About to try reptiles, need ideas :)

[Viridis]

I honestly can't stand coconut since the first time I used it. It's ugly, and unpractical imo.

I only use it to grow certain orchids and for egg-laying boxes, but aside from that I agree.

I couldn't find Xaxim, they only had a few small pieces, nothing usable, and I really wanted to get started. So I got a natural looking cork backgrounds, and kept the extra after sawing it down to make arrangements. I plan on covering the entire wall with moss (if I can have water all over it but can't find a sprinkler). Would those grow in the crevices in the cork?

In the cracks, or even on cork bark itself.

Yeah, we can have asian arowanas and channas, so I'm not gonna complain.

We can have asian arowana where I am, but not channa. Oh well. I can still keep crocodilians so I'm good.

I guess it's still better than "How do I care for my Dory and Nemo?" xD

Very good point.... hahaha

 

[Madou]

I only use it to grow certain orchids and for egg-laying boxes, but aside from that I agree.

This is what I ordered as a starting point:
- Guzmania theresa
- Vriesea Splendes
- Begonia schulzei
- Chirita tamiana
- Nephrolepis spec.
- Java Moss

And 2,5L of peat litter to help growing those though I suspect they won't need it once it's all settled, and to cover the bottom of my pool. I wouldn't mind some thin leaves plants that can grow in the water and poke out of the surface through duckweed!

In the cracks, or even on cork bark itself.

What can I use to attach the moss on the cork or even the plants until they root to it?

We can have asian arowana where I am, but not channa. Oh well. I can still keep crocodilians so I'm good.

Channas are probably the best fish anyone can ever own. So much personality!
But I can see how invasive they've become in the US though.

Very good point.... hahaha

It's even worse in French, people find names you've never heard of for fish that have a very uncomplicated ones.


Bonus question!

I want to heat my water, since heat goes up, it'll be raining non-cold water and it'll make heating easier. I was thinking of using something small like a 25w heater, but I have no idea where to put it... I assume I can't encrust it into the filtration blue foam? Probably would melt the thing, but i'm not sure of how immerged objects react to heat... Am I going to have to lay the heater in my pool of water like it's nothing? Cause that'd be ugly.

 

[krichardson]

I have a heater for herp tanks that has a dark green plastic cage around it to protect the glass tube.With such a heater you could camouflage it by placing artificial plants on the caging.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

This is what I ordered as a starting point:
- Guzmania theresa
- Vriesea Splendes
- Begonia schulzei
- Chirita tamiana
- Nephrolepis spec.
- Java Moss

And 2,5L of peat litter to help growing those though I suspect they won't need it once it's all settled, and to cover the bottom of my pool. I wouldn't mind some thin leaves plants that can grow in the water and poke out of the surface through duckweed!

What can I use to attach the moss on the cork or even the plants until they root to it?


Channas are probably the best fish anyone can ever own. So much personality!
But I can see how invasive they've become in the US though.


It's even worse in French, people find names you've never heard of for fish that have a very uncomplicated ones.


Bonus question!

I want to heat my water, since heat goes up, it'll be raining non-cold water and it'll make heating easier. I was thinking of using something small like a 25w heater, but I have no idea where to put it... I assume I can't encrust it into the filtration blue foam? Probably would melt the thing, but i'm not sure of how immerged objects react to heat... Am I going to have to lay the heater in my pool of water like it's nothing? Cause that'd be ugly.

You can attach orchids and other epiphites with a dab of liquid nails.

 

[Madou]

I have a heater for herp tanks that has a dark green plastic cage around it to protect the glass tube.With such a heater you could camouflage it by placing artificial plants on the caging.

It's really about heating the water, I know I'll have to do some trick to hide my upper heater, which should be fine if I have enough cork around it. I just am afraid to have the water heater in the filtration foam, I wouldn't want it to melt.

I just want to avoid having it lay in the water pool, since I want it to remain visible.

I will, however, look into that heater, though. Green is easier to hide than white

 

[Viridis]

This is what I ordered as a starting point:
- Guzmania theresa
- Vriesea Splendes
- Begonia schulzei
- Chirita tamiana
- Nephrolepis spec.
- Java Moss

And 2,5L of peat litter to help growing those though I suspect they won't need it once it's all settled, and to cover the bottom of my pool. I wouldn't mind some thin leaves plants that can grow in the water and poke out of the surface through duckweed!

Guzmania 'Theresa' is a relatively small cultivar, so it should do well mounted high up. The Vriesea splendens can get pretty big depending on the cultivar, so I'd mount it lower down so it doesn't shade out the whole tank. the rest looks good, however you may have to trim the Nephrolepis sp. as they can get quite big.

Are you using the loose peat for substrate? If so, i'd mix other stuff into it. peat will compact quickly and not drain well.

What can I use to attach the moss on the cork or even the plants until they root to it?

monofilament, cotton thread, Cyanoacrylate, &c.

Bonus question!

I want to heat my water, since heat goes up, it'll be raining non-cold water and it'll make heating easier. I was thinking of using something small like a 25w heater, but I have no idea where to put it... I assume I can't encrust it into the filtration blue foam? Probably would melt the thing, but i'm not sure of how immerged objects react to heat... Am I going to have to lay the heater in my pool of water like it's nothing? Cause that'd be ugly.

If you can find it in Belgium, there's a product called eggcrate, light diffuser panel, or louver/louvre. Looks like this:

(Google images. it linked to pinterest and I couldn't find the original site)

You could use this to build a sort of cage in the false bottom to keep it from touching the foam. Just an idea.

Unless the heater is getting absurdly hot, I don't think it'd be too much of a worry. Can't guarantee that though.

