Updated pics of 55 viquarium

[Fishguy2727]

Here are a couple updated pics of my 55 gallon viquarium. The inhabitants are:
2 firebelly toads
2 firebelly newts
2 eastern newts
lots of guppies

The english ivy seems to be doing the best in there. The anacharis in the water is doing well too. The water wisteria has emerged and the emersed leaves are different than the submerged ones, even though they are on the same stem. None of the plants died.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/reptileguy2727/IMG_2457.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/reptileguy2727/IMG_2458.jpg

[Lady Hobbs]

That turned out cool. How'd you make your little slide? Very cute.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Very nice setup. Looks good. I'm not into reptiles and amphibians at all but I always enjoy a nice natural looking scape. Thanks for sharing.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Very nice set up!! I am impressed!! :19:

[sktadood13]

really kool! first...what are newts? and how did you make the kool slide thing?

[Fishguy2727]

That is an old Tetra/SecondNature Water's Edge Viquarium kit. Plastic waterfall, creek, and wall. They don't make it anymore. I have had this one for about ten years.

Newts are like salamanders but aquatic.

[smaug]

Very nice,we have a bunch of fbts that may get something like that someday.

[Fishguy2727]

They should, it is a great setup for them. I have had this setup in smaller tanks before (20long and 29) but this one is great. I am still considering adding some sort of arboreal species and adding arboreal decor. Can't make up my mind though.

[smaug]

they have mostly water habitat now with a floating cork dock and a big pile of rocks to hang out on.So your viv is a kit huh?

[Fishguy2727]

Yeah, cost me about $80 if I remember correctly. They don't make it anymore and I have not seen any equivalent kits.

[smaug]

That would be fun to duplicate from scratch,stainless mesh,silicon,stone chips.Building vivs is a blast.

[Fishguy2727]

What I like about this one is the whole land area is filled in with gravel. This serves as a biological and mechanical filter. In my tank the plants use the waste as food. It is basically like hydroponics.

[sktadood13]

ok....im tring to make something similar to this...im asking how did u divide the the water and the land? i tried lining the divider but that didnt work...im wondering if you hot glue gunned the cracks between the glass(wall) and the divided to block the water or what ever you did? thanks....i ave been getting very fusterated with this

[Katt]

Very nice,,,Am sure your newt`s love it.

[Bassinkorea]

That's an awesome looking newt tank. Good job!!

[Fishguy2727]

I have seen DIY versions of this that used a piece of glass cut to fit the tank as a short divider. The glass had gravel siliconed to it. The glass was siliconed to the tank to make it a waterproof barrier. The land area can be filled with soil or other substrates. The glass is installed at an angle so the inhabitants have a ramp from the water up to the land area.

[sktadood13]

ok thanks alot

[Benny2k1]

looks good, i also own Cynops (firebelly newts)

can i just point out the dangers of mixing species??

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Mixing_disasters.shtml#id1

not critising just want to help.

thanks

[Fishguy2727]

Thank you, but I have read that before. I feel that if you want to find a horror story about any combination at all, you will find it. I have had individual neon tetras who decided to pick on the rest of the neons in their school. So to truly be safe every individual should have their own setup. But that takes away from their natural schooling and social behaviors, so then what?

I had the same firebelly toad and newt combination when I had this setup before without ever having any issues (although this far from makes it a rule). In my experience there are more variables dictating success versus failure than simply having them together. If they are not overstocked, in a tank that is large enough and properly setup, and they are properly fed, you are unlikely to have any issues. This is how it has been in my experience.

Caudata.org is a great source of information. The only problem with many sites like that is that they are frequently ultra-super careful. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to certain things being skewed or made to seem worse than they actually are.