First Vivarium Build!

[Kotetsu]

Hi All,

Since its a quarantine period, I've decided to finally start on my project pending for N years in the back of my mind.

Sharing it here, hopefully I can get more tips and advice in this journey! Its a 30cm cube open style paludarium.

First time with silicon work. Idea was inspired by Youtuber Asu which I love his work.

Part 1
- Foundation Building

Water is filtered via the right ïnlets through media then to the pump to the waterfall.

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- Putting up the details (WD40 supporting my "bridge" for the open cave overnight)
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[Kotetsu]

- Putting In the Media and Substrate

I'm surprised this took more filter media than I expected and used up all my available media I had leftover in the house, as well as using medium sized lava rocks to fill it up

Side View
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Back View
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I layered filter wool on top of the media before putting in my substrate mixture of ADA amazonia, Sphagnam moss and coco peat.

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In goes the flora! Just thinking of going Buceps, Mosses, and floating plants. I have Buceps "Helena"and Royal Blue", Christmas Moss, Mini Pelia, and some terrestrial mosses I got from GC.
Full Tank Shot!
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[Kotetsu]

Week 1

Readjusted the mosses, hopefully you guys can help me ID some of the terrestrial moss!



Is that Sphagnum moss in the middle and Flat moss below? (Spot the open cave!)


Bucephalandras


Is the hairy moss on the right Mood moss?


Misting in Progess. I have a question, since i'm using a mist maker in an open paludarium, at what intervals should I be misting per day?

[Kotetsu]

Full Tank Video

[Kotetsu]

Week 2 Update

Weekly Water change and replacing the Filter wool / active carbon.

Some set backs so far:
1. Some of my Buceps leaves melted while most of them are sprouting new leaves (not sure why)
2. My mood and sphagnum moss turning brown but the flat moss are still green and nice.
3. My son's fish tank crashed and I had to house the survivors into the tank. Can't put them into my 3 footer because they might eat the shrimps. Normally I wait till its fully cycled but not much of a choice.
4. Frogbits melted because of the misting, learnt that frogbits have to keep the top of their leaves dry or they will rot away.



Here's a shot of little Blue

[Kotetsu]

Week 4 Update!

Change the light to a ONF Flatone+. Love it!

Mosses that were browning continued to brown. Probably because of the minerals found in tap water that the anti chlorine couldn't remove.
Reduced misting to once every hour since I got a glass to keep the humidity in the tank.
Good news is that I see some moss growth and the bucephalandras sprouting new leaves.












Can anyone help me on how to revive my land mosses back into a green lush??