Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all. I currently have a saltwater reef in my 135g
tank. However, I've come up with a much simpler plan,
which will involve two 20L tanks and a 150g stock tank
sump. Thus, I have a 135 available. I will finally be
able to make the vivarium of my dreams.

Reefkeeping is pretty complicated/expensive, so money shouldn't be a problem. I'm unphased by spending $500
on lights, and $800 on rocks.

Before I got into reefkeeping, I was going to set up a
dart vivarium. I've kept whites tree frogs before, and
know a good bit about vivariums and their
setup/maintenance. I still have a bit of studying to
do, but I know the basics.

What I want to do with this tank is make it look like
a jungle floor, with a waterfall/pond right in the
middle. This is convenient because my 135 is drilled
on the bottom in the center. This will allow for easy
pond setup. I'll have a 55g tank underneath, which
will hold filtration and a return pump. The return
pump will be plumbed over the top, and down the center
back wall, for the waterfall.

Should I set up a false bottom? I've set them up
before, but I don't like the look of them from the
outside. I think if I put LECA (Lightweight Expandable
Clay Aggregate) or gravel, then a layer of screen,
then the soil, it would stay drained fairly well.

I am also undecided about a background. I've used
triple expanding foam to make a background before, and
it was pretty cool. I'd like to try cork bark though,
it would look more natural. So, foam (covered in dirt
and the like) or cork?

I plan on having a lot of natural plants...broms, mosses, ferns, and aquatic things in the pond section. What kinds of light would I need to grow this stuff? I was thinking using a fluorescent ballast, like an IceCap430, and lighting the tank with two 6' 160w VHO bulbs. Surely that would be enough, right?

Then stocking...what kind(s) of darts would you recommend for this setup? Is it big enough to have multiple species? I don't really want small darts, as I'd probably never see them in a tank this size. I like P. terribilis, but they aren't very colorful. Suggestions?

Thanks a lot, I'll keep you guys posted with my progress. We don't move into my Dads new place (where the reef will be going, and I'll be leaving the 135 at my Moms) until November 1st, so we have lots of planning and sketching time, working out the kinks.

Tyler

Since you don't like the look of a false bottom create a false front. Basically it involves a 3" or so "wall" around the interior of the tank, about 2-3" from the glass. You fill this area with rock/leca and then build your flase bottom inside that area. I did this on my 75g and it's perfect. See pics below for more info. I didn't silicone the whole permiter and I chose not to do the back.

As for your background either would work as well as the other, so it's basically prefference.

As for lights I don't have alot to offer. I use 4' shop lights with the least expensive bulbs possible and I've had great results. Just make sure the lights/ballas you choose don't emit alot of heat. Most people like thier tanks to be lighted with 5500-6500k bulbs. I think mine are 3300k. And I think 10000k are used alot in salt water tanks, yes?

Thanks for the reply.

That "false false bottom" setup looks pretty cool, I'll probably do that. But I won't be using a 135 anymore...it is going to stay a reef for convenience. SO, at my Dads, I will make a plywood tank according to www.garf.org.

For lights, I have a VHO ballast, an IceCap430. It can run up to 330w, so I think I will just throw a bunch of fluorescents over the tank. I want to use 6500°K light for this, I think the yellow color will look nice. 6500°K is great for coral growth as well, so I figure plants will grow well too.

And you're right about the reef tanks, most people use 10,000°K lights with actinics (blue light, around 430nm). I'm running 14,000°K metal halides right now, great color. Crisp white with a tint of blue

Now, since I'm doing a plywood tank, I can decide what size I want it. What size do you think would be perfect? I'd like something wider than my 135 (18"W) but shallower (25"H). I think I will just switch those dimensions, so that it will be 72"Lx25"Wx18"H. Or would that look bad? What do you think?