Wild Sky specialised frogs,exotic plants, vivarium

Brian S's Vivariums


Nov.11th2003




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70 Gallon Leucomelas Vivarium

False bottom and water features
This 70-gallon vivarium is constructed with a false bottom floor that rests against the rear wall and leaves about a 2-inch gap on each side and an inch in the front. The false bottom is raised 2 inches using PVC pipe and has hinged (with plastic ties) walls and is covered with screen mesh to keep debris and herps from getting under the eggcrate. Under the eggcrate, I positioned a single aquarium heater and a pump on either side of it for separate water features. On both sides, I used beach stones to fill the gap between the eggcrate and glass to hide the pumps. On the left side of the land portion of the tank, I ran a tube from the pump into a hollow log and put java moss on the log. I also put a couple of air stones under the beach stones to circulate the water and provide increased humidity. On the right side, I ran a tube from the pump onto the white rock in front of the beach stone for a gspring-likeh look. In the front I used aquarium gravel to fill the gap between eggcrate and glass, because beach stones wouldnft fit. I think I like the contrasted look anyway. I plan to put an ultrasonic fogger in the front left corner to further maintain humidity and to help induce breeding when the time comes.

Land area
After doing a few vivariums (designing and redesigning of my own tanks) Ifve gotten away from using a soil or peat based substrate. They can get soggy and messy if therefs not enough evaporation and the water level rises too high from misting. It also makes rearranging the tank when needed, a headache. Thirdly, the moss thatfs shaded when the plants get larger usually dies. Ifve used tree fern fiber panels cut to the shape of my eggcrate. This means I cannot grow terrestrial plants (although Ifve put earth stars in itcIt worked for me in an another tankcwefll see) or create an undulating mossy landscape however, it does allow me more vertical space in the tank for branches and plants. This way, if I want, I can put java moss on the tree fern fiber and itfll grow there by wicking up water from under the false bottom. Ifve done this in another enclosure (see Oct f02 entry on http://www.wildsky.net/vivarium/evivariu.htm). I plan to keep leucs in this tank and since they like to climb the vertical arrangement should be of benefit to them. On top of the treefern, I put branches, mounted with bromeliads and Tillandsias. The Tillandsias are mounted so that they get unfiltered light from the cf lights and air circulation from the fan. I also put cuttings of Peperomia Obtusifolia into the tree fern substrate.

Environmental Control
E Ecological Technology Misting System with 2 nozzles,
E One eputer fan (exhaust) fan,
E 2 air stones
E I plan to include an ultrasonic fogger in the front left corner where the beach stones are.

Ifm experimenting regarding a misting and ventilation pattern that will give me a consistent 80% to 100% humidity range.

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