Well, here we go...100 gallons. Walk me through it?!

[BCollie]

And for my third post in a row...lol...
Let me just compile all my questions into one post.
1. I think I found the Fiberglass Screen...is this the right stuff? New York Wire 36 in. x 84 in. Fiberglass Screen-FCS8743-M at The Home Depot
2. Will the Finnex FugeRay Planted+ be a good light for growing my plants? Finnex FugeRay Planted+ LED Fixture: 48" - FugeRay Planted Series - Ultra Slim LED Fixture - Lighting - Products
3. How many cubic feet will I need to make a 2-3" drainage layer?
4. How do I hide the drainage layer?? IMO it will look ugly seeing rocks at the bottom of the vivarium through the glass...I would prefer to see just soil if at all possible

[jarteta97]

Looks like you're getting a nice pile of supplies going

[BCollie]

Looks like you're getting a nice pile of supplies going

Yes!!
Which reminds me, if someone could look at it and tell me if it's all okay that'd be great...you can find the picture on the last page. The Sphagnum moss doesn't say "milled" on it, but it's the kind from Home Depot...as is the Peat Moss.

EDIT: I'm back to scraping the algae and hard water off of the tank, so my responses may be a bit slow.

[Lija]

And for my third post in a row...lol...
Let me just compile all my questions into one post.
1. I think I found the Fiberglass Screen...is this the right stuff? New York Wire 36 in. x 84 in. Fiberglass Screen-FCS8743-M at The Home Depot
2. Will the Finnex FugeRay Planted+ be a good light for growing my plants? Finnex FugeRay Planted+ LED Fixture: 48" - FugeRay Planted Series - Ultra Slim LED Fixture - Lighting - Products
3. How many cubic feet will I need to make a 2-3" drainage layer?
4. How do I hide the drainage layer?? IMO it will look ugly seeing rocks at the bottom of the vivarium through the glass...I would prefer to see just soil if at all possible

1. Yes, it is the right stuff
2. Depending on a price, you better look at aquatraders.com hard to beat their prices.
3. No idea.... Where is our Brian when we need him lol
4. Paint on the outside, black paint or whatever you like. I used nice rebeo gel with sand particles mixed with black pain for my last tank. Love it!

[Lija]

Oh and if you spray some water with vinegar or plain vinegar and scrub while wet you might move the process way faster

[BCollie]

Thank you Lija For the light, I meant...that is the one I already have. Is it suitable for growing plants or am I going to have to buy another one?

[Lija]

Yes, your light will work..... To the best of my knowledge

[DigitalPunk]

And for my third post in a row...lol...
Let me just compile all my questions into one post.
1. I think I found the Fiberglass Screen...is this the right stuff? New York Wire 36 in. x 84 in. Fiberglass Screen-FCS8743-M at The Home Depot
2. Will the Finnex FugeRay Planted+ be a good light for growing my plants? Finnex FugeRay Planted+ LED Fixture: 48" - FugeRay Planted Series - Ultra Slim LED Fixture - Lighting - Products
3. How many cubic feet will I need to make a 2-3" drainage layer?
4. How do I hide the drainage layer?? IMO it will look ugly seeing rocks at the bottom of the vivarium through the glass...I would prefer to see just soil if at all possible

1. I buy mine from Home Depot. As long as it is fiber glass it will work. The smaller the spaces in the weave the better.

2. Yes it will work. Land plants want around 6500k for photosynthesis. 7000k will be bright but shouldn't be to bright.

3. 1.5625 cu. ft. for 3" deep

4. You can paint the outside glass black to hide the drainage layer. Keep a section on the side of the tank open so you can easily tell when you need to siphon off excess water.

[BCollie]

Ahh, have I mentioned how much I love you guys? Seriously, I'm not joking. There is NO way I could do this without you! I think this figuring-it-all-out stage is probably the hardest part that I need the most help with. This tank is being constructed by Adri, Brian, Bill, Paul, Lija...and the list goes on...haha!

Tomorrow I will head to Home Depot and buy 3 bags of River Pebbles, and 1 roll of Fiberglass Screen. I will also see where I can buy that quilt batting stuff you were talking about...

[flybyferns]

Ahh, have I mentioned how much I love you guys? Seriously, I'm not joking. There is NO way I could do this without you! I think this figuring-it-all-out stage is probably the hardest part that I need the most help with. This tank is being constructed by Adri, Brian, Bill, Paul, Lija...and the list goes on...haha!

