Paludarium build

[Temptress]

Well, this is the reason I sold my discus.. I finally got around to doing some sketches tonight I dunno if they'll make sense to you all but I'll post them anyway. =)




And here's what I've thought out so far:

I would like the waterfall to have about a 3" drop into the water.

That leaves about 6" to create a rock structure for the waterfall that would still be viewable... but I am also thinking that I want to use a spray bar to disperse the water evenly over the rocks.. so maybe having the structure above the viewing area would actually hide that better.. that's an idea.

The waterfall rock structure will also be about 6" wide, that's why I thought I would need the spray bar to even the flow.

I am going to have the land about 1-1.5" above the water line.

I designed the land to be 12"h so I can use cork bark sheets 12"x18" to cover the viewable side of the plexiglass (the land and water separator).

I am fairly sure that I am going to have the tank drilled out the back, upper left for the waterfall and lower right (looking from the front) for the filter intake, my plans are to use a magnum 350 to filter the water and create the waterfall. I haven't decided if I'll use the stock intake cover or make a sponge filter attachment.. I want to have cherry shrimp in the water so probably the sponge filter.

I am designing the ground part to be a bit riverish.. larger rocks by the waterfall and progressing down to sand at the far right side of the tank.


So, on to the questions:

I am unsure how to make the land part, I don't know if I should use the egg crate false bottom route and just cover the egg crate in screen so nothing can swim up in there.. or if I should use the plexiglass total separator and worry about water build up on the land side.. suggestions welcome.

I am also wondering about the overhang of the waterfall how far out from the back should it come? I don't want any standing water under it but I don't want it dribbling down the back of the tank.. suggestions welcome.

For the back of the tank.. I want to be able to have plants grow into it, any suggestions as to what to use? if I use corkbark back there too will it be overkill on the cork? I have read good things about coconut husks.. any thoughts? or other ideas?

Please offer your opinions, as this is my first try at this and I'd rather not make multiple tries haha.

Anything you see being a possible problem? speak up! =)

Thanks in advance for your help =)

 

[mellowvision]

I am unsure how to make the land part, I don't know if I should use the egg crate false bottom route and just cover the egg crate in screen so nothing can swim up in there.. or if I should use the plexiglass total separator and worry about water build up on the land side.. suggestions welcome.

Yes, eggcrate is going to be a good way to go. You're much better off assuming water goes everywhere, than trying to keep it in one area. It's just way easier. All you need is eggcrate, screen, and zipties. You may be able to get away with a straight filter intake tube, right down under the false bottom, eliminating the need for a visible prefilter... the falsebottom acts as prefilter/UGF.

I am also wondering about the overhang of the waterfall how far out from the back should it come? I don't want any standing water under it but I don't want it dribbling down the back of the tank.. suggestions welcome.

I'd personally recommend having a small pool of water at the top of the waterfall, so that water spills out evenly around the edge. You can use cork to create your pool, maybe line it with plexi or pvc to give it a bottom. Essentially, I'd create an overflow box inside the tank, then cover it with cork. The return line just fills the overflow box, which overflows (in reverse) back into the tank.

For the back of the tank.. I want to be able to have plants grow into it, any suggestions as to what to use? if I use corkbark back there too will it be overkill on the cork? I have read good things about coconut husks.. any thoughts? or other ideas?

Cork all the way.

 

[wespastor]

Hello,
Here is an idea that you may be able to modiy to suit your needs very well I use it in my aquarium as a background and I used black gravel instead of the coco-fiber they show there.

anyway here is the thread: http://www.blackjungle.com/gallery/talltank/page1.html

Hope this stirs up some ideas for your build. also check out my build here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220587

and here: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/v...-introduction-build-125-gallon-terrarium.html

Best wishes,
Wes

 

[Temptress]

I am unsure how to make the land part, I don't know if I should use the egg crate false bottom route and just cover the egg crate in screen so nothing can swim up in there.. or if I should use the plexiglass total separator and worry about water build up on the land side.. suggestions welcome.

Yes, eggcrate is going to be a good way to go. You're much better off assuming water goes everywhere, than trying to keep it in one area. It's just way easier. All you need is eggcrate, screen, and zipties. You may be able to get away with a straight filter intake tube, right down under the false bottom, eliminating the need for a visible prefilter... the falsebottom acts as prefilter/UGF.

How would this work for having the water only an inch or so above the water level? will I still be able to achieve proper drainage for the roots of my plants? Just curious.. I thought the egg crate bottoms I have looked at have the land well above the water and "ramps" built down into the water.. can you go into any more detail? or even show me where to find picture of this idea? I like the idea of having more "water" even if it's not swimming room.

I am also wondering about the overhang of the waterfall how far out from the back should it come? I don't want any standing water under it but I don't want it dribbling down the back of the tank.. suggestions welcome.

