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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
 Posted - 04/12/2008 : 17:56:20
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Okay finally got all the things I needed together and started the viv build.
This is by no means the only way to plant up a viv and depending on the inhabitants the plants may vary.
For this set up I started with the aim of adding a Horned Frog. (which to be honest only need a few plants which they like to bury in the substrate next to) The planting will probably be dug up by the pacman when he's introduced. But I enjoy the planting side of this nearly as much as the inhabitants .
Okay here we go!
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Firstly get yourself the right size tank for the animal you want to keep, I'll be adding a pacman frog (Horned Frog) which don't need too much space as they normally just sit around waiting for food, even in the wild.
Here's my tank, about 30cm wide 60cm long and 40cm high, the light in the top is a lowish UVB tube, mainly designed for plant growth but should give enough UVB for the frogs needs:
What you'll need for this first part:
Some coco Husk Background, I got a pack of 4 50cm sheets from CornishCrispa.co.uk:
A blunt pencil:
Some Aquarium sealant:
Some sharp sissors:
Once you have all these handy, get your coco background and place it against the back of your tank, use the pencil to draw a line where you need to cut:
A blunt pencil will give a thicker line that's easier to see when cutting:
Because I have a rather large lip on the top of my tank I'm going to cut about 1cm under the line so it will fit the tank exactly, like so:
Once cut try your background in the tank to see if it fits...very nice!:
Do the same again using the excess from the last cut:
To get the two pieces to fit together nicely place the smaller piece under the larger and draw a cutting line using the larger piece as a guide:
This one needs to be cut on the line:
Once you have both pieces cut to size, use the silicon sealant to roughly cover the back of the tank, this needs to be quite thick so the coco background will stay in place:
Align the large piece first against the side of the tank, push down firmly onto the silicon base:
Squeeze the smaller piece into the gap and again push down firmly.
I've used a smaller tank to fit on top and fill with heavy books until the silicon goes off (I left it until the next night):
Since my frog won't be climbing the sides of the tank like tree frogs, I decided to cover the sides as well as the back of the tank.
Just repeat the same steps for the sides as for the back.
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Pacman frogs like quite high humidity and so do the plants I'm going to be adding. I decide to use clay balls (Hydroleca) under the subatrate, this means I can add water and the plants can soak it up from the Hydroleca layer below when they need it. With the heatmat under the tank this will help to raise the humidity as the water also evaporates.
For this next part you will need:
enough Hydroleca for a 2-3 inch layer, I got mine from dartfrog.co.uk :
Some weed barrier (you can get it from most garden centres) I had some in the shed anyway, I got mine from Wilkos for £3.99 although this lot could be used for over a hundred similar sized tanks:
Okay after washing your Hydroleca in a bucket to remove any clay dust, you need to soak it in dechlorinated water for 10 minutes, Once you've done this add them to your tank, and top up with spring water or more treated water. The water is for the plants so I've used bottled spring water just in case plants don't like the reptisafe, normal tap water can over a period of time kill amphibians so it's better to be safe:
Cut your weed barrier to fit the size of the tank and place this over the Hydroleca
Next comes the fun part... Planting!
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What you need for this part:
Plants (these first feware from a garden centre) A lot of garden centre plants can be used in a vivarium, large leaved plants and climbers do well.
I've found Peace lilies do well in humid conditions and don't mind most light levels. The other plant here is mind your own business... to be honest I'm not sure how well this one will do, but it looked nice  :
You we need some kind of substrate, Cocohusk or humus as it's sometimes called is a great substrate as it holds moisture well and isn't toxic in any way. Cocohusk comes in compressed bricks - stick them in a bucket and add treated water and they make 8ltrs of substrate (I'll miss photos for this bit) :
Get some moss to add around your plants - this will also help with humidity. Pacman frogs can ingest this while eating so I'm only going to be using it as a base for some other rooted live moss. This moss you can get at garden centres, I got this big bag for £2.99 Great stuff
Here are the specialist frog safe mosses from www.dartfrog.co.uk - I was really happy with these guys they delivered everything out more or less the next day in ice and snow! I'll be using them for plants again! They even added a free Pillow Moss! I was happily impressed!
Okay to add the climbing plants we'll need some fine wire - I had some in the shed:
With the wire you need to make small staples to hold the climbers in place until they take root on the coco background:
Place all of your plants in the tank to see how they will look, it's easier to move them about if they are still in the pots, I've got a small cutting from my cheese plant (I know these get massive but hopefully I can trim this back if it does... they are quite hardy plants and it should survive a bashing from the pacman once it's in):
Once all your plants are where you like them you can change your mind completely like I did once you start to plant things up. Add all or your cocohusk substrate. After washing the mojority of the soil from the garden centre bought plants and spraying the leaves with a white vinegar and water solution (to kill any nasties and get rid of anything on the soil) cover with a deep layer of substrate and firm around the plants.
For the climbers push the roots into the soil and use the staples to hold them against the coco background until they take root:
Next for the mosses, cut a small hole in the coco background:
tease out with your fingers and cut some more:
Fill this with the cheap Sphagnum moss... this will hold moisture in for the good moss to soak up, then add some of the good moss (I've used a small piece of the free pillow moss from dartfrog.co.uk) This moss will grow and spread... hopefully
I've used some more of the pillow moss in the corner, along with some of the sheet moss. The rest of the moss I've spread around the tank across the floor to take root.
