Construction Journal: 40gal Breeder(with pics)

[andy83]

Here is the rest of the construction journal for my tank. If you have any questions for me please just let me know. I haven't been able to work on this for a while due to being ill but I really liked how it came out.


Laying in the screening....one layer thick. I just tucked it all down and then put the leca on top so that it would stay by gravity instead of pinning it down or glue.


Now here comes the dirt.


Here is a side shot of the tank after being planted.


Here is a shot with the lights out. I'm going to add some slate to the bottom of the falls and also some driftwood for the frogs to hide in.



I went ahead and seeded the tank with dwaft tropical isopods and some tropical springtails. I also had this container that I used to keep springtails in but I fed them too much yeast and mushrooms broke out everywhere. So, needless to say, I packed that dirt in there as well.

I had been trying to raise up some moss a while back and I ended up getting sick. It dried out so I just used that rich dirt as well in the tank. Along with longer fiber sphangnum and two different sizes of fir bark. It drains well and retains moisture.

[andy83]

Here some more quick shots.




I don't know what sort of plant the green stuff(ended up being stinging nettle) is that is below and on top of the waterfall. It was in a seed tray with moss that I had let go without checking for months. It stayed constantly humid with no ventilation for months and this stuff popped up. Most of the moss didn't survive. It was the tropical stuff from black jungle.


Dendrobium sp.(I forgot which one). I need to install that fan before too long. The mold is starting to kick in.....or whatever that is.


The lights are the 10 dollar jobs. I think they are 23 watt screw in compacts. I also have an 18 watt as well to soften it up a little. We're going to get some lights with more power when we can afford that.


I picked up a Brassavola cordata from a shop in florida and I
m pleased at how it has responded so far. My hope is to get it to bloom...I was fortunate enough to get to smell it in bloom before the last flower died. These are from jamaica so they are somewhat drier and good light. I've read that it's somewhat hard to get these to bloom in the viv but it's not unheard of.

[andy83]

Here is an update on how things are going. I'm going to order some lights this Friday. If anybody has any recommendations on 36" fixtures that put out 192 watts then let me know.

The green weed looking stuff that was in front of the waterfall has been removed. It ended up being a stinging nettle of some sort.


Lots of algae on the waterfall.


Even more algae. I'm pleased with all of the moss.


Shot from the side.






This orchid is going to survive. I really though that I had killed this one.


The Brassavola cordata is really shooting out those roots. I'm pretty pleased with how its doing. I'm hoping to get it to bloom but that's kindof hard. I'm sure it will like the 192 watts thats getting ready to shine upon it.


Anybody got an ID for this fern? I like it but I don't know what it is. It came up in some tropical moss that I had purchased from Black Jungle.


Thanks for looking. Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions are welcomed.
-Andy

[Tindomul]

I really like the size of the tank. Congrats on
the surviving orchid. If that Ludisia ever blooms you will need more head room. Way more headroom, about 25 inches.

[Tindomul]

What size tank is this?

[andy83]

Thanks for the comments.

As for the discolor, I think I'm just going to let the flower shoot hit the glass and just run against the top until it gets too much heat/light and it naturally dies.

I have heard stories of Ludisia discolor pushing open the tops of vivariums though.

[andy83]

It's a 40 gallon sized "short" tank that is always called a 40 Breeder. They're about $100 and I hear they make pretty good vertical tanks as well.

[Tindomul]

Thats exactly why I asked. I was eyeing it up for verticalness. Its almost exactly what I've been looking for. But 100!!!! Why so much????

[andy83]

Yeah, I got a good deal on this one though. So, it's good to just keep an eye out for used tanks I suppose. I got this one for $40 and it wasn't really used that much.

They would make killer verticals due to the depth. All around good tank.

[Tindomul]

I'm going to do some shopping today for this. Hopefully I can find one around. I have no idea where to find used tanks. Maybe e-bay?