12x12x12 Mini Viv Build

[DonLisk]

This viv is way to small for any frog I feel, its more a learning experience, so its going to only be planted and in the living room for display. With the sides filled in with stone, much of the interior will be taken up.

Yes, its a Schefflera Hawaiian Volcano Plant, I just trimmed it all back to Bonsai it. If I was younger I'd run down and try a leaf ;-) I can see my wife now telling me she should have figured while I sit there with numb lips.

If I could have afforded another 18x18x24 I would have went with a tropical Bonsai.
Was also thinking Ficus since they had a few that were shorter and had good stocky trunks.

[Leefrogs]

oh, ok

[DonLisk]

A Quick Clean Up:

Once the foam and stones had cured in place,I needed to get ready for planting the hanging vines and background plants.

I do a quick cleanup and detailing. I give the whole viv a complete hose down. I don't over do the preasure since I don't want to dislodge anything still curing, but I do try to wash off loose materials and dust created from applying the background substrate.

I then removed any silicone that had been accidently been spread on the glass, and I trimmed out edges around the background to give it a sharp clean look.

Next, I cleaned out the bottom and removed the water and dirt that came from the background. After that was a complete cleaning of all glass.

Now I will let the viv sit, under lighting, to help finish up curing and dry out some of the viv before I get into planting.

Normally I would be moving on to substrate and drainage. but since I won't be planting the bottom, I will get my plants for the background into place.

Here are a few pics from tonight after the clean up.

[spankyg]

Don, you're amazing

[DonLisk]

A quick note:
To all that don't know this... if you right click a photo and select "Open in new tab" or "Open in a new window" you can see the full size image.

[bshmerlie]

A quick note:
To all that don't know this... if you right click a photo and select "Open in new tab" or "Open in a new window" you can see the full size image.

Thanks from all those not so computer savy people.

[DonLisk]

No Will Power:
Well, as you can see, I had no control of the remote for the TV tonight and lost all my will power to hold off on planting the viv.

To enter the plants into the top section of the background, I basicly split each Baby Tear into three separate pieces. I then rinsed each plants leaves and stems prior to putting the root system into the jiffy pots.

I used a small amount of the original potting soil and placed the roots deep into each pot, then covered and filled each pot with the left over Zilla Jungle Mix I had.

Next, I rearranged some of the vines and then pruned to give the roots some extra help.
I then placed the Schefflera Hawaiian Volcano Plant into the bottom and secured it with a small amount of Gorilla Glue. This definitely needed pruning since it was very tall. I will keep it pruned back to keep it more like a Bonsai Tree.

I then placed in some broken blue glass (which I will need more of) to create a blue lagoon water effect. I filled the bottom with 1/2 inch of water since the Schefflera will obtain the water through the lava rock.

Below is the finished product and I hope you all enjoy the pics.

[DonLisk]

Please note that there are no plans to enter frogs into this build.

Broken glass is not for any inhabitant.

It is recommended that you not use Schefflera Volcano plants with your frogs since the sap will harm them, and I can attest to the citronella type scent this plant will produce when you prune it.

Wear rubber gloves and have plenty on hand when working with Great Stuff and Silicone.

And finally, don't get frustrated since you can almost always correct a mistake or clean up an accident, its supposed to be fun.

[Ebony]

Wow!!! Don that's is absolutely fantastic. I think the broken blue glass has an amazing effect as well.

[Animalnstinct]

Wow! Absolutely beautiful!

Was it difficult carving the greatstuff in such a small confined area? I had one heck of time in my larger build, couldn't imagine trying in a smaller one. Props!

Looks fantastic!

[DonLisk]

Wow! Absolutely beautiful!

Was it difficult carving the greatstuff in such a small confined area? I had one heck of time in my larger build, couldn't imagine trying in a smaller one. Props!

Looks fantastic!

Thanks Jenn and Ebony.

I used a Leatherman's serrated blade which has a pretty short handle. The hardest part is getting the bottom cleaned out as your working since you just can't tip and dump it. I would have loved to do this on a much larger scale with a waterfall/drip wall, and more for frogs. Thanks again.

[clownonfire]

You should be doing this professionally. I'm jealous, and we shouldn't be talking anymore.

[DonLisk]

You should be doing this professionally. I'm jealous, and we shouldn't be talking anymore.

If there was a big market for pre-made vivs and terrariums I would venture there, once the factory I'm at closes up in July. Hey, all this comes from what I learn here and on one other board.... maybe a good childish imagination helps?

Hmmmm.... maybe a street corner pushcart downtown? I could see that now... I could tap into the traffic lights for powering up some lighting :-)

[clownonfire]

If there was a big market for pre-made vivs and terrariums I would venture there, once the factory I'm at closes up in July. Hey, all this comes from what I learn here and on one other board.... maybe a good childish imagination helps?

Hmmmm.... maybe a street corner pushcart downtown? I could see that now... I could tap into the traffic lights for powering up some lighting :-)

Your vivs are definitely stunning. There's something quite soothing about the whole process of building them, n'est-ce pas?

[bshmerlie]

Don that really is a great looking tank. How many total hours of actually working on it do you think you spent?

[DonLisk]

Don that really is a great looking tank. How many total hours of actually working on it do you think you spent?

Not sure but its really not a lot if you remove the wait times between the foam and silicone curing. I think the biggest thing is having everything on hand once you start.

GS II cures pretty quickly with little smell and Great Suff also if not put in overly thick.

[1beataway]

My mom loves the look of my frog tanks, but she's not crazy about animals, so she has started doing plant-only vivs. She's going to steal some of your ideas. It looks great.

[DonLisk]

My mom loves the look of my frog tanks, but she's not crazy about animals, so she has started doing plant-only vivs. She's going to steal some of your ideas. It looks great.

Nice. Nothing wrong with just plants. I actually love seeing the bottles done up as terrariums. Once made, you do nothing but view them.

The greenhouse I get many of my plants at had an Orchid Day yesterday, it was amazing to see some of the most stunning Orchids... but expensive plants for me.
This greenhouse has a bunch of bottle type terrariums and I think they do classes for them sometime during the year.

[1beataway]

I have heard of the bottle terrariums, but had forgotten about them. I'll need to look those up to show her. When I move my leaf frog from the tank he's in to the 56 gallon, I'm giving her the tank to put plants in (instead of keeping it for myself so that I can say, "Hey, I have an empty tank. Why not fill it with an animal?).

[MikeM670]

Don,

Another nice job and fantastic build. Even tho your not planning on putting in frogs you certainly have given me some ideas to work with in the future. I love how the baby tears cascade down the sides from the top.