(no subject)
i finished the vivarium! well, at least as much as a bioactive live vivarium can be "finished", since it'll change itself over time. but everything's now done & in place to start cycling & become a good home for a crested gecko. since the last list, i changed the lighting, then bought a few more plants (nixed the spanish moss because i couldn't tolerate its scent), more cork (returned the fake vine), & an additional magnetic piece (returned the stick-on canopy cave; the magnetic hide is superior).
here's the tank finished:
progress pics follow:
- heat lamp & stand assembled, thermostat set
- uv lights & hood assembled, timer set
- cork background adhered to tank with aquarium silicone
- drainage layer & mesh placed
- dirt moistened & laid in
- magnetic shelves & food dishes placed
- plants & moss processed
- plants planted, moss mossed
- cork planter added
below: rabbit's foot fern (epiphytically), heart leaf philodendron, thuidium moss, devil's ivy, & pillow moss.
- soaking pool placed
- river rocks added
- first cork branch siliconed in place
- moss divided & replanted (it had relaxed enough to separate, & i had to make way for the path idea)
- tiny slate path built (perhaps my favorite part ^_^ )
- magnetic hide placed
- couple more plants processed & planted
- lighting changed from compact fluorescents to jungle dawn LEDs
- second cork branch siliconed in place
- cork siliconed to background to help stabilize rabbit's foot fern
below: million hearts, lace flower (alsobia dianthiflora)
- third cork branch siliconed in place
- 16oz of moss slurry added
- springtails added
hopefully, the gecko won't make too much of a mess of the pool, because its shape meant i had to bury it pretty well in the dirt. i bought a fat plastic syringe to drain it as needed, & i should be able to clean it using paper towels only.
so yeah, that's pretty awesome. & then my lace flower bloomed. :D i'm so pleased it's doing plant stuff! i must be doing it right or it wouldn't expend its energy in making flowers, right?
& now that that's done... i bought another terrarium to keep at work. -_- that one will be plants only, at 12x12x18", a third the size of the 18x18x24" at home. i've just found the big tank so damned calming to look at, & i thought my employees might enjoy a little spot of nature brought into the department. it's also a lot cheaper to set up a small vivarium - the whole project, with light though without a stand or heating, will only be about $150. i'll post pics when it's finished, though procedurals probably won't be necessary, heh.
other excitement: i have acquired one of shannon larratt's original skull rings, in a much smaller size than i bought for my ex (back when shannon was still alive). though i don't know if i'll wear it, it does actually fit! i never thought i'd have one for myself, but my friend lana (the one i got to meet when i was in melbourne) was considering selling hers & kindly let me snatch it up for a very reasonable price. it has dumb gem eyes, but aside from that, i totally love it. it's nice to be close to a piece of shannon again. (amusingly, i ran some high-end rare jewelry auctions at the same time, & my profit from those paid for the ring. ^_^ )
i backed a softer world's kickstarter. i'm super sad the strip is over, but at least my name will be in their book. as it is in others... X)
in crazy news, this happened. i was there exactly a month before this incident, in the very temple that was bombed. i spent several hours there. wild.
& finally, wonderful things added to the event calendar:
august: modest mouse is back again! i found out randomly & snagged tickets for both nights. so glad i won't have to risk resale on craigslist like last time. (it worked out for me, but one of my employees recently bought a fake ticket to paradiso that he didn't discover to be fake until after he made the 2.5h drive to the gorge. ugh.)
november: an acoustic evening with yo la tengo! that's going to be lovely.
travel planning is still focused on costa rica, but i'll admit the trip i'm more excited for right now is to portland for gecko. *nods* ok ttyl
here's the tank finished:
progress pics follow:
- heat lamp & stand assembled, thermostat set
- uv lights & hood assembled, timer set
- cork background adhered to tank with aquarium silicone
- drainage layer & mesh placed
- dirt moistened & laid in
- magnetic shelves & food dishes placed
- plants & moss processed
- plants planted, moss mossed
- cork planter added
below: rabbit's foot fern (epiphytically), heart leaf philodendron, thuidium moss, devil's ivy, & pillow moss.
- soaking pool placed
- river rocks added
- first cork branch siliconed in place
- moss divided & replanted (it had relaxed enough to separate, & i had to make way for the path idea)
- tiny slate path built (perhaps my favorite part ^_^ )
- magnetic hide placed
- couple more plants processed & planted
- lighting changed from compact fluorescents to jungle dawn LEDs
- second cork branch siliconed in place
- cork siliconed to background to help stabilize rabbit's foot fern
below: million hearts, lace flower (alsobia dianthiflora)
- third cork branch siliconed in place
- 16oz of moss slurry added
- springtails added
hopefully, the gecko won't make too much of a mess of the pool, because its shape meant i had to bury it pretty well in the dirt. i bought a fat plastic syringe to drain it as needed, & i should be able to clean it using paper towels only.
so yeah, that's pretty awesome. & then my lace flower bloomed. :D i'm so pleased it's doing plant stuff! i must be doing it right or it wouldn't expend its energy in making flowers, right?
& now that that's done... i bought another terrarium to keep at work. -_- that one will be plants only, at 12x12x18", a third the size of the 18x18x24" at home. i've just found the big tank so damned calming to look at, & i thought my employees might enjoy a little spot of nature brought into the department. it's also a lot cheaper to set up a small vivarium - the whole project, with light though without a stand or heating, will only be about $150. i'll post pics when it's finished, though procedurals probably won't be necessary, heh.
other excitement: i have acquired one of shannon larratt's original skull rings, in a much smaller size than i bought for my ex (back when shannon was still alive). though i don't know if i'll wear it, it does actually fit! i never thought i'd have one for myself, but my friend lana (the one i got to meet when i was in melbourne) was considering selling hers & kindly let me snatch it up for a very reasonable price. it has dumb gem eyes, but aside from that, i totally love it. it's nice to be close to a piece of shannon again. (amusingly, i ran some high-end rare jewelry auctions at the same time, & my profit from those paid for the ring. ^_^ )
i backed a softer world's kickstarter. i'm super sad the strip is over, but at least my name will be in their book. as it is in others... X)
in crazy news, this happened. i was there exactly a month before this incident, in the very temple that was bombed. i spent several hours there. wild.
& finally, wonderful things added to the event calendar:
travel planning is still focused on costa rica, but i'll admit the trip i'm more excited for right now is to portland for gecko. *nods* ok ttyl