, I have found that an aquatic filter media bag works extremely well to keep most of the particulates out of the pump. The bag I got fits snugly over the pump, with the power cord going through the drawstring of the bag and the piping going through a hole I cut into one side of the bag. I clean this out about once every three weeks to keep the water flow strong.

[MikeM670]

Ribbitmethis,

Never thought of a filter bag! That is a great idea. I'll try that on my next build that has a water feature.

[MikeM670]

I wanted to show a updated image of the Mossy Vivarium that I put together several months ago. It has not turned out the way I wanted it to as the moss has died off in many locations. The background moss where the water flowed down the back has died off and the area at the bottom where the water flowed into also failed. Trying to analyze what happen leads me to believe one of two things. The light was way to low to sustain the growth needed in this wet environment of it was in fact just too wet for the type of moss I had. I would love to get some feedback on what others think might of happen.

Well I pulled out the substrate and redid the bottom portion where the water flows into with larger pieces of gravel and rocks. I added the substrate back in and replanted the one plant along with the pieces of moss that still seemed to be good.

The water that is flowing is clear tea colored so that does not seem to be a issue. Other then the background looks really bad, ie brown right now I wonder if given the proper lighting it will eventually start growing a wet loving moss?

[John]

Sorry the moss died off. I suspect the moss wasn't suitable for the terrarium environment you are using. So I doubt it will come back I'm afraid.

[MikeM670]

Sorry the moss died off. I suspect the moss wasn't suitable for the terrarium environment you are using. So I doubt it will come back I'm afraid.

John,

You bring up a good point! Now does anyone know of moss that loves to have its feet wet all the time? What about other plant types that like to be wet all the time and are low growing like moss?

[Namio]

This a great work with step-by-step pictures and descriptions! Thank you for taking the time to record your process and post on here!

[J Teezy]

what about riccia or java moss since both are typical aquarium mosses they love water

[DonLisk]

Josh, Java Moss was my first thought too. Mine seems to grow well near my water collection area in one tank.

[flybyferns]

what about riccia or java moss since both are typical aquarium mosses they love water

JY,
Have you considered aquatic floating ferns?
These 2 were recently featured in "Leaf Litter " magazine. ( my favorite froggy reading material)

salvinia molesta
azolla filiculoides

They are very cool looking !
IPANE - Catalog of Species Search Results

This resource states it is an "invasive" fern in the wild. To me , that 's a good sign that it may do well in a viv.

Lynn