300 Gallon Dart Frog
Printed From: Utah Reefs
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78208
Printed Date: July 12 2025 at 6:33am
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Topic: 300 Gallon Dart Frog
Posted By: nrbelk
Subject: 300 Gallon Dart Frog
Date Posted: November 13 2015 at 2:09pm
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If this post needs to be moved to the off topic area feel free to move it. I have been running a 300 gallon reef tank for a few years. I decided to take it down but I didn't sell the tank. Over the past year I've come to really enjoy dart frogs. In fact I was introduced to dart frogs at the 2014 reef fest you guys put on. Tropicalecos were there and I got really interested. So anyways, my reef tank is down (you can find the thread where I'm trying to sell my radions, skimmer, and reeflo pump in the for sale section) and I've started converting my 300 deep dimension tank into a paludarium. For the water feature the plan is to create a large pond section on one side for discus, a waterfall that falls into the pond, and a stream that runs out of the pond, through the vivarium, and then back down into the sump underneath. I'll be using cork and tree fern paneling for the background. Ghost wood and malaysian driftwood for the wood features (and to create random elevation for the frogs to climb). And I'll figure out how to make the waterfall feature from scratch. One requirement is that it needs to be as quiet as possible. I haven't started buying plants but I will focus on flowering plants. Besides that I'll do ferns, orchids, bromeliads, and random cool stuff I can find. Humidity will be kept high from the water feature as well as a mist king misting system. These will be controlled by my apex I had for the reef tank. I will be building lids for the entire unit but including a space for some computer fans for ventilation, also controlled by the apex (have to figure that part out still but I think I know how I can do it). Anyways, those are my thoughts on is so far. Here is a picture of the tank while I'm getting ready to silicone in the pond section.  |
Replies:
Posted By: pgravis
Date Posted: November 13 2015 at 8:15pm
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Can't wait to see this thing progress! Are you going to run a simp for your water feature? I run one dart tank with a trio of southern varabilias. If you need some plants, hit me up, maybe we can work something out. ------------- See my house: www.eclecticvictorian.com |
Posted By: ctreeftank
Date Posted: November 13 2015 at 9:31pm
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Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: November 14 2015 at 12:59pm
I'm planning on running a sump. I was thinking about pulling the misting water from it as well but I think I'll just pull the misting water from my top off water instead. You'll have to send me some good ideas for plants, I don't know much about which plants are cool. Right now I'm going through the boards on different forums looking for flowering plants and getting the name so I can look them up.
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pgravis wrote:Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: November 14 2015 at 12:59pm
why what?
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Posted By: pgravis
Date Posted: November 14 2015 at 1:07pm
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I think you are smart to run the mister through your ato. No sense clogging it. Are you doing a mistking? I also like the idea of the sump. If you have a water feature, it makes so much more sense. Pump maintenance is easy, keeping it topped off will be no problem! I have names written down somewhere of what I have, I'll have to look for it and get some pics. B ------------- See my house: www.eclecticvictorian.com |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: November 14 2015 at 4:02pm
Ya, I think I'll do a mistking. The pumps for those systems seem well priced but their nozzles are expensive. I emailed them to seem how many I'd need and they said six. At $14 each that adds up.
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Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: November 14 2015 at 4:08pm
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Mist King is the best! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: ch3tt
Date Posted: November 15 2015 at 12:47pm
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This is awesome! I'll definitely be following this thread. I've been into darts for a couple years now, it's such a fun and rewarding hobby! I'm up to over 25 different species in the frog room and am constantly adding more. I've got an empty 210 that I'm going to be building very soon, I'm still in the planning phase but hope to start soon. As far as the sump goes, I would definitely do one. It will allow you to keep the water cleaner and the perameters in check much easier than one without. Mistking is the only way to go in my opinion. They make a top quality product and I never have to worry about it. I would definitely pull your misting water strait from the RO unit. If you pulled it from the sump your glass would most likely get dirty very fast and run the risk of clogging the nozzles. I run the advanced system and have over 20 nozzles attached independently through a manifold system. Even with the load that I run I still have plenty of pressure, and could easily double the amount of nozzles I currently run without a problem. How much land vs water are you planning on having? I wish you all the best on your build and look forward to seeing it come together. Let me know if you ever have any questions on anything! ------------- Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: November 15 2015 at 1:06pm
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Wow, I always guessed that reefing and dart frogs were pretty close hobbies but it's really fun to see everyone posting. The tank foot print is 6'x3'. The pond and water fall will take 2' of that front to back. The other four feet will be ground, minus the stream I plan to have running from the pond to the opposite corner where it will disappear under some Malaysian driftwood (where it will hit the overflow holes and drain into the sump). |
Posted By: ch3tt
Date Posted: November 15 2015 at 1:08pm
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Sounds great! Are you on dendroboard? ------------- Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL |
Posted By: Marcoss
Date Posted: November 15 2015 at 2:43pm
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This sounds super awesome! I don't have any experience in this, but will certainly follow along. When I was younger I used to grow carnivorous plants. They had a very similar environment to what you describe above. Will you be growing any in your tank? I am not sure if they are harmful to the frogs, but they would likely grow and they are also flowering. The scale of your project has certainly brought back a desire to grow CP plants again! Excited to follow this! Marcos ------------- RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: December 04 2015 at 11:05am
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I am on Dendroboard, I usually post all my questions there haha. I received a lot of the wood and cork I'll be using for the background. I think I want a few more pieces of large ghost wood to give me more area off the floor for plants. I recently figured out how I want to do my waterfall section but I need help finding the right stuff. I want to find a medium size lava rock (12 to 15 inches) that has a cave in it. I will drill from the back or bottom of the rock to the cave and install a connector. To the connector I will attach a hose that will pump water into the cave, which will then make the water flow out into the pond section. I will plant moss and ferns on top of the rock. I think it would look awesome! But finding that type of rock is proving challenging. if you know of a good place for a rock like that please let me know. Here is a picture of some of the cork and ghostwood I got.  |
Posted By: Hogie
Date Posted: December 04 2015 at 11:32am
| So, I don't mean to derail the thread, because it's cool and I'm interested to see it go, but dart frogs are toxic, right? How do they spread their toxins? |
Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: December 04 2015 at 11:36am
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Only poisonous in the wild. They believe they get their toxin from their diet. In captivity they are harmless. ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: sleepingdeep
Date Posted: December 04 2015 at 1:15pm
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I don't know if you're aware, but there is a great website that sells natural wood branches (ghost wood, manzanita, etc) for really cheap. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/branches2.html all of their woods are untreated so theres no risk of toxins.
