Thinking of doing a biotope...

[Kioka]

Most aquarists say they need to be in brackish, but they can be found in freshwater streams... so...

Still reading up on them being in freshwater. Although I don't plan on keeping them in the vivarium long-term.

 

[paul112]

Sound cool, but pitcher plants? Won't they like...kill your frogs and such?

Sounds like an interesting idea none the less, make sure you take lots of pics for us when you get it set up

Paul

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Most aquarists say they need to be in brackish, but they can be found in freshwater streams... so...

Still reading up on them being in freshwater. Although I don't plan on keeping them in the vivarium long-term.

Keep in mind that Archer fish can get about a foot long. What about rainbows or some type of barb?

 

[Kioka]

Depend on how I set it up... if I got a stream running width-wise or length-wise. Also depend on the dimension of the aquarium as well. However if one or two of them get to be too big, I just move them into another aquarium. Kind of a growout.

The only problem if I go brackish... it wipe out any chance of me having plants or amphibians.

Pitcher plants... I pretty much dumped the idea, because the smallest ones that can be found are pretty much rare.

I am working off of this list though: http://fish.mongabay.com/data/Solomon_Islands.htm

Would be nice if I can find a loach goby or a pipefish. Unless someone see a freshwater tolerant fish (or next of kin) on that list?

 

[Kioka]

BIOTOPE
Mountainous streamside valley forest in North Solomon Islands
SUPPLIES
Black and brown silicone, cork bark, coco fibre, fir bark, flat rock, gravel, mapone or tree stump, river rock, sand
SPECIES
Bambusa sp. Common Bamboo - B. vulgaris have been planted by natives and is found along ridges
Caridina spp. Bumblebee Shrimp - Species complex is native to the Indo-Pacific area on many of the islands
Ceratobatrachus guentheri Solomon Islands Eyelash Frog - Endemic to Solomon Islands
Colocasia esculenta Taro – Formerly cultivated by indigenous population; preferred over I. batatas
Cymbidium spp. Boat Orchid - Found throughout Asia and Oceania in cool environment
Dendrobium spp. Den Orchid - Highly variable genus found in most of Asia, Indo-Pacific, the Solomons and New Zealand
Eleocharis parvula Hairgrass - The genus is cosmopolitan found in aquatic, near streams, in wetlands or moist forests
Epipremnum aureum Solomon Islands Ivy - Endemic to the Solomon Islands
Gambusia affinis Mosquitofish - Highly invasive livebearing introduced species to the Solomons Islands
Gekko vittatus White-lined Gecko - Native to India, Indonesia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and surrounding areas
Glossogobius celebius Celebes Goby - Widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific, including the Solomon Islands; found in clear coastal streams; preferred over G. affinis and substitute for R. Aspro
Ipormoea batatas Sweet Potato - Cultivated by the initial European settlers; substitute for C. esulenta
Hibiscus tiliaceus Mahoe Hibiscus – Preferred flowering scrub found on the islands; it may be native or brought by settlers
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Chinese Hibiscus - Substitute for H. Tiliaceus
Malaxis spp. Adder's Mouth - Cultivated orchids are in the same genus found on the Solomons
Melanoides tuberculata Malayasian Trumpet Snail – Highly invasive Asian freshwater snail, tolerant of high salinity, found throughout most of the subtropic and tropic; used in aquaria to shift out aerobic pockets in substrate and as so-called “broad-spectrum” algae cleaners
Rhyacicthys aspro Loach Goby – Widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania, including the Solomon Islands; found in coastal streams in mountainous terrian; preferred over G. affinis and G. celebius
Selaginella kraussiana Spikemoss - 700 species of spikemosses (Selaginella spp.) are found around the world; S. kraussiana is commerically available, and is considered as invasive weeds in New Zealand
Taxiphyllum barierbi Java Moss - Although it is native to Java and Southeast Asia, it is a commonly cultivated aquaria plant that is used to attach to rocks, roots and driftwood for accent; also can be used for accent on moist land
Toxotes jaculatrix Banded Archerfish - Native to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, including the Solomon Islands; usually found in brackish mangrove, but also occur in freshwater river and streams
Tribolonotus gracillis Red-eyed Crocodile Skink - Native to the New Guinea and is representative of the related
OTHER SPECIES (unidentified or widely introduced)
Springtail
Woodlice

 

[Kioka]

I am doing this on a localized reptile forum... so I have to explain why I am using some of the stuff.

