Changing my tank 4 the better

[geKo]

Since im bored of my mbuna cichlids i have decided to make my 29gal into a vivarium. I have it all planed out as to how it will look also

I can get 60$ worth of new fish if i trade my cichlids at my LPS. Im gonna get some shrimp, corys, tetras, and thats all i have planned for now. I will probaly get a few fiddlers as well but the way i see it in my mind its going to be very nice and natrual.

I have alot of stuff to make the vivarium look natural such as sand, river rocks, big rocks, and also 2 difrent types of aquarium rocks to sprinkle over the sand heh. I also have 2 pieces of driftwood im gonna make stick half in the water and half out

All ill need now is some plants and some sticks from outside to stick in the sand to climb up the back of my tank and maby throw some kind of vine on them for a more natrual look.

I have a penguin330 that im gonna make into a waterfall effect with the water comming down off some rocks heh i cant wait!!

I might start now and put my cichlids in one of those clear storage containers and trade them tomorrow!!

comments welcome!

 

[1979camaro]

i think the shrimp will end up as crab food, sounds like a cool project though...could try vinca minor for a vine which will "climb" if you wrap it around something....stays small and flowers nice litle purple flowers occasionally

 

[geKo]

What type of thing would live in water and out of land like a newt maby?

Im trying to think of things i could put in that would go in the water and on land... If a newt what kind and also if you know any links with info on them plz post!

 

[fishysmell]

Hey what about poison dart frogs. I see them in some lfs and they're really cool. I don't really know what they need but you might wanna check em out. They're all colorful and poison packing and stuff. They would look cool. They stay small too.

Watch out w/ the newts, some are REALLY toxic and will kill everything...EVERYTHING! =)

Oh and what about mudskippers. They like land and water.

 

[FroggyFox]

Fire belly newts are awesome Just watch out...they climb VERY well and fit through VERY tiny holes, everyone seems to find out the hard way.

Sounds like a cool project

 

[geKo]

Thanks for the great comments guys!

Tomorrow im trading my cichlids for 60$ worth of fish credit. So far iv started on my project and its looking nice. I have large rocks in the back back part that touch the top of the aquarium and on the right side i have a sand hill that leads into the water.

There is caves under the rocks and i have two pieces of driftwood wich makes it look very natrual. Ill be sure to take some pics when its complete hopffuly by saturday.

I was thinking about 10 cardinal tetras, 3 corys and some ghost shrimp for the water part. For the land i was thinking maby 3 firebelly toads and maby 1 or 2 salamanders.

The onlything that is really gonna be hard to find is plants that can live under low light in water and on land!

Does anyone know of any type of moss that i could lay over the rocks that are out of the water so it doesnt just look like concrete. I want a more natrual look and with moss over my rocks would really be nice looking!

 

[1979camaro]

could try a kreeping groundcover like terrestrial babystears or isotoma...not sure how they would do\ in low light, but only one way to find out...air plants of course will do well in such an environment b/c they dont need soil...check out your lfs section for terrerium plants....oh, heres another though...coculd get peat moss and find some way to stick it to the rocks...wouldnt be alive i guess, but it would give some texture/color...

another thought: if you have a shady area in your backyard dig some moss up from there and jam it inbetween the rocks

 

[geKo]

I got everything set up and now i have 2 fire bellied toads and soon to have 3 more with a paddletail salamander

I might get a green tree frog as well but not sure yet. Ill get some pics up tonight