First post - pics of a new vivarium for cresties

[zBrinks]

Hi all! This is my first post on this forum (think im posting in the right spot!).
Anyway, I build custom vivs for people on the side, and thought I would share some pics of my latest project - a 33 cube viv for a pair of cresties.

There have been a few more bromeliads and vines added since these pics, and Im still waiting on cf lighting. The moss will also be covered in leaf litter after installation at my client's house. Ifs kind of hard to see, but there are two waterfalls running over the rocks and stump that compose the back wall, and circulate water under the substrare and into the front pool. Plants include various Tillisandrias, bromeliads, ferns, Peppermonia, Nepthenes(Asian Pitcher plant), and more!

 

[lessthantito]

DAMN!! amazing do you have any more pics of other vivs you have built I have to say that is one of the nicest I have seen I am sure the cresteds will love it!

 

[vavavoomy]

wow that is fantastic...........how will your client cope with cleaning it tho as cresties poop everywhere and anywhere lol

 

[zBrinks]

Thanks! The secret to cleaning is springtails - little isopods I breed for dart food - they live in the soil and eat waste. I have 3 cresties in a less attractive 20L vertical, and have yet to notice any poop (theyve been in there for about 6 months now). The secret - false bottoms and bioactive substrates - get the microbes on your side! Here's some pics of my 46g dart viv, Ill try to post updated pics of the 33cube and my 20L vert later:

I plumbed a fogger into this one:

And an old pic of the 20L crestie viv:

 

[AWL Reptiles]

Wow, stunning vivs I must say, great job!

You are more than welcome to start a project at my place! :lol:

 

[Gecko Haven]

awesome

 

[lessthantito]

most definatly awesome tanks I have heard that springtails are pretty good cleaners as are mealworm beatles you have to pupate them I think thats the term/word but once they are beatles they pretty much clean all the poop

 

[zBrinks]

I have no experience using mealworm beetles for cleanup - Most of these tanks are designed for dartfrogs, where beetles would be potential predators. Thanks for all the compliments - would anyone be interested in a construction journal?

 

[lessthantito]

I would!!

 

[zBrinks]

After I get the remaining plants in, over the next week or so, Ill post some construction pics. Im still waiting on my cf lighting :?

 

[AWL Reptiles]

After I get the remaining plants in, over the next week or so, Ill post some construction pics. Im still waiting on my cf lighting :?

*waiting*..

 

[zBrinks]

Here ya are:

 

[bleeding_sarcasm]

those look great! thanks for sharing. very inspirational. what kind of substrate/drainage do you use?

 

[lessthantito]

nice pics of your plants and setup what is your background made out of?

 

[sarahjane85]

Both are extremely nice Zack.

I've only had moderate success with the Tillandsia sp. in my Crested tank. They are placed high and only misted lightly, not like the rest of the plants. Was wondering how well do yours fare under this type of setup? Will there be misting, in addition to the two waterfalls?

Sarah.

 

[zBrinks]

The substrate/drainage consists of plastic egg crate held up by 3'' pvc spacers, with a layer olf weed block over that, to allow for drainage and water to flow, basically creating an in-tank sump. The soil is my own personal mix, and consists of 1 part oak leaves, 1 part sphagnum moss, 1 part charcoal, 1 part orchid bark, and 2 parts ground coconut. I then plant, cover the soil with sphagnum moss, then leaf litter. After that, I seed the tank with springtails and let it sit for at least a month before introducing inhabitants.

The background is great stuff (actually wal-mart version, touch n foam), which I used to cover a pre-constructed eggcrate structure. The wood wat siliconed to the eggcrate structure, then foamed in place. I then let the foam cure for a week, then carved to my liking. Afterwards, I covered with black silicone and applied ground coconut while the silicone was still wet. I also applied sphagnum moss and orchid bark in some areas, to vary the texture. I have used a mixture of peat/sphagnum moss/coco fiber/flevapol to coat the foam before, with great success.

There will be misting in this setup, in addition to the waterfalls. I placed the Tillandsia directly underneath the vets on top, and also located them so it is easy to spray the rest of the viv, while not directly spraying the air plants. They seem to be fairing very well so far, one has sent out 2 new leaves.

Here's some pics of the construction process:

And the final product:

Im actually thinking about selling substrate mixes, springtail cultures, etc as I get more into this - Ill finally be gettng a decent sized herp room next summer when I move to go to vet school in Michigan. And if anyone currently in the DFW area wants me to make them one, Im for hire .

 

[bleeding_sarcasm]

awesome, thanks for the pics. let me know if you end up selling cultures and substrate, ill be interested.

 

[lessthantito]

the rocks that the waterfall flows over are they real rocks? that is my fav part how you have the rock wall in the middle of all the wood, great construction pics thanks!

 

[zBrinks]

Yes, those are real rocks. They are arizona flagstone - you can buy a large piece for about $6 at Lowes or Home Depot and smash it with a hammer to make little pieces. I broke them apart, then hamered the edges to get rid of any sharp places, then foamed them to the back of the tank.

 

[Emilylovesherps]

springtails

Where do you purchase springtails from?