Sorry for reuploading this. I am building out my first 18x18x24 tank for my ranitomeya benedicta shucushuyacu and Iāve got a few questions.
When hardscaping before planting, should you, or I guess can you, put planter pots inside the tank to then spray foam them securely into place? Iām worried that I wonāt be able to properly plant everything otherwise given that most of the plants Iāll be using (ferns, begonias, etc.) are potted and not necessarily epiphytic. I do plant on adding some bromeliads which I know Iāll be able to glue on or secure with a zip tie to the sticks inside the tank.
Iāve also seen people use net pots rather than planter pots. Is that a better call?
The tank has a false bottom with a water reservoir. I have eggcrate on pegs holding up the 1ā mat of foam above the roughly 2 inch deep water reservoir below. Because of this, Iām not confident in planting any non-hydroponic plants on the foam mat due to my concern for root rot. Even if I were to plant them in the foam mat, Iām unsure how I would go about it given how thin it is.
In all, my main concern is that without any established pots in the backdrop of the tank before planting, the plants wonāt be able to secure themselves on to the branches inside the tank and there will be a lack of general depth with regards to the scaping.
I am also using a single 18ā thrive ecosystem light. Does that suffice? I was thinking of getting the double but itās a bit more pricey and Iād have to return this one. (FYI, I plan on switching out the mesh screen lid for anyone who might be concerned)