Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Rich13 · I'm new here... Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 8

wassup everyone ,y name is Rich and i'm new to this hobby. I'm currently building a vivarium that gonna be 5feet in height and 4 feet in width and 4 feet in depth. i'm using 2x4 as the frame and plywood as the walls. my question is ,will i have to use something else to cover the insides of the tank if i'm gonna put dart frogs in it?i was gonna line the bottom of the tank with the clay pellets and then some peat moss. would the water from the tank soak through the wood on the bottom of the clay pellets?

Scott W · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 8:14 am Post subject:

you would certainly need to varnish the entire inside of the viv, 100%.

Not sure on the safest varnish to use, ask MJ, he'll have the answers Wink

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christophermchale · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

i certainly wouldnt use plywood at all. especially for something like dart frogs.

plywood absorbs everything and dart frogs are high humidity animals.

the wood will retain moisture and rot and smell.

id get some type of laminate wood instead which will have a coating to protect from it.

or just use plexiglass, which is harder to work with but probably better.

hopefully this helps.
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MJ · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 2:29 pm Post subject:

Ply wood can be used but it will need to be sealed 100% as Scott said.

I would reccomend using some kind of epoxy resin to completly seal the entire thing it works better tha varnish for this type of application.

Another methos (though not as good or affective as epoxy resin) would be pond liner cut to fit in one peice so there's no seams to leak Wink

A friend from another forum I mod on (specific dart frog froum) has made some plywood vivs and kindly wrote it all down in a construction Journal for people to learn from Cool

http://www.dendroboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16569&highlight=plywood+viv

How are you planning on lighting this monster?
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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

funky · Key Member Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 233 Location: Devon

I would use Plywood over melamine everyday, TBH melamine is 'poo' when it gets near water.

If you use WBP(water,boilpoof) ply, which is about £18 a sheet, seal the joints with silicone,and varnish the whole of the inside as Scott said, you wont ahve any problems at all..
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MJ · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject:

http://www.epoxy-resins.co.uk/Shop/resin.html

This seems to be a good value site for epoxy resin, I would recomend using this over a varnish but if Varnish is what you want then use a marine varnish and go 3 or 4 coats and then seal the joints with silicone (aquarium grade).
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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

ben_gecko · Key Member Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 215 Location: London

im completely new when it comes to dart frogs, but how many will you be housing in the vivarium? isnt a near enough 5 foot square vivarium too big??
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[3.2.6 R.Ciliatus|1.4.7 R.Auriculatus
|1.0 R.Leachianus
[1.1 O.Monilis|1.0 Rhampoleon Brevicaudatus

MJ · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

It depends.... Personally I dont think you can go "to big" with a vivarium if your considering the needs of the frogs.. BUT if its a first vivarium or young frogs a smaller vivarium would be best.

My advice would be to get a smaller vivarium (2 ft fish tank would do for a couple of juvi tinc locales or leuc or azureus) grow them on in that for a while whilst the larger viv matures and the micro fauna (springtails mites ect) can colonise the vivarium, the once you the frogs and vivarium are ready introduce them into it kee an eye on them and then sit back and enjoy.

If space would permit I would prefer to keep all of my frogs in 100cm cubes or bigger Cool

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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

Rich13 · I'm new here... Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 8

in my personal opinion i don't think its to big. the more room the less stress they will be . also it'll be more of a eye catcher when all the plants and moss beauty takes over as they grow.

Rich13 · I'm new here... Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 8

by the way fellaz , where can i find some of that apoxy resin in new york?