Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After weeks and weeks of planning, tonight i started the process of building my first vivarium. Of course now, i have a few questions about the building. I havent siliconed anything so i can still make changes if needed. So far i have 8, 4" pvc pipe pieces sitting at the bottom of the aquarium.( i dont know how many gallons it is but it is 24" long X 12" wide X 16" high). I have the pump on the aquarium floor as well. Then there is a layer of egg crate on top of the pipe. Now heres my question: My pump fits under the egg crate no problem, but should i cut a square section out so i can take the pump out a lot easier in the future if there are any problems? Also, this question has probably been answered lots of times, what can i use for substrate? I wanted to get supersoil but it wasnt available at my home depot. I was thinking something like this: a 2 inch layer of aquarium gravel, then a 2 inch layer of peat moss (as this is the only decent kind of "dirt" i can find without plant food in it), then a lite layer of sphagnum moss.. Would this be an ok ground for some dart frogs and plants to live in? I apologize for the long post. I will more than likely have more Q's soon because i want this vivarium to be something i can be proud of.

Thanks everybody,
Jon

Making the pump accessible is always a good thing.

For substrate, the gravel is not necessary since you have a false bottom. My favorite substrate is one of those bricks you get at pet stores (eco-earth is one brand) expanded with water and then add equal amounts of orchid mix.
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Josh Willard
www.joshsfrogs.com

Thats what i figured about the pump as well. I was thinking of making an arc shape around it which would be like a 3 inch pool, very easy to take out. With that bedding you described, do you mix it together or put the orchid mix on top? Is it good for plant life?

Thanks
Jon

I used eco-earth. Coco-brick thingy. You put it in a bucket with like 4 gallons of water and it expands into this... substrate..... It's about 3 inches thick on my 10 gallon. I love it, my plants love it. They are growing like crazy and they've only been in for 3 weeks or so. And I know it sounds stupid, but it's a beautiful color as far as dirt goes.

I put the pump in a plastic storage container that also contains the "pool" and hide the pump with rock. This fits into a cut-out in the egg crate. I heat an ice pick and punch it full of holes so the water in the false bottom can flow in and out of it. The pump is then easily accessed for cleaning or replacement.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus

I put the pump in a plastic storage container that also contains the "pool" and hide the pump with rock. This fits into a cut-out in the egg crate. I heat an ice pick and punch it full of holes so the water in the false bottom can flow in and out of it. The pump is then easily accessed for cleaning or replacement.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
5 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
4 P. terribilis
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus