This is our first attempt at something like this. I've built terrariums before but nothing to house a critter. This will be home to Dendrobates leucomelas, (bumblebee poisonous dart frogs). It's a 37 gallon aquarium, 30"x15"x21" tall, with a trickling waterfall and trickling stream about an eighth of an inch deep of water. The water drains through the rock to the bottom and back up through a pump, much like a pondless waterfall. The reservoir stops just right of the stream so that the whole bottom isn't constantly wet. We did have an issue with the waterfall not being contained and it would trickle over to the right side and fill up the false bottom over there. So I printed a plastic barrier and wedged it in the expanding foam to direct the water more straight down. We will be hiding it here shortly with maybe a climbing plant of some kind. The internet says we have a paladarium, I'm unsure since there is no bodies of water, I thought we were building a vivarium but I guess that's more for waterless enclosures?
Here are some progress pics and the build up until yesterday.
We are still waiting on another misting nozzle kit to be delivered then we will have singles on each side and one double in the middle. Using the mistking system and working out the times right now. Seeing what does best for us.
I have a Govee thermometer and hygrometer in there that I had been using for my greenhouse, so we can get a better idea of the internal readings. The reading as of this minute is 74.8°F and 99.4% humidity. We're going to be getting a fan to circulate the air inside and try and get that humidity down a bit.
We have hygger Advanced LED Aquarium Light with Timer, 24/7 Lighting Cycle & DIY Mode, Full Spectrum. I have it on the 24 hour settings and it's quite nice.
We also hid a permanent hose on the back right side for drainage for the false bottom when water builds up.
Please let us know what you think. We're pretty proud of it and would love to know your opinions.
by Master-Ad1920