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  #1  
Old 01-04-2009, 02:33 PM
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Marty Marty is offline
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Default 90 Gallon Vivarium - Pic Heavy

This is a repost from a frog forum, but I figured I'll post it here too. I'm still waiting for some miniature orchids and some carnivorous plants to put into this tank. It's still fresh and has very little new growth.

I've redone my 90 galon diamond viv. After few years of service, the tree fern panels fell apart on me. I decided to build it to last forever. I used epiweb and mortar. Here are some pics of the process

I cant seem to find the early photos, so I'll start with the epiweb already glued to the glass with aquarium silicone. Some black foam is already on.







Haba Create from Deven at HerpInvert.










Future waterfall.


Installed an extra light in the canopy. From AH Supply.


Misting System connected directly to the RO supply. Never have to fill up a reservoir.


This tank is not drained. Prior to this setup I had to disconnect the filter and siphon off a bit of water when the level was getting too high. I decided to use a spare pump and tap into the canister filter and pump off the excess water directly into the house plumbing. Now when I need to get rid of some water I just flip a switch. Actually, I have it rigged on a timer, idea is to turn it on daily for say 20 sec to pump off the extra water automatically.


Canopy open, with the extra light in the lid


Acrylic Lid lifted with a fan to keep the condensation off.


I hate false bottoms. For this setup I used epiweb chunks as a substrate. It will also act as a filter. Landscaping fabric on top. YOu can see the water area forming.


Didn't want the front to show epiweb, so I jammed some aquarium gravel in the front of the tank.


Ready for planting


Part of the plants from Antone of Spring Valley Tropicals. All plants arrived in great shape. Anton was a pleasure to deal with!


Front Pannel with all the controls. Timers are visible when the cabinet door is open. These switches control the following: viv lights, cabinet light, waterfall (filter), heater, drain pump, air bubbles in the water, misting system and the fans... Timers are used for the drain pump, misting system and the lights. It was a pain to set up and organize the wire jungle, but it's a lot of fun operating the viv from the pannel.


Vivarium has been planted for about 1 week. Broms are dropping roots already.


I don't want to use and java moss nor any other moss for that matter. I'm going to experiment with riccia only. I got bunch of riccia from Brian of Brian's Tropicals. It arrived in perfect shape. Brian is very easy to deal with.


More riccia




The water area with a few plants.


Broms from Antone.




Waterfall and some riccia


Misting System is working overtime in this tank. I want to make sure that riccia takes over the tank.


This is the fresh tank after about 7-10 days. I still need to add few more plants and wait for everything to overgrow. I'm waiting for some miniature orchids. Right now there is a group of 8 leucs roaming around the viv.

Few pics of the occupants - Leucs







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  #2  
Old 01-04-2009, 02:39 PM
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cb977 cb977 is offline
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Way cool, Marty!
No wonder you haven't been around much!

Happy New Year
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  #3  
Old 01-04-2009, 02:40 PM
Ross Ross is offline
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Beautiful, Marty. What orchids are you planning? Dracs would be a natural, esp around the waterfall.
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Old 01-04-2009, 02:55 PM
Ranchnanny Ranchnanny is offline
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WOW!!!! Its beautiful Marty just beautiful

Sheridan
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  #5  
Old 01-04-2009, 03:01 PM
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Not sure yet which orchids will go in there. Thanks for the compliments. I have to run the tank for a few weeks to see what temps it's getting at what hrs of the day
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  #6  
Old 01-04-2009, 03:11 PM
Sun rm.N.E. Sun rm.N.E. is offline
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Marty

I am fascinated by this wonderful mini ecosystem. I can't even express it in words. However, I will save this type of wondrous project for the future and just appreciate yours.

I was wondering if you would be interested in getting some very tough mini. Ampullae species bromeliads I have:

Neoregelia ampullacea is stoloniferious species growing on shaded coastal rocks in Brazil. Leaves 1x6 inches lovely stiff with light banding and covered with scales to make it look silvery in good light.

N. punctatissima
is native to Espirito Santo elevation 2,000 + feet with stiff bright green shiny leaves, 6-7inches with cross banding burgundy on bottom and lighter on top, cylindrically arranged.


The photo of a hybrid which is less attractive than my species shows the arrangement of the leaves.


Last edited by Sun rm.N.E.; 01-04-2009 at 03:21 PM..
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Old 01-05-2009, 08:26 AM
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Akhenaten Akhenaten is offline
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90 Gallon Vivarium - Pic Heavy Male
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Very, very nice!!!
Frogs must be happy
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  #8  
Old 01-05-2009, 10:18 AM
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Marty Marty is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sun rm.N.E. View Post
Marty

I am fascinated by this wonderful mini ecosystem. I can't even express it in words. However, I will save this type of wondrous project for the future and just appreciate yours.

I was wondering if you would be interested in getting some very tough mini. Ampullae species bromeliads I have:

Neoregelia ampullacea is stoloniferious species growing on shaded coastal rocks in Brazil. Leaves 1x6 inches lovely stiff with light banding and covered with scales to make it look silvery in good light.

N. punctatissima
is native to Espirito Santo elevation 2,000 + feet with stiff bright green shiny leaves, 6-7inches with cross banding burgundy on bottom and lighter on top, cylindrically arranged.


The photo of a hybrid which is less attractive than my species shows the arrangement of the leaves.

I have a bunch of extra broms, but I can always get few more new ones PM me with details.

Glad you guys like it
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  #9  
Old 01-05-2009, 02:17 PM
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Tindomul Tindomul is offline
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Wow Marty! Looks very natural. How heavy is the mortar? I assume its not too heavy that it will topple over from the top layers.
Did you silicone the epiweb to the glass?

Also, how did u restrict the water flow? I tried the whole waterfall thing, but the splash was too much and kept the glass wet all the time, impossible to see through it.
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Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?"

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  #10  
Old 01-05-2009, 02:29 PM
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Marty Marty is offline
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Tindo, all valid questions.
- mortar is just a skin on top of the epiweb and foam, so not very heavy, but probably 15-20lbs on the whole tank
- Epi is siliconed to the glass with aquarium silicone
- I've been there withs plashing waterfalls...this one is a bit deeper in the tank, it flows down a vertical piece of wood, so no splashing on the front glass
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