Can I use my 90 gallon drilled as a vivarium for Dart Frogs?

[Cody]

I have a 90 gallon drilled aquarium (48" L x 18" W x 24" H) which has an overflow (used for an aquarium). I recently have kind of moved away from my saltwater aquarium project and have always thought of having some sort of terrarium (vivarium basically, having frogs and plants, etc.) but never ventured into the idea. I was wondering if I could use the tank and just section off where the overflow box is, for poison dart frogs? I read that dart frogs prefer to be close to the ground / on the ground so I figured that it being longer would be a good thing but it has a fairly tall height I'd think as well.

Here's a picture of the aquarium... of course it has aquarium supplies in it but I possibly plan on selling them if I'm gonna acquire some frogs and start this up!


I have two glass tops which I currently don't have pictures of on my image account but they're hinged and I could tape down one side all the way and then have the other side open-able for maintenance I guess. I have two because of the frame in the middle, of course (or obviously if you prefer that word).

Thanks in advance! I'd appreciate any feedback!

[BG]

I love your idea. I would use the over flow box for drainage. I wouldn't put a hollow bottom . After you put your substrate, driftwood , moss , plants and a misting system(on a timer) you will be ready to go . The excess water ,condensation will drip in a container inside the cabinet below. There's not much water to think about flooding. I would use a pad to keep the substrate from going in the over flow box. I have seen this system on display . The plants will grow so thick that you don't need to worry about humidity .It was one of the best Viv's i have ever seen.

[MikeM670]

Yes you can use the tank for dart frogs. Just seal off the top of the overflow with a piece of glass and silicone so the frogs can't get in there. That way if you want to ever go back to saltwater you just remove the glass cover. 90 Gallon would make a great dart tank. Are you thinking of a water feature with a tank that size? You will want to have glass tops that fit the entire frame or is possible a small vented strip along the front. There are many vivariums to look at here and other forums to give you plenty of ideas.

Welcome to the dart side!

[Cody]

How would I use it for drainage? I don't exactly understand the whole concept of drainage and having a pond in the tanks..although I think a waterfall would be AWESOME. And "Welcome to the dart side" was funny xD... I was just watching a video of this kid who made a homemade mister using a humidifier, and was thinking maybe I could do that with the overflow holes that're drilled...

[MikeM670]

Yes you could setup a fogger to utilize the overflow holes. You just have to make sure they are screened to keep the frogs from getting into them. You need a false bottom in the tank made of either egg crate or expanded clay balls. This allows any water to sit below the substrate which you want moist but not soaking wet. For a water feature there are many ways to do it. I would recommend doing a bunch of research here and on other forums to see how some people do them. The one caveat I will say about water features is they are extremely difficult to do right without good planning.

Here is a link to my 55 Gallon Build that shows you one technique. http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...ium-build.html

[Cody]

You were saying I could use the overflow for drainage...what did you mean?

Edit: Oh, I'm sorry, BG was the one who said that.

[BG]

The system that I'm talking about has a drainage system and your overflow box does have a drain at the bottom . this way your tank will allways have clean water goung through. This type of system is not for holding a pool for the frogs . It's for a lush plants,and dart frogs low maintenance system thats all.

You were saying I could use the overflow for drainage...what did you mean?

Edit: Oh, I'm sorry, BG was the one who said that.

[Cody]

Could you show an example? xD Like with a sump?

[DonLisk]

Wow Mike, the viv we could build with that baby. :-)

That is one nice tank for a vivarium and some dart frogs.

[BG]

You could use the sump I suppose. But you don't have to go this way . Don is the specialist on this topic. The reason i brought it up is because i was a fish keeper for thirty years and still is but I'm thinking of turning my 150 gal fish tank with a built in overflow box in to a dart frog tank down the road.

Could you show an example? xD Like with a sump?

[Cody]

What I'm saying is, or asking, is what're you implying the overflow box could be used for? Sorry but I'm not 100% understanding xD...

[DonLisk]

I myself would cut out the bottom of the over flow and then screen it off from the tank. Then build my false bottom to be slightly higher than the bottom of the overflow so I could place a pump down in there for removing excess water or for running a water feature.

Having the pump down in the overflow would make access to the pump easy if you had problems later on such as it clogging up.

As Mike said, I would cover the overflow at the top so no frogs can get in there.

[BG]

The viv that i saw had a nonstop water supply thru a holding tank->thru the mister on a timer->thru the tank and what everexcess water got to the bottom of the tank it drained thru a whole at the bottom of the tank in a pipe going outside . So our aquariums could become that type of system because we have the holes allready drilled in the glass.

[Cody]

So you're saying to cut the actual plastic overflow box?

I myself would cut out the bottom of the over flow and then screen it off from the tank. Then build my false bottom to be slightly higher than the bottom of the overflow so I could place a pump down in there for removing excess water or for running a water feature.

Having the pump down in the overflow would make access to the pump easy if you had problems later on such as it clogging up.

As Mike said, I would cover the overflow at the top so no frogs can get in there.

[BG]

I like Don's idea too. That tank has alot of potential.

I myself would cut out the bottom of the over flow and then screen it off from the tank. Then build my false bottom to be slightly higher than the bottom of the overflow so I could place a pump down in there for removing excess water or for running a water feature.

Having the pump down in the overflow would make access to the pump easy if you had problems later on such as it clogging up.

As Mike said, I would cover the overflow at the top so no frogs can get in there.

[DonLisk]

As long as your not planning to ever go back to using it as a fish tank and using the overflow, then yes.

Or, just block off the top of the overflow and not use it at all.

[Cody]

Hmm...So, I'd cut the bottom out..then put a screen mesh over it and have the pump in there? As in, in the overflow area..hmmm...

[BG]

You could replace the plastic over flow box in the future. But why cut it? i would definatly cover it so the frogs don't go in there. I would make the cover to br removable so it can be cleaned.

[Cody]

But you said you liked Don's idea...xD...confused. Hmm...

You could replace the plastic over flow box in the future. But why cut it? i would definatly cover it so the frogs don't go in there. I would make the cover to br removable so it can be cleaned.

Edit: So what's the point in "pond" area of the vivarium setup for dart frogs on this forum? As in, the guide for the setup where it shows how to add the drainage layer...it has a pond area, what purpose does that serve? Also, I know some people use PVC couplers (I think they're called) and then the egg crate on top with their drainage layer in some way? How does that work? Would you add the....I forget what it's called..the substrate on top? (It's the three syllable one xD I don't wanna google it because I don't know it and if I just google it I'll forget...)

[DonLisk]

The vivarium you build is going to be more of what you want for a viv. The drainage area is a place to allow for water to filter down through the substrate and collect below that substrate. If not there, the substrate would eventually become saturated and rot requiring replacement over time. Also, many plant's root systems would have issue with no drainage unless they were plants that thrive on wet soil conditions such as aquatic plants.

There is no need for a pond with dart frogs, but some individuals love the idea of the water feature. Some darts will actually stand in the pond area but its recommended to not have the water level deeper than what the frog can stand in.
The water, especially water with movement such as a drip system or waterfall, will help with humidity, but a sealed up tank with plenty of live plants, a misting system or fogger, will keep your humidity high enough.
I've seen pond areas with no filter system, but you would need to siphon out the water routinely and replace the water.
Since the overflow is already there, looking at Mikes build, you wouldn't have to create an area to access the pump and run hoses since your overflow is already there to hide a pump and hoses.


I think the main thing to determine when designing your build is whether you want a water feature or not.