 

[Madou]

Guzmania 'Theresa' is a relatively small cultivar, so it should do well mounted high up. The Vriesea splendens can get pretty big depending on the cultivar, so I'd mount it lower down so it doesn't shade out the whole tank. the rest looks good, however you may have to trim the Nephrolepis sp. as they can get quite big.

Is Vriesea splendens ok to trim? I mean the leaves.
So Nephrolepis sp should be bottom too? I was hoping to put them on the walls, though maybe i'll get smaller ferns for that.

Are you using the loose peat for substrate? If so, i'd mix other stuff into it. peat will compact quickly and not drain well.

Flat pieces of peat for the entire thing minus the pool (unless it bends when wet).
For the "pots" I'll be making with cork, I was thinking of loose peat, yes. What should I mix it with?

monofilament, cotton thread, Cyanoacrylate, &c.

For bigger plants, maybe it's silly, but would aquarium silicone help hold them right as I want them?

If you can find it in Belgium, there's a product called eggcrate, light diffuser panel, or louver/louvre. Looks like this:

(Google images. it linked to pinterest and I couldn't find the original site)

You could use this to build a sort of cage in the false bottom to keep it from touching the foam. Just an idea.

Unless the heater is getting absurdly hot, I don't think it'd be too much of a worry. Can't guarantee that though.

I have had a terrible time trying to find those back when I needed to make quick dividers, and found something similar, black, made for aquariums and in plastic. Hard to cut, though, but I could always work around it. Perhaps PVC tubing? i'll look into it, see what they use in the shop if they do heat their water!

Hopefully friday I get my remaining peat, silicon and plants. Then I can (and should, since I will have the plants lol) get started if I can figure my water system...
In case I don't figure it out, can I keep the plants in the viv closed, with daylight and mist them some? Or would that not help keep them going?

 

[Viridis]

Is Vriesea splendens ok to trim? I mean the leaves.
So Nephrolepis sp should be bottom too? I was hoping to put them on the walls, though maybe i'll get smaller ferns for that.

If you trim the leaves, they aren't going to be replaced quickly, so you're stuck with flat-tipped bromeliad leaves for a while. You can if you want to, but broms are plant usually left alone, aside from removing the pups.

The Nephrolepis sp. can be planted higher up, just make sure it doesn't shade out any plants underneath it too much.

Flat pieces of peat for the entire thing minus the pool (unless it bends when wet).
For the "pots" I'll be making with cork, I was thinking of loose peat, yes. What should I mix it with?

For the pots I'd go with something with better drainage. Loose xaxim fiber, charcoal, fine orchid bark, &c. can be added; or jut switch it to sphagnum moss only.

Also, the Bromeliads don't need soil (they are massed produced in soil because it's easier for growers than a bunch of mounts). Just mount them directly to the hardscape.

For bigger plants, maybe it's silly, but would aquarium silicone help hold them right as I want them?

The silicone might kill the plant cells it comes into contact with, so I don't know if it'll hold it for long. I could also see it releasing after a short time as the plant grows and transpires. Cotton thread would work too, and it'll just rot away after a few months.

I have had a terrible time trying to find those back when I needed to make quick dividers, and found something similar, black, made for aquariums and in plastic. Hard to cut, though, but I could always work around it. Perhaps PVC tubing? i'll look into it, see what they use in the shop if they do heat their water!

I've used pvc tubes to protect heaters in caiman and turtle tanks, and it worked fairly well. However, they were in open water, so I don't know how well it'd work surrounded by things; whether it heats up more and off gasses? I'm honestly not sure, I can only speculate.

Hopefully friday I get my remaining peat, silicon and plants. Then I can (and should, since I will have the plants lol) get started if I can figure my water system...
In case I don't figure it out, can I keep the plants in the viv closed, with daylight and mist them some? Or would that not help keep them going?

Yep. Just make sure they get light and stay moist. they'll be fine.


Found another plant site by the way. Not sure if they are good or not.

 

[Madou]

If you trim the leaves, they aren't going to be replaced quickly, so you're stuck with flat-tipped bromeliad leaves for a while. You can if you want to, but broms are plant usually left alone, aside from removing the pups.

The Nephrolepis sp. can be planted higher up, just make sure it doesn't shade out any plants underneath it too much.

Alright, since I want it natural looking, I ain't going to cut anything. xD

For the pots I'd go with something with better drainage. Loose xaxim fiber, charcoal, fine orchid bark, &c. can be added; or jut switch it to sphagnum moss only.

Got me coconut fibers. Looks like dirt, should be easily hidden.

Also, the Bromeliads don't need soil (they are massed produced in soil because it's easier for growers than a bunch of mounts). Just mount them directly to the hardscape.

Ok, so I tie them to hardscape, and they'll eventually hold their own weight?
Sounds less of a headache.

The silicone might kill the plant cells it comes into contact with, so I don't know if it'll hold it for long. I could also see it releasing after a short time as the plant grows and transpires. Cotton thread would work too, and it'll just rot away after a few months.

Cotton threat it is!

I've used pvc tubes to protect heaters in caiman and turtle tanks, and it worked fairly well. However, they were in open water, so I don't know how well it'd work surrounded by things; whether it heats up more and off gasses? I'm honestly not sure, I can only speculate.

I found the solution!
Cut my blue filtration foam around the heater and use the succion cups to keep it in one spot without touching it.

Yep. Just make sure they get light and stay moist. they'll be fine.

Turns out they're stuck at the post... So monday it is!

Found another plant site by the way. Not sure if they are good or not.

How do you find them easier than I do, and you're an ocean away. xD

 

[Madou]

Another quick question!

Can loose coconut fiber substrate (ZooMed Eco Earth in my case) be immersed?
Can peat? (Pretty sure that can)

I want to make sure it doesn't rot or anything in my pool.