lukelightwalker
04-06-11, 01:56 PM
What not to do when setting up a viv with a large, filtered water feature.
As many have seen I recently set up a viv for a baby water dragon that has a large water feature in it. I had an old but working, large out side filter system that I knew I could modify to filter the water. To do this I devised a lift system with a fountain pump to help keep the system primed. This gives the water in the tank full biological filtration with an exchange rate of about 10 times an hour.
Once I had the walls of the water area sealed, then resealed, then 24 hours without a leak. I looked at my next move, and as my modifying of the filter system was still drying, I decided to fill with organic soil and begin placing my planting. Unbeknownst to me this was my first DOH! moment. My modifacations to the filter system was still drying so I took all those pretty pics I posted and let it sit for a day as I worked on my filter mods.
So here comes the DOH! moment.
Later the next day in the proccess of trying to get the filter system primed and working. Every once of water I poured into the filter system to get it primed and running was slowly and silently seeping into my planting areas. The ultimate Doh moment was when I thought to myself " why does the soil look like its floating". I found a great use for expandable dry moss though.
Well needless to say, I had to pull out all the soggy soil and plants. Then clean and replant everything. Ohh goodness what a mess and while I was pulling everthing out one of the dogs grabbed one of the pothos and chewed it pretty good. The roots looked ok so I might get lucky on that one.
Sumo Mutant Ninja Reptile guy says:
" When building semi aquatic, filtered systems grasshopper, always ensure that the aquatic system is fully developed running and tested before moving to the next goal.
Walker
As many have seen I recently set up a viv for a baby water dragon that has a large water feature in it. I had an old but working, large out side filter system that I knew I could modify to filter the water. To do this I devised a lift system with a fountain pump to help keep the system primed. This gives the water in the tank full biological filtration with an exchange rate of about 10 times an hour.
Once I had the walls of the water area sealed, then resealed, then 24 hours without a leak. I looked at my next move, and as my modifying of the filter system was still drying, I decided to fill with organic soil and begin placing my planting. Unbeknownst to me this was my first DOH! moment. My modifacations to the filter system was still drying so I took all those pretty pics I posted and let it sit for a day as I worked on my filter mods.
So here comes the DOH! moment.
Later the next day in the proccess of trying to get the filter system primed and working. Every once of water I poured into the filter system to get it primed and running was slowly and silently seeping into my planting areas. The ultimate Doh moment was when I thought to myself " why does the soil look like its floating". I found a great use for expandable dry moss though.
Well needless to say, I had to pull out all the soggy soil and plants. Then clean and replant everything. Ohh goodness what a mess and while I was pulling everthing out one of the dogs grabbed one of the pothos and chewed it pretty good. The roots looked ok so I might get lucky on that one.
Sumo Mutant Ninja Reptile guy says:
" When building semi aquatic, filtered systems grasshopper, always ensure that the aquatic system is fully developed running and tested before moving to the next goal.
Walker