Tomorrow I will head to Home Depot and buy 3 bags of River Pebbles, and 1 roll of Fiberglass Screen. I will also see where I can buy that quilt batting stuff you were talking about...

That is a VERY nice thing to say! Enjoy your build

The quilt batting can be purchased at most fabric stores
Try to purchase the 3/8" or 3/4" thickness one. It is less expensive/ purchased in roll ( comes in bed sizes)
This was purchased at Joanne's Fabrics and Crafts:



layers---bottom up

pebbles
poly quilt batting
screening
soil substrate

[deranged chipmunk]

Umm, I thought that was a union job, squirrels and chipmunks only.

Hey! Was that a rip about chipmunks? I think that was a rip about chipmunks!! Hey, it's not easy getting into that union. The unemployment rates amongst chipmunks is high what with all the construction and losing our oak trees and all. That, and those darned chipmunks sneaking up from Mexico and stealing all of the jobs!!


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

[deranged chipmunk]

Adri, my apologies for misspelling for name. In my defense though, I misspell my own most of the time lol

Looks like your supplies are good and everyone has you on track. how did you like carrying that bag of peat moss? A bit heavy eh?


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

[jarteta97]

Bill's our resident jokester as well as plant expert

[BCollie]

That is a VERY nice thing to say! Enjoy your build

The quilt batting can be purchased at most fabric stores
Try to purchase the 3/8" or 3/4" thickness one. It is less expensive/ purchased in roll ( comes in bed sizes)
This was purchased at Joanne's Fabrics and Crafts:



layers---bottom up

pebbles
poly quilt batting
screening
soil substrate

Thanks!! I will stop by Joanne's Fabric and purchase some. I am looking at their website and it seems that there's two types: Polyester and Cotton...Does it matter which I buy?

Hey! Was that a rip about chipmunks? I think that was a rip about chipmunks!! Hey, it's not easy getting into that union. The unemployment rates amongst chipmunks is high what with all the construction and losing our oak trees and all. That, and those darned chipmunks sneaking up from Mexico and stealing all of the jobs!!


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

I have always like chipmunks

Adri, my apologies for misspelling for name. In my defense though, I misspell my own most of the time lol

Looks like your supplies are good and everyone has you on track. how did you like carrying that bag of peat moss? A bit heavy eh?

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

Don't even worry about it, you're probably not pronouncing it right in your head, either (A-dree, rymes with, look "a tree!" hahaha!!) but I respond to pretty much anything that looks or sounds similar to my name.
And, I have a bad wrist so it wasn't very fun to carry, but I managed I'm the strongest 105lb, 5'6" girl you'll ever meet. (that's a lie)

Bill's our resident jokester as well as plant expert

Ah, well, since he's our resident plant expert...maybe he can answer this for me!
How often should I water my giant pothos vine? If I remember right it's not possible to water them too much, because you can stick them barefoot in an aquarium filter and they do just fine...

[BCollie]

Things to pick up today:
Quilt Batting(cotton or polyester??)
1 roll of fiberglass screen
3 bags of river pebbles

Okay, and I'm having trouble finding the insulation/foam for the background of my vviv that we were talking about on Home Depot's website. You wouldn't happen to know what it's called and where it's located, would you? Here's what my search turned up:
Search Results forÂ*2x2 insulationÂ*at The Home Depot
Would it be this?
Project Panels 2 ft. x 2 ft. Project Panel-PP1 at The Home Depot

[deranged chipmunk]

They are the panels you want.

Re: watering the pothos. Mixing will be plentiful enough for it. Once it has it's aerial roots established, it will take in nutrients through those. until then, while it is in the pot, water when the top layer of soil feels dry.


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

[Lija]

You want polyester batik

[BCollie]

You want polyester batik

Okay, so...Official shopping list:
POLYESTER Quilt Batting(Joanne's Fabric)
Three 2x2 pink foam insulation boards(Home Depot)
Three .5cf bags of river pebbles(Home Depot)
1 roll of fiberglass screen with as small of holes as possible(Home Depot)
One hot glue gun & several sticks of hot glue...I assume I need to look at Joanne's Fabric to find a low-temp hot glue gun?

I think that's it for now...am I forgetting anything? What should I use to carve the foam boards with?

[BCollie]

They are the panels you want.

Re: watering the pothos. Mixing will be plentiful enough for it. Once it has it's aerial roots established, it will take in nutrients through those. until then, while it is in the pot, water when the top layer of soil feels dry.


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

What do you mean by mixing?

[deranged chipmunk]

Oops, sorry. Autocorrect fail MISTING!! Lol


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