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TJ's Tall Jungle - New FTS & Pics


TJ_Burton

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TJ's Tall Jungle

A reefer's adventure in dart frog vivaria


Current FTS:

12289692_10153530500398283_2130555852081

Well folks, a new reef isn't something I see happening for a while with my little baby girl only a month away from being due; we are also looking at buying our first home in the spring and moving a reef isn't something I am fond of... So instead I have decided to go back to another fantastical hobby of mine that is far more forgiving, but equally as rewarding: Dart frog vivariums!

I figure, why not document it in a thread like I normally do with my projects... I mean, its pretty similar to a reef in many ways, and it seems like the community here at NR is pretty fond of dart frogs and other types of vivariums. So here I am starting another thread.

Sticking with standard 'TJ' regulation, I will provide some information on my ideas and goals for this particular system.

 

 

Design Goals:

Because I will be moving, my goal is to build a small vivarium using an Exo Terra 18x18x24 enclosure that I can, when necessary, easily transport to my new home. I am planning to use (and have already started implementing) an automated misting system, and custom built internal air circulation system to provide the right conditions for bromeliads, orchids, and other epiphytes without too much hands-on interference. I really want the bromeliads to be the stars of the show, and will be using LED lighting to provide adequate light for optimal color and growth. For drainage I am doing a false bottom (egg crate & weed barrier) and have drilled the tank for a 1/2" bulkhead so any buildup of water is a valve away from being removed.

I am intending to make the hardscape airy and open. I am trying to find the perfect piece(s) of driftwood to support the bromeliads, but have been coming up short on selection. I may attach several smaller pieces to make the perfect piece, but would rather have a single solid piece. I originally intended to do a custom background on the rear panel, but am now thinking I will simply decorate the air circulation system facade in the same fashion I would do the background, and use magnets to hold it in place so that it is removable. I was planning to affix orchids to the background, so this way I can remove the air circulation facade if I need to. The fan will be easily removable from the facade, so there is no reason I should ever have to replace the facade itself, even if the fan stops working. The bottom will be a simple mixture of peat, sand, and sphagnum topped with leaf litter. Not planning to have any deep rooting plants and am intending to keep the ground relatively clear for the frogs.

As for frogs, I am completely undecided on which species I will be keeping. I really wanted to get the system looking fantastic and give it a chance to mature before adding the frogs. I will be adding springtails and possibly isopods, and adding them before the frogs will help them get established.


Equipment List:

  • Exo Terra 18x18x24 (modified screen top to glass - drilled for spray nozzles & drainage)
  • Monarch Stand (Black)
  • MistKing 'Starter' Misting System
  • Ecotech Radion Pro with Reeflink
  • Custom Controllable Fan
  • Digital Aquatics HerpKeeper Controller
  • Hygrolon & Spira grow material (on the fence with this, may not use it)

 

I will take some pics of the progress so far later tonight if I get the chance, but until then, here are some pics of past vivariums:

IMG_1314-224x300.jpg10galvertlamasi-224x300.jpgImisJewelOrchid-224x300.jpg

 

This should be fun!
Thanks for stopping by,

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Some quick snaps of where I am at so far with this build:

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And here are the broms I have picked up. Obviously can not fit them all, but I have a fantastic selection to choose from.
I also have an order of orchids on the way.

12006117_10153412457588283_8391476453489
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Man I wanna build one of these.

You should do it!

 

Really! Its quite affordable when compared to reefing, and as I mentioned previously, a lot more forgiving.

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I think I have selected which pieces of driftwood I will be using! They are sort of just splayed in the enclosure at the moment, but it will come together nicely methinks. Likely going to make a platform to raise them up a bit, maybe 4 inches.

Also finished the false bottom and added a thin layer of natural gravel to act as a buffer between the false bottom and the substrate layer, as well as act as a fascia to hide the false bottom when viewing the enclosure form the front.

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Some other angles to see the shapes/texture of the wood

 

12042880_10153421506258283_7378478140159

 

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Such excite!
Ordered 12 orchids from a supplier a few hours away and they are currently out for delivery!!!

Will have much more than I need for this particular enclosure, but I am happy to have extra orchids around the house.
Pics to come!

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You do have to love how cheap frogs are by way of comparison. One word of advice, master fly cultures first. I've shot myself in the foot repeatedly due to moldy cultures/under producing. I do love my group of P. vittatus though, little dweebs.

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You do have to love how cheap frogs are by way of comparison. One word of advice, master fly cultures first. I've shot myself in the foot repeatedly due to moldy cultures/under producing. I do love my group of P. vittatus though, little dweebs.

I've been doing frogs and flies almost as long as reefing. First success with breeding was a pair of lamasi (now called sirensis) which was a fantastic experience! I had 5 enclosures and 13 frogs at one point, and they went through a ton of flies. Also got used to regularly making springtail cultures, and I am now starting isopods as well.

 

But yeah... despite having local stores that do flies nearby, I find it WAY less expensive to just make them myself.

 

VIttatus are great frogs!

 

For this particular setup, I am thinking either vanzolini, or maybe sirensis.

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Just got some work done on the hardscape. I am aiming for a rotted/deteriorating stump sort of look, and attempting to achieve this using multiple pieces of Malaysian driftwood.

Few different shots to show some depth and dimension.

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12095064_10153429640833283_5643971597322

 

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Haven't decided if this is done, or if I should add some more wood. Intending to sprayfoam the inside of the egg crate platform and to sculpt it out to look like the rest of the stump. I did purchase some Hygrolon and Spira to potentially wrap the foam with, but I may also just do a coat of silicon and peat moss.

Aiming to get the substrate in there by the end of the weekend, so I have a lot of work ahead of me!

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So I have started the process of filling the gaps of the hardscape with spray [expanding] foam to try and create a full, solid structure below the wood. I haven't really used this method for making a hardscape before, and think I may actually fill the egg crate completely with foam (in stages of course so it is perfectly solid and not super airy) and then use my rotary tool to carve through the egg crate and foam until I get the shape I want since the egg crate is super square and takes up more space than necessary.

I will try to take pics as I go!
Anyways, here is too a busy Saturday!

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Whats the costs for these frog setups? I know you had said nothing compared to reefing. Just curious.

 

It really depends, but a simple 10 gallon vert can be set up for $250 easily including lighting.

You can obviously go crazy if you'd like and get all the bells and whistles, and then you could easily spend closer to $500, but the equivalent reef would cost 3 times that.

 

We don;t recognize Canadian$. :closedeyes:

 

 

 

 

 

:flower:

Don't blame you, those few years of being at par or less than us must have left you pretty butthurt. :P

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Tj this thing looks good my friend. Dontcha just love tall jungle scaping :)

Thanks brother!

 

Yeah, I really do. Going to do some more vivs in the near future as well. This one is just going to hold me over until we move.

This main stump is turning out to be quite a bit of work, but will be worth it IMO. Although, I do have a couple other nifty ideas on how to add some more usable space to the height. I have a lot of broms though, and they need room to pup, so I won't go too crazy since they plants need the space.

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Thanks brother!

Yeah, I really do. Going to do some more vivs in the near future as well. This one is just going to hold me over until we move.

This main stump is turning out to be quite a bit of work, but will be worth it IMO. Although, I do have a couple other nifty ideas on how to add some more usable space to the height. I have a lot of broms though, and they need room to pup, so I won't go too crazy since they plants need the space.

Yea they are essential awesomeness for what you're keeping they look so nice man. I have a bromeliad in my jacksons chameleon enclosure, along with small palm,orchid,croton,and hibiscus :)
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