I'd personally recommend having a small pool of water at the top of the waterfall, so that water spills out evenly around the edge. You can use cork to create your pool, maybe line it with plexi or pvc to give it a bottom. Essentially, I'd create an overflow box inside the tank, then cover it with cork. The return line just fills the overflow box, which overflows (in reverse) back into the tank.

The overflow box.. now that's a heck of an idea! I could probably just make the box "look" like a waterfall with some rocks glued on and whatnot.. good thinking.. I'll have to play around with that idea more =)

For the back of the tank.. I want to be able to have plants grow into it, any suggestions as to what to use? if I use corkbark back there too will it be overkill on the cork? I have read good things about coconut husks.. any thoughts? or other ideas?

Cork all the way.

I like the looks of cork too.. I just wasn't sure when too much was too much haha and plants root well into this right? I am looking to have some vines, and some orchids.. orchids more importantly =)

 

[Temptress]

Hello,
Here is an idea that you may be able to modiy to suit your needs very well I use it in my aquarium as a background and I used black gravel instead of the coco-fiber they show there.

anyway here is the thread: http://www.blackjungle.com/gallery/talltank/page1.html

Hope this stirs up some ideas for your build. also check out my build here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220587

and here: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/v...-introduction-build-125-gallon-terrarium.html

Best wishes,
Wes

Thanks for the links! Good reads for sure, I like the wood built right into the wall.. I don't know how easy that will be in a 75g tank.. but hey, who says this is supposed to be easy? haha

Also, I have been watching your build already with the 10g inside.. creative, still waiting on the ending =D

 

[thebrandon]

orchids will love the cork bark. They mount very well on it.

I am doing a paludarium build right now too and have about 15 pounds of cork bark at my disposal

 

[Temptress]

orchids will love the cork bark. They mount very well on it.

I am doing a paludarium build right now too and have about 15 pounds of cork bark at my disposal

Well, ahem, if you end up with any extra =)

 

[wespastor]

Thanks for the links! Good reads for sure, I like the wood built right into the wall.. I don't know how easy that will be in a 75g tank.. but hey, who says this is supposed to be easy? haha

Also, I have been watching your build already with the 10g inside.. creative, still waiting on the ending =D

The Terrarium Part is nearly completed.. A couple of plants I want are not abailable locally and too costly for 1-2 to mail-order them soo I will call that part done -- as for the 10 Gallon Aquarium well I have a way to go on that I have started yet another thread for those who may just want to watch that part only --- it is here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226874

The delay is in build stuff for it and I had a major surgery that will last months so I am a little out of commission but I do have some light work I can get done which you can see.

Best wishes,
Wes

Sorry didnt mean to high jack

 

[mellowvision]

I don't know if you looked through some of my other build threads, but my cork tank is essentially a terrarium that is filled with water. I use a false bottom made of eggcrate under one side of the tank, it was really easy to make, using zipties to hold the eggcrate pieces together. look here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188266&page=2

so what you do is, you build a box with eggcrate on top. the box should be 1/2" higher than the waterline, so the 1/2" eggcrate is just above water. Then, you cover the box with plastic window screen and set it in place. you then want to use silicone to attach cork or rocks to the front/side edges of the box to give the appearance of a shore/cliff.

Once you have a box with a nice front edge, then you add your terrestrial substrate on top. coco fiber, charcoal, etc. Any water that drips onto this area will just pass through, into the water that freely flows under the box. The front edge should mask the box from view, and along with the window screen should keep fish out from under the box.

At the bottom of this page, you can see how Brian used foam to build the bottom of his box structure. http://www.brianstropicals.com/building.html I think this is a nice approach, but will eventually clog and need to be rebuilt, so I prefer to keep the box empty of foam or anything so it doesn't need to be taken apart.

I'm not a big fan of this particular vivarium, but you can see how they used the eggcrate pretty well in this thread: http://badmanstropicalfish.com/vivarium/vivarium.html

I don't think they did a good job of hiding their eggcrate, and I think they went through a lot of effort for only a little water area... but it's an example that shows what you want to do. I'd suggest taking a look at how they build things on dendroboard too. for instance, there are some detailed photos here http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/pa...x18x24-exo-input-appreciated-56k-warning.html

 

[Temptress]

Thanks! It makes more sense to me now how to use the egg crate.. I was under the impression that the "land" part (where all the roots of the plants are) had to be deeper than the inch I was giving it to not cause root rot and all that, but the screen on top of the drainage material keeps the roots up top.. makes much more sense!

I have most definitely read all your builds, it's your cork that inspired me =)

I have seen alot of terrarium builds using the egg crate but they are generally with a tiny pond.. the water is going to be pretty equal to the land in mine so I just couldn't figure out the numbers, but being new to all this... I didn't have much to go on haha

Well next step will be egg crate zip ties and screen.. stay tuned =)