SUPPLIES
Home Depot
4'x2' Light Diffusor (Eggcrate) - $9.40
If you buy eggcrate, watch out for the edges and corners, they snap really easily when bumped. Although $9 for 4'x2' sound too much, I won't be using all of it for the project, and will still have plenty left over for other projects that I decide to do.
4 GE GE Silicone I (Clear) - $9.99

It doesn't say "aquarium-safe," however it doesn't say it's mildew-resistant either and a lot of hobbyists and professionals use this in bulk for putting together their aquariums and aquascape. I have used it before with no ill effect... just wish there are cheap safe ones that come in black, brown or almond though.
5 4" Ferns - $11.35
They were sold as Pteris, but they could be any type of ferns. Most of the genera are widespread throughout the world anyway, and identifying specific species could be difficult. I have them soaking in a rubbermaid tub in front of the window and fluorescent light above.
5 U.S. gallon Bucket -$5.25

(Photograph source: http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/111.asp)
Using this to clean out gravel and sand. I also might use this to do a DIY wet/dry filter for the vivarium if I am unable to find one.
16oz Great Stuff Insulating Foam Sealant - $8.37

I will be using this stuff to give the vivarium a textured background and hold a few décors in place.
Fibreglass Insect Screen 3'x7' - $9.57
I will be using this stuff to separate the drainage-level hydroponic terra-cotta balls or gravel from the rest of the substrate. I should have plenty left over for other projects.
Reptile Show and Sales
6 bricks of coco fibre - $12

I will be using coco fibre or "coco coir" to create texture with Great Stuff and silicone in various parts of the vivarium, and as a plant-growing substrate that hold water well and drain water well.
From private sales and barters
2 pieces of driftwood - $5
I think I paid for $40 or so for a bunch of stuff, and the two pieces happened to be included. I will be using the driftwood for various purpose as defining the water boundary, creating a second level and giving the terrarium a rugged look.
Collected
Some quartz-embedded rocks
These rocks will be used to create accents in the vivarium.

I am in the process of getting more plants such as small orchids, aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, scrubs and aroids. Also, also I will be purchasing gravel, sand, fir bark, and leaf litter as substrate. I am in the process of getting small pieces of driftwood to silicone to the back of the setup, and getting flat rocks for the terrarium.

 

[malawi haps]

Sounds good so far .This is right along the lines as to what I was wanting to do with the 100 gallon I have.I have a few ideas for you as well for a water fall and stream bed I will pm you .

 

[CTU2fan]

How about a dat?

Seems like there must be some barb/loach/danio that could work in there. Good luck and please post pics.

 

[Kioka]

I got some other ideas... if you guys want to copy them... but I won't be doing them (unless I get the M. multifasciata this month, then I would consider a second project).

Sulawesi Lowland Rainforest
Dermogenys pusilla Wrestling Halfbeak
Gekko gecko Tokay Gecko
Litoria infrafenata White-Lipped Frog
Mabuya multifasciata Gold Skink
Pango kuhii Kuhli Loach

Should work out... but the only concern I have is that frog.

Pamba River
Calotes versicolor Garden Lizard
Hemidactylus brookii Brook's House Gecko
Carinotetraodon travancoricus Dwarf Puffer

 

[Chris_LCMNH]

Kioka,

Not sure if you've stumbled across them, but you might contact Blackjungle.com. They specialize in 'naturalistic' tanks, albeit it seems most doing this from their perspective are dart frog keepers and don't mind not maintaining a theme of untity (regional plants, fish, etc).

Also, I'm unsure of the composition of the Great Stuff, but I know Beckett makes a Black Waterfall Foam Sealant that I found at Home Depot (pond supply section) for $12-$13 a can. I chose it over GreatStuff as Beckett is labeled as fish safe. Now, for all I know it has the same chemical composition as GreatStuff and just contains a dye/pigment to give it the black color (dark slate gray actually) vs the 'almond' to egg-yolk yellow of GreatStuff.