The Java moss needs to be kept moist, so I'll be misting the tank regularly to keep it moist:
I've planted all of the live moss, on both the background and across the substrate here is a view from above... and the last secret (or not so secret) ingredient Kyoto Moss Spores! this powdery substance gets a light coating over all of the soil, and a lush fine moss should coat wherever sprinkled in around a month to 6 weeks. At the same time as sprinkling in the tank I've done a few trays with some of the left over coco background soaked in water and put them in various lights just in case this lot doesn't take:
And the finished tank, all planted up! All I have to do now is wait a few months for it to grow in... I've got the light on a timer so there is 8 hours of light per day (hopefully some of the moss will take, if not there's always the trays in the shade to fall back on)
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Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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matty18714
Wanna be 'Dude of Dampness'
United Kingdom
140 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2008 : 18:12:02
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Nice guide Lewy, very easy to understand and a good result  |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2008 : 11:17:47
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We are thinking of making Ruby's tank similar to this, but with less moss and more plastic plants.
What do you think? Is coco husk a good substrate for snakeys?
The balls are clay, so they won't harm her, plus they are under everything so she can't swallow them. Think it would help with the humidity a lot though |
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matty18714
Wanna be 'Dude of Dampness'
United Kingdom
140 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2008 : 16:34:44
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| No reason why not I dont think Kaz. Is coco husk like eco earth type stuff? |
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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2008 : 16:54:41
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| one and the same matty, Nothing toxic in it and rainbow boas are immune to scale rot so the more humidity the better really. |
Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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Jain
Tadpole
188 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2008 : 12:36:58
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Been told that clay balls called Hortag are same/similar to Hydrocela and are cheaper option when they are available at Garden Cetnres/Nurseries in spring/summer... maybe we can keep an eye open and check this out for future info??
Good info sheet Lewy... lovey looking setup... very well done...
Good idea of getting plants from garden centre - really useful post on what plants safe to use too!! I used to have peace lilly in aquarium and love mind your own business, so will probably get some of that eventually. I also got some of the Koyoto moss spores from Mark, and have put some in a couple of the pots he gave me the other moss in, on some eco earth and misted them... will see if I can get some to grow out of tank to put on cork background of my viv, once it gets damp enough for some of the bark to seperate and make planting pouches.... will let you know if its successful.... J |
If I had a brain, I'd be dangerous......
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Punchfish
Pondweed
United Kingdom
17 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 19:54:06
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| Hey Lewy thought I'd come say hi and complement your tank here too. How long ago did you set it up, as I was wondering how the Kyoto moss is growing? |
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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2008 : 09:10:43
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| Thanks! Just last week on the 4th so not much happening yet - Apparently it takes a month to show signs of growing and 6weeks to 2 months to make a lush coating (words on the packet) Never tried it before or heard of anyone trying it so just crossing my fingers at the moment. |
Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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ToM
Pondweed
Borneo
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2009 : 00:37:29
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| WOW .. its like an art form!! |
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Jain
Tadpole
188 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2009 : 20:08:26
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C'mon Lewy.... where's the pics now you're ready to get the mighty alberto!!!! gotta see some shots before he wrecks it... |
If I had a brain, I'd be dangerous......
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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 16:08:06
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lol! Trying to get The Might Alberto for Friday - Still the tank is growing in nicely, the moss spores haven't done much yet but is just starting to sprout a little.
The inch plant (climber on the right of the tank) is growing like crazy (apparently it's called an inch plant because in the right conditions it can grow an inch a day) I keep trimming it and adding the trimmed part to the soil as it roots in a couple of days should have a nice wall of plantage soon enough if it continues to do as well.
The mind your own business doesn't really like the high humidity so isn't doing as well as I'd hoped. In a humid setup it doesn't do too good... but you live and learn.
I'll get some photos sorted out soon and gt them up before The Mighty Alberto arrives to wreak havoc in the tank! |
Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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Josh-sama
Pondweed
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 22:26:58
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Bumpedy Bump.
Lewy, what tank did you use? And what light fixture? Looks like a converted fish tank, using the UV pre-fitted with the tank or? |
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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 15:33:48
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Yes, Just a normal fish tank. The UV is a low UVB plant light fitted to the original hood on the tank.
It's been up and running now since January and has grown in really well.
Here's a pic:
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Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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Amyboo
Frog Spawn
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:23:43
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Looks really good!
Id love to plant our toad viv! might give it a go over summer |
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Josh-sama
Pondweed
United Kingdom
8 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 16:57:25
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| So you just used a normal UVB tube inreplacement to the UVA Tube which the fish used? |
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lewy
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
1356 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2009 : 18:48:53
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| UV isn't really needed for the pacman (as long as his diet is dusted with supplements... or he had mice for the calcium) - the uv is just for the plants - So got a plant bulb (which is low UVB)just fits in the same socket. |
Lewy
THE AMPHIBIAN.co.uk Team
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How to plant up a Terrarium
