Best products from r/Vivarium

36 gallon bow front that I'm going to make a dart frog vivarium. Looking for recommendations on lighting. Planning on keeping bromeliads and maybe orchids as well as other terrestrial, trailing plants, and moss.

I was considering Finnex FugeRay Planted+ Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights, 36-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HUQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hpoQCbRZJDZQR

Also want to make a small 1/2"-1" deep pond in one of the corners. I was thinking about using slate and aquarium silicone to wall off an area, any suggestions would be great!

I'm going to build a custom background as well 😊

The only piece I had to fabricate is the little black cube in the top. I made that from a piece of 1/2" acrylic. I drilled a 90 degree hole into the top and side of it. Then used epoxy to attach it to the fan with the wires going through it. I had to snip the wire adapter off to do this. The holes I drilled into the cube were the exact same diameter of the male piece of the quick connect barb. This kept it snug but also allowed it to rotate in the hole.

Next, I then fished the wires through the quick connect fittings and through the quick connect bulkhead. After the wiring was all the way though, i re-soldered the wire adapter and used heat shrink tubing to seal it all together.

Once everything was wired up I connected the fans to a 4 channel PC fan controller and fired it up. I do have to say I am very happy with the results.fan closeups

All parts were bought on amazon or ebay. Mistkings fittings while black are nice, they are very expensive compared to the white ones I found on amazon. The fans were bought on ebay and were very cheap. I estimate I built 4 of the fans for about $30.00 USD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vktech-5Pcs-Black-Brushless-DC-Cooling-Blower-Fan-5015S-5V-0-1-0-3A-50x15mm-/183518100748?hash=item2aba87fd0c


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YGR2ILM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ2PLCR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yeah I did actually. I simply ordered a usb powered cabinate fan from Amazon and used fishing line to attach it to the top. Here's a link - https://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Receiver-Playstation/dp/B00G059G86

I found it at a local pet store years ago, but it looks like Amazon sells them.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0762KXV73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2MpUDbVDJNHN0

Someday I wanna do a viv background with multiple skulls embedded in it.

I’m not an expert by any means but I would shoot for a higher wattage. I have had a 10g terrarium with mosses that have done well for a few months though. The light you have is 1.5 watts which might not be enough for mosses, I found this one for a similar price that’s a bit more powerful (https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=16+inch+aquarium+light&qid=1565136350&s=gateway&sprefix=16+inch+aqu&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1)

never done one myself but if you can get a extra shelf your not using or a piece of wood to match you should be able to use regular drawer slides you just have to screw it to the side of the shelving and yes home depot and lowes cut wood for you

for refrence holds up to 100lbs

https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-D80616C-ZP-W-16-Inch-Bearing-Drawer/dp/B0064MDQ0E/ref=lp_511238_1_11?s=hardware&ie=UTF8&qid=1571784545&sr=1-11#customerReviews

​

edit: as a side note make sure you get the slides mounted as level as possible

I found this dish, which appears to have no holes. This one is the one I use because its super cheap, and you could probably use aquarium sealant to close the holes.

Personally I use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWJFH1U/

i have ALOT Of orchids in my tank, many bulbophylums, many stelis, and pluerothalids, they all bloom off and on with out fertilizing, orchids need very little, and you can use completely organic fertilizers without needing to resort to chemicals for orchids, like this stuff https://www.amazon.com/Orchid-Love-Worlds-Greatest-concentrate/dp/B008QMR23C

Depending on the size of the enclosure will depend on the mist nozzle coverage. I have one pump for a dart frog viv and uses three nozzles, it is a 36x24x24. I also have one pump for two Chameleon set ups for my wife which are 4' X 4" x 3" with 4 nozzles each but does not require such high humidity.

I would say Mistking is the way to go. A little expensive but worth the money. https://www.joshsfrogs.com/mistking-starter-misting-system.html

https://smile.amazon.com/MistKing-22251-Starter-Misting-System/dp/B012IAK4SC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519816321&sr=8-1&keywords=mistking

This seems to be newer to the market and fits the gap between the Mistking and Monsoon.

​

https://www.amazon.com/REPTI-ZOO-Terrariums-Humidifier-Rainforest/dp/B07PRS6YCC

This is the light

https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Spectrum-Freshwater/dp/B07LH2FJNC

Here is something as an example, these are 18" long.

https://www.amazon.com/Tweezers-Mega-reptile-feeding-tweezers/dp/B005N07F9G

Just drill circles and put round vents. Don’t over complicate things.. 4 holes and pop these in. I added glued in fruit fly screen for my frog tanks. They also make them with just screen.


Rannb 20pcs Stainless Steel Round Air Vent Louver for Cabinet Bathroom Office Kitchen Ventilation

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CTD4G73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_u0CSDbAFZG4C6


2" Round Open Screen Vent - Mill - Pkg of 6

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DXAANQY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_M3CSDbRKMMA8Y

It’s a galvanized steel shelf from ikea:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B6WQP7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pCvSDbM59WK0X

These little things. They are not pinpoint accurate but give you a decent idea of what you got going on.

I work in a pet store. When I was looking for a humidity gauge, I looked at the ones we had and none of them showed the same number. I wound up getting this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076LMFRHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sOJOBb49V7WB0

It also controls my humidifier. I just plug it into the outlet and set a range and it turns it on and off to maintain that setting. Probes are replaceable in case it ever goes bad.