WIP 5 gal desk viv Urban Decay

[penguinfarmer]

A little something different with a viv than your natural biotope. Went for a post-apocalyptic dystopian concept with nature overtaking the decrepid. I initially cleared out my old dartfrog 29 gal with intentions of doing something like this large scale, but I decided to practice a bit on a 5gal desktop viv first.

It's still a work in progress, but I'm happy to announce I am ready to start planting. I just want to have it running a bit so I can gauge temperature and settings. As of now, temps look to be around 84 degrees with a sub CF fixture. I order a Coralife T5 nano fixture with 2 CFs so will have to do tests with that.













The build coming soon.

[penguinfarmer]

Help me plant it in this thread as I try to decide what to fill it with in here:Mini mini orchid suggestions
I have some sellaginellas and tiny tillandsias that will work, just need the orchids!!

[penguinfarmer]

Here, is one of the old billboards you would see in a neglected station. I struck gold and found a really old cosmo mag during spring cleaning. There were numerous layers of hilarious old-school tampon and sex psychics ads, but alas you never see them. I used small sheet of styrene as the back which won't deflect in moisture like other plastics, and just had fun gluing magazines on top of magazines, then taking a blade and some sandpaper to it to strip layer upon layer. I coated it with Allchem's Virtus clear coat to keep it from further fading and weathering beyond recognition. I've used this on items submerged in water and boat repair before and it’s mollsucicide-free. Even the little strips of paper are now as hard as plastic so it should stay put for some time. Frame is just some styrene scale channels airbrushed with alclad II chrome lacquer, and then carved and painted with rust.




Simple false bottom to create the platform and hide the pump. It’s a small Sunterra 2”x2”x2” 30 gph pump.


Back of tile wall. Normally I would just silicone it straight to the glass, but I needed access to the back to weave clear fishing line between the groutlines of the tile to hold the creeping fig.


The actual platform. I used concrete, with some extra sand to give it a rougher texture, as you would in real life with the formwork and plastic mesh replacing rebar. Only did half so the other side can secretly hide the dirt for planting. I neutralized the concrete slab for about a weak to limit the limestone runoff. I drilled small holes so I can fit just a minute amount of soil and riccia in between making it look like grass in between cracks.

The yellow caution platform is just some weathercoated balsa with tacky glue dots to simulate the bolts. Painted yellow then cleared.

[fishmommy]

OMG that is AMAZING!!!!!
you are truly talented!

what are the conditions in terms of temp, temp variation (day/nite/season) and humidity? That will help to determine what will bloom in there successfully.

[penguinfarmer]

I'll get back with the temperature readings when I get the Coralife fixture to test it out. It has two CFs, but it is on a stand with two fans running underneath so it may actually be cooler than what I'm reading from now.

Somethings not shown are behind the tilewall are slabs of scrap tree fern/epiweb. So if the hole is only 1 or 2inches, everything can grow as large as it wants behind. On the platform if you can see, it is actually an L where the left side will hold some terrestrials. Some styrene dividers are siliconed on the bottom to prevent the water from oversaturating the clay and sediment.


The other half of the build pictures is loading as we speak.

My inspiration (Tokyo Gensu project):



Being from NY, I went with the subway theme. Searched all over Home Depot and Lowes for a plain white mosaic tile that I can alter and play with, but found this single 12x12 tile that resembled some of the tile mosaics in various stations.
First attempt, I went overboard with the weathering and graffiti layers. Naturally, I would just spray paint these with a needle tip cap, but with it holding live plants, I was worried about how enamels could potentially harm the plants. So, I dusted off the old iwata and airbrushed some stuff with thinned water based paints. All that work and didn't use that half.

Either way, it was some decent practice and decided to use the other half of the tile and simplify it with just some rendered hard water stains with some tags here and there, and let the plants add that extra dimension. Then had some fun with a chisel and hammer, breaking and cracking one tile at a time.


Here is the subway sign which is nothing more than some painted styrene using vinyl lettering stencils. Ft. Hamilton was the stop I got off to get home as a kid, though the station looks nothing like this.


A lot of rusted objects, but no rust in itself. It would have been easier to just soak metals in a water, vinegar and bleach mixture to let it speed-rust naturally in a few days, but again, I was worried about potential water run off with iron ore possibly affecting the plants and pump. So everything here was plastic painted and applied with a neutral base and powdered copper pigment to add the actual texture of rust instead of just the color.

[Paul Mc]

OMG! This is AMAZING!!!!!

[fishmommy]

if you put some creeping fig in there it will vine all over your background and could look pretty cool

[penguinfarmer]

Originally Posted by fishmommy

if you put some creeping fig in there it will vine all over your background and could look pretty cool

Yes I have some oak leaf creeping fig. The main reason I didn't silicone the wall was so I can weave clear fish wire through the grout lines to hold it in place.

As of now, I have creeping fig for the background
selaginella unicrata to appear as a "bush"
various mosses and tillandsias

left plenty of room for orchids as I search for the right ones.

Even with two fans going and 1" vent in the rear, the humidity is around 80% thanks to the water feature. That should be knocked up a bit during misting.

I'm debating whether I would like an aquatic in the foreground. Something thin to simulate reeds?


Paul, I'm open to all criticisms. I know exactly what you mean on the sign. I carved the edge to simulate that chipped effect where you see the metal under layer you see in real signs. I can do a tad more chips around and in between letters, but for the most part I want to preserve the integrity of the letters for sentimental reasons. I want to see Ft. Hamilton when I work.

