First Vivarium Attempt

[Occellatus]

My first attempt at a very simple vivarium setup. Looked through the web and planned what i wanted. Ive done a false bottom with a small 200l/hr pump to create either a sprinkler effect or a water fall effect. Not sure which one to choose as yet.

Ive also added leca as the base substrate to allow good water flow to the false bottom underneath but have not decided on the type of top layer substrate. I intend to have land plants on the backing itself and emmersed plant on the substrate. Can anyone advise what type of substrate to use for the emmersed plants? Will gex laid on the leca be a good choice?

Looking forward to some cool advises so i can start getting the plants and suitable substrate.

[Merviso]

The sponge idea is good.....im thinking of putting a layer of black sponge between the background and substrate as well..so that when the water flows down from the background, it does not directly disturb the Gex soil below....

Hmm...sourcing of the moss seems interesting.....i will go look for some...so when i see the type of moss that i want...what do i do bro? Just cut the entire thing up and lay in my tank?

haha... this is also my first time collecting moss anywhere.. I basically just cut a whole portion and sort home slowly sort out. Basically there are 2 type that I have collected: one is the ones that you saw beside the background foam, which is growing on the tree; and the other one is growing on the ground and I basically dig out a thin slice of clay. The second one is more like little star moss and I put it under the first moss just on top on the sponge..

[Merviso]

Cool bro Merviso...so much to learn from u.

Anyway, heres my just completed setup. Nothing great...but im trying to learn and to add more plants into this super simple setup of mine.

hahaha... I'm a beginner too, let's learn and explore together...

Take a look at some of the earlier post and you will find some very nice example to learn from.. have fun!

[Occellatus]

Got to go search for Singapore moss on trees liao.........

[Merviso]

haha... if you are staying near bukit merah, then I can show you where...

Coming back to your design, are you going to add driftwood and rocks to create depth and height into your scape?

One thing I find is that by dripping water onto the driftwood, you should be able to grow moss or even fissiden easier and also increase the humidity of the tank since more water will be evaporated.

[Occellatus]

Coming back to your design, are you going to add driftwood and rocks to create depth and height into your scape?

One thing I find is that by dripping water onto the driftwood, you should be able to grow moss or even fissiden easier and also increase the humidity of the tank since more water will be evaporated.

yup..i will be adding rocks and DW..and also attach moss onto the DW....my pump system is up and running...but i havent DIY the rainbar thingy yet....so now the water is being pumped through the hose and goes back directly into the 'chamber'...need to think of a design too.

[Merviso]

Take your time, think through slowly and search some of the past post from Wild Ginger, he is the Master of Vivarium here... Have fun !

[Occellatus]

Have been drooling at his setups for some time now.....

First thing im doing now would be to DIY a rainbar on all 3 sides....then slowly do up the scaping...thks so much for the valuable info bro.

[Merviso]

hey, no problem, we are all learning from your experience too! Got to go change my tank water now... Keep us updated with your tank development... cheers!

[Occellatus]

Alright Merviso...went to source for Singapore Moss..and managed to get quite a few...including another species that i don't know how to ID.

[Merviso]

Nice! Looks good to put a Tiger Salamander inside...

Maybe you can use some mosses to cover the top of the white netting on the side too...

[Occellatus]

Ok....will go steal some Singapore Moss again!

As for the lightings, how many watts do you advise bro? Im currently using only a clip on PL light which is only 8 watts. Dont think its enough. Can recommend the type of lights and the wattage to use for my 1.5ft tank?

[Merviso]

Haha... go steal some other type of moss ! Take this first vivarium as your experimental tank and try out as many different plants and mosses as possible..

What I'm doing now is to always keep some plastic container, ziplock bags and a metal desert spoon with me when i go out, whenever I see something nice and interesting, I'll take some samples back and plant it in one of the tank... slowly I will know what are most suitable for my future vivariums..

I'm using 1.5ft 18w PL light for my tank... Not sure if it is bright enough, but my tank is also 1.5ft tall..

[Occellatus]

I'm using 1.5ft 18w PL light for my tank... Not sure if it is bright enough, but my tank is also 1.5ft tall..

Certainly higher in wattage than my 8w clip-on lite!

ok..will get one which is about 18w too...my tank height is about 1ft. Moss hunting tomorrow!

[Occellatus]

[Jervis]

Looking real good! Really good

[Merviso]

Wow... ... Getting nicer every time... ... Well done bro...

Think it will be good to add some frogs inside, cause very soon it will start to grow many funny little creatures inside...

[Occellatus]

Think it will be good to add some frogs inside, cause very soon it will start to grow many funny little creatures inside...

Thanks bro....many experts here to guide me along thats why.

Funny creatures? What kind of creatures?

I did try to acquire copper cheeked frogs but have been unable to get them. Is it listed under CITES?

[Merviso]

Oh... just notice one small detail... ... maybe try to use black egg crate next time so that it will not look so eyes catching on the tank bottom..

[Occellatus]

LOL....sure bro.... But to be honest, Ive not seen any black egg crates on sale before....not even C328. Is there such a colour for egg crate?