My Cousin's Rock Collection- 5.5 Gallon Thrive Terrarium Journal

Death by Fish Tanks · Feb 28, 2025

Started October 21st, 2024
My cousin Ana stayed with us for a short time and started a rock collection. I convinced her to let me move her findings to a deep substrate terrarium and watch what happens.

Death by Fish Tanks · Feb 28, 2025

4 Month Update:
Most of the plants died because I accidentally overwatered the terrarium.

Twice. But, I added some Pennywort to it so it should look a lot like the Starry Highlands terrarium. I'm going to add more gems to it before the plants take over.

Death by Fish Tanks · Apr 26, 2025

6 Month Update:
•The plant life exploded into a lush forest.
•Added 3 Angel Aura Quartz rocks
•Fruit flies returned. Will add more insects soon

Uberhoust · Apr 28, 2025

Pretty cool project to do with your cousin. Just one word of caution is that there are a lot of arsenic containing rocks in North Carolina, in particular arsenopyrite, unlikely you or your cousin are in any risk but, I would make sure to wash your hands well after handling the substrate or the natural rocks.

Death by Fish Tanks · Apr 29, 2025

Uberhoust said:
Just one word of caution is that there are a lot of arsenic containing rocks in North Carolina, in particular arsenopyrite,

I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up

Uberhoust · Apr 29, 2025

Death by Fish Tanks said:
I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up

I didn't either until I visited a sawmill in NC and the mill owner took me to his home. He gave me a chunk of arsenopyrite when he saw that I was interested in his local rock collection. He had a boulder he pulled from a field with his tractor at the entrance of his yard and he just knocked a piece off from it to give to me. Not much to go on but I have since checked it out and there are a large number of mineralized areas in North Carolina.