I debated whether I wanted to use the older serif fonts, but decided on the MTA Akidenz since it pops more from the older background than the blue and beige tile mosaic lettering.

For the graffiti, I do want to add another piece as well. A fuller piece [what we call throwups in the graffiti world, yes I was a vandal]. Where do you think it would be best? I'm leaning toward the right side since the left hole in the wall will be the featured orchid. Also, the color of the piece should coincide with the orchid bloom itself.

For the pieces not installed yet are debris pieces. I have a small scale rubber tire I either want to use as a planter or stick in the water.
-More rocks and "sticks" from broken tree fern.
-Cut up Metrocards that look like all the cards ppl drop
-Caution tape and paper litter
-Last but not least, I'm looking for a scale rifle. One that sorta tells a story of how the apocalypse has come about whether it be zombie takeover of anarchist war.

EDIT.. one more suggestion my friends have given me. RATS. big NYC man-eating rats. I gotta sculpt several of these.

O yeah, more pics coming soon and of course, the 29gallon version..

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[Paul]

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

As of now, I have creeping fig for the background
selaginella unicrata to appear as a "bush"
various mosses and tillandsias

Sel. unicrata? I've never heard of that one. Google even let me down. Do you have a pic of that one?

Do keep in mind that if you are planning on utilizing local wild mosses, they very well may not make it. Many of the temperate mosses need a cold dormancy cycle. Mosses used for dartfrog terrs should be good though and you can give Java moss a go. (I've never used that one but have heard many using it successfully.)

Not so much for this tank but perhaps for you larger one -- a mini trailing AV might be nifty.

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

left plenty of room for orchids as I search for the right ones.

Encyclia (Dinema) polybulbon would be a climber I'd suggest right off the top. If you like that idea but don't have that one, you can contact me and we'll dicker.... . Intermediate Pleuros, Lepanthes, and Restreps would seem to be possibilities. Your color palette options would likely be rather restricted, though.

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

I'm debating whether I would like an aquatic in the foreground. Something thin to simulate reeds?

Hmmm, that would be difficult, I suspect. You might see if there are any of the aquatic Utricularias (bladderworts) that send up leaves above the waterline. Most require very high light if memory serves, which could be an issue

Though it is not "reedy", how about duckweed (Lemnaceae)?

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

Paul, I'm open to all criticisms. I know exactly what you mean on the sign. I carved the edge to simulate that chipped effect where you see the metal under layer you see in real signs. I can do a tad more chips around and in between letters, but for the most part I want to preserve the integrity of the letters for sentimental reasons. I want to see Ft. Hamilton when I work.

Oh I don't fault you for wanting the sign to still be legible. But taking some chips out of the letters and even removing a piece of a letter here and there would not interfere with that. Some judicious defacement will add considerable character, however.

I'd heartily recommend some dents or even holes from "bullets" added to the sign and even the wall itself. A blunt nail or a Phillips screwdriver tapped with a hammer should do nicely.

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

For the graffiti, I do want to add another piece as well. A fuller piece [what we call throwups in the graffiti world, yes I was a vandal]. Where do you think it would be best? I'm leaning toward the right side since the left hole in the wall will be the featured orchid. Also, the color of the piece should coincide with the orchid bloom itself.

While I can understand your desire to match the graffiti color to the orchid(s), I don't think you should worry about that. It limits your options with regard to what flowering plants you can try. Afterall, there's no guarantee that the plant(s) you most desire will be the one(s) that actually thrive. (Orchids do like to "thumb their columns" at us from time to time.) With this in mind, you might do well to use something like white which will stand out on the wall and go with any other colors present.

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

I have a small scale rubber tire I either want to use as a planter or stick in the water.

Depending upon the actual size of the tire, you might be able to use several ... assuming you can find more of them. I would be hesitant on using one as a planter -- it could very easily come out looking very contrived or kitschy. If possible, how about half in and half out of the water?

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

More rocks and "sticks" from broken tree fern.
-Cut up Metrocards that look like all the cards ppl drop
-Caution tape and paper litter
-Last but not least, I'm looking for a scale rifle. One that sorta tells a story of how the apocalypse has come about whether it be zombie takeover of anarchist war

For sticks, you could also simply gather twigs from outside.

For your rifle, your best bet would likely be any store that caters to hobbyists who make doll houses and miniature towns/cities. Depending on the proportional size needed, you might also check dollar stores and second hand stores for toy soldiers.

How about a small patch here or there littered with broken glass as from a bottle? (You might even be able to find a miniature wine or booze bottle at the aforementioned hobbyist stores.)

How about the ubiquitous rusty, beat up shopping cart?

How long after the apocalypse is this scene occurring? Do humans still exist?
If this scene is not too many years after humanity's extinction, or if there are still some humans around, consider adding a scorched patch on the ground as from a trash fire.

Originally Posted by penguinfarmer

EDIT.. one more suggestion my friends have given me. RATS. big NYC man-eating rats. I gotta sculpt several of these.

Don't forget the COCKROACHES! If anything survives an apocalypse, they will definitely be there.

Depending on the cause of the catastrophe and the number of years which have passed, you could also consider creating some futuristic animals. There have always been some speculating what path evolution might take if humans become extinct.

[Daethen]

I love it and can not wait to see it finished.