WIP 5 gal desk viv Urban Decay

[Paul]

Very cool, Pf! But if I may make a criticism/suggestion? The lettering on the sign is too "new". Having at least some of the letters 'chipped', and/or parts of some letters missing (perhaps even a whole letter) would lend itself to the air of old age and disrepair. Perhaps a touch more graffiti on the wall as well.....

[Wjs2nd]

Looks awesome! I love the idea! I agree with many of paul's suggestion and would check out a hobby store.

I have a suggestion of my own. How about trying to make your water area look like flooded section of rail track. Extended your tile down and create a stone floor with track on it. Maybe even a skeleton or two somewhere. Keep up the great work!

[fishmommy]

Encyclia polybulbon is a good suggestion - I have that one and the scale of it is perfect. It needs a little bit extra light however.

Most reedy aquatics need very high light to do well - things like hairgrass, etc. Stuff like dwarf papyrus and other pond plants are too big for that tank unfortunately.

As a different type of look, you could duckweed the water part to give it a 'scummy' look and sink some trash in the bottom.

[penguinfarmer]

All mosses are tropicals that I have growing currently in dart tanks. Just need to plan which one to use which depends on the scale of it and where I place it. It would be nice to possibly have some moss growing off the subway column and water pipe.

Also, it's connected to the glass top and not pictured, but there will be a network of that thin silver pipe suspended from the top. I poked a few holes in them and ran electroluminescent wire which will flicker, simulating sparks in electric wires. I may create a dangling broken light fixture that flickers. on the other side away from the broken water pipe.

I do have a scale I-beam that will be used as a track. It will be bent and will protrude from the bottom to look like a broken train track. I just airbrushed it with Alclad II which is extremely toxic so I also triple coated it with two different clears to make sure it will be fine when submerged in water along with any possible plant life. Also, will poor in some sand on the bottom that will look more like dirty sediment. Just waiting to plant before I detail the water portion first.

There is a thin slit of strong light that penetrates the water area right by the glass. Right now, there is only a single CF spotlight. I will see if the Coralife T5s will get better light to determine the aquatic portion.

I like the shopping cart idea. I'm a fan of the rust texture. I was also thinking of the wooden subway benches carved with graffiti. This would be easily built with wood, which would be nice to see how the wood breaks down naturally over time with moisture. I also have those old steel barrels scaled with scorch marks like it was used for warmth and fire.

I actually have a skull that I want to use from a ghostrider figure. I was thinking of finding a small soldier's helmet on it though to show there was a battle or something.

I'm actually very enthused to see the reaction and suggestions. I left the story a bit ambiguous so you could all have some fun. Keep critiques coming. I'm all over this thing as much as you guys, I think my main dilemma will be editing everything I have.

Happy Halloween all

[Daethen]

I am amazed at the detail you are putting into this. It is going to be a living work of art. Kudos to you!!!

[Paul]

From what i've heard and read, Java moss should be able to grow on the pipe and column. As it will also grow in the water, one possible issue -- assuming enough light -- might be if it grows too vigorously in the water. Wouldn't do to have it obscuring the underwater decor.

If you do need more "bones", this may be the perfect time to get some -- many of the BBSs and craft stores will be having their Halloween stuff on sale now.

Oh, and since you are planning on "human bones" and "fitfully working electrical systems", the implication is that humans -- if gone -- have not been gone long. In which case, the remains of cans from "canned food" might be a good addition as well as torn/worn clothing and/or blankets. (Mini food tins and clothing, again, should be obtainable from hobby stores.) A skeleton (whether whole or partial) could even be dressed or partially covered up with same.

Feral dogs and cats might also be present.

Had never heard of electroluminescent wire before -- excepting the wire filaments in lightbulbs -- how cool!

[tylerumn]

Bravo, you are a creative genius! Here I am starring at my 5-gal "terrarium" with moss and a piece of drift wood...fail.

[penguinfarmer]

Ok short update with some test plantings

sorry missing my camera memory card around here so bare with cellphone pictures



Got one creeping fig branch in there. Had two but it was WAY overkill. Still finagling it around the wall so what you see will not be it's set position. Its base almost looks like a wisteria in this scale.

Seliginella will go in the center part as soon as that arrives. Still one more small terrestrial gap. May just fill that with moss.

I applied my moss milkshakes already. I forgot the name of it, but I needed a very short growing moss, almost like a blanket or carpet so I couldn't use live sphagnum or java though I may wrap the pipe in java or hang it off the wall.

That small tillandsia is just a place holder for an orchid. Light still hasn't come in but start thinking of high light lovers.

Notice the bubbles created in the water. I kinda like it, almost like sewage. With the rest of the lights turned off, it sorta looks like fog without a fogger. This also kills any light that enters so I'm abandoning the aquatic idea. I did crumple up some indian almond leaves and threw them in the water to make a "tea" which makes the water a nice dingy brown color.

One last thing, at first this was going to be a raised platform subway station, but now I'm thinking of it as a subterranean station with a cave in. So, I will create a nice shaded portion on the right side of the tank with a few holes to looks like there is some street above the station but still allowing thing beams of light.

[Kali Hibiscus]

This is awesome ! I can't wait to see orchids blooming in this

[margitks]

Awesome job Penguinfarmer! Love this project.
Any new pictures?