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Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: January 12 2016 at 1:43pm
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Progress Update: I have created what I'll be using as the waterfall fixture. I used a few types of lava rock and pond foam sealant to create it. When I tested it, water sprayed out way too fast even though I thought it was a slow pump. To fix it I shoved a piece of filter sponge-foam stuff into the part where the tub connects to help disperse the pressure. Once I did that it looked pretty cool. I did find some leaks in the back that I had to fix. Just waiting for the foam to finish curing to try again. Anyways here are some pictures of the water fall feature as I was making it:     |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: January 12 2016 at 3:18pm
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I can't wait to see this all put together! Good luck and keep posting. |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: February 09 2016 at 5:40pm
Just posting an update picture that is really blurry (apparently I don't know how to take pictures....) |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 01 2016 at 8:49am
Picture Update.
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Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: March 01 2016 at 8:56am
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Looks good! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: Ashtondem
Date Posted: March 08 2016 at 10:57am
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WOW! I loved my little dart frogs. your set up looks great ------------- Angela - The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. - Isak Dinesen |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: March 08 2016 at 1:07pm
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Looking good! What are you using for the false bottom? What species are you planning on adding? Mixing is generally frowned on but if you aren't breeding you can get away with it. I'd suggest looking at species that occupy different area's of the vivarium. Also one note: Darts can't really swim. Make sure you add in a way for them to get out of the pond if they fall in otherwise they can drown. Keep at it this is awesome! I've got four vivs and want to some day to a large one. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 17 2016 at 9:39am
For the false bottom I'm using the clay stuff that Tropical Eco's recommended and like using. EccoTerra or something like that. They say its similar to repasthatch or something like that. In my experiments with it it seems like once its wet, it just lets the water run past it. In my setup it, it will then drain to the corners of the tank where there are the old overflow holes. As for species, on the ground side, I'm thinking red galacs and maybe a type of tinc, which those two shouldn't cross breed. For the "tree" side, I'm trying to find a way to afford some Fantastica reticulated or fantasica nominal. Only one species of thumbnail since they can all interbreed. For them to get out of the pond, I will have some driftwood in the back corner that breaks the surface and touches the corner.
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Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 17 2016 at 9:41am
Got the lights on it and am currently printing my fan holders. The first fan holder I printed works perfectly!   |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 21 2016 at 2:13pm
Besides planting it, it is basically done. |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 9:19am
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Its done. I'll need to add in the leaf litter but its out of stock from where I already paid for it :( But other than that, its done. Now to let the plants grow in before I add the frogs.  |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 9:20am
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Turned out great! ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Marcoss
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 9:28am
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Wow, I am afraid of frogs that is so damn cool! ------------- RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin |
Posted By: LakeCityReefs
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 9:34am
Very impressive. Too bad there's not a frog aquarium society for you to share this with.  ------------- Here we go again |
Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 10:02am
Marcoss you did well with my frogs. Baby steps and who knows one day you will have a tank of your own. ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: Marcoss
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 10:22am
Its true, but I was a couple of feet away and the had the protection of glass! Haha. I think one day I will have some...there seems to be a very natural segway from saltwater to frogs and vice versa. ------------- RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin |
Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 10:46am
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Great work with your build. Looks fantastic. Where did you get your plants? Also have you thought about being on Reef Tour? That's an amazing tank and unique. Would be great to see! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 12:09pm
That would be pretty cool, the bad thing is that I live in Idaho Falls :(. But if there is ever one that comes all the way over here I'd be open for it haha.
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Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: March 31 2016 at 12:19pm
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Yeah that would be far! ------------- 180G Mixed Reef Tank 170G Dart Frog Tank |
Posted By: nrbelk
Date Posted: May 12 2016 at 10:52am
Added the first set of frogs. 5 red galacs.
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