New Paludarium: rivers edge

[fitzy]

Hi guys this is my first post, Ive been lurking for some time here trying to learn about terrariums, viv's and all that good stuff. After doing alot of research on construction methods through this site and others I decided to make a paludarium tank. Unfortunately I got excited/lazy and skipped the whole documentation process, a move I regret now. On the next tank eh?

But anyways here is my tank! Its a 26gal bowfront 24x15x21, eggcrate falsebottom covered in fine mesh screen with PVC supports fixed in place. Underneath fb is a reptiflo 200 pump that pumps water upto the atrificial log in the center of the tank which gives a pretty good trickle effect. Around the false bottom is just a simple divider i cut from home depot plexi. Its unsealed so that water can be circulated via the underground pump. I used geII on three sides and GS over that, along with some various corkbark, coco & plastic planting pots, large riverbed rock and petstore wood bits. On the walls I used a mix of 2 discs bed-a-beast and moss growing substrate which seemed quite easy to expand, mix and then glue to the wall with silicone. The gravel is a mix between flourite(good for plant growth) and misc aqua varieties. Organic potting soil makes up most of the substrate for the main land area (somewhat mixed in some bedabeast and moss growth mix).

So far its only slightly planted as you can see in the water and on land. I have a few other plants coming mailorder so that should fill it in nicely. My current concern is the divider between water and land because of the difference in the level of water vs land for drainage there is a rather sharp drop off. A hope was to be able to use this for PDF's in the near future if something can be done about a water escape. I tried alleviating this a little with some driftwood that takes up a large portion of space in the front area. Some other ideas are kicking around upstairs so well see what comes of it, if not I can always find some nice fire bellys or salamander. Goal is pdf tho.

The tank has been maintaining a constant 80F & 80% humidity as well. Im using a reptile slimline lighting fixture with a 2800K Flora Glo lamp in it atop a bowfront AGA glass hinged cover with a few modificiation holes in the rear plastic for ventilation. For the past 2-3 weeks the water has been cycling and tested clean so I threw in some guppies just to take up space. Just so happened the day after there was a nice suprise waiting for me after work which included about 10-12 new fry, sweet!





Thanks for checkin it out, any critique would be helpful as well (minus the no construction journal... )

[slowfoot]

Oooh, very nice!

I can see some straight edges that look a little unnatural at the moment, but I bet those will get covered up by new plants and growth soon. That fake log looks great in there!

[Tiamat]

Yes, it is a very nice setup. Congrats!

One thing with PDF, is that your water level might be too high for some species and they will drown and die. So be carefull, make sure your frog knows how to swim

[froggsong]

I like it alot. Bowfronts make such lovely paludariums! I see what you are talking about with the drop off from the land portion... The only ways I can think of to fix it would involve having to take everything out again... Maybe someone can think of a way for you to do something about it without having to do that! I was thinking that you could either silicone some rocks so that they slope into the water some (some slate would do nicely), or you could put a little GS around the edge of it, making it slope down a little below the waterline. I think it would be quite wonderful for some newts or FBTs. Either one would really do well in there.

[fitzy]

Thanks for the comments so far! I should have the rest of my plants this week so another pic will be sure to follow.

Originally Posted by Tiamat

One thing with PDF, is that your water level might be too high for some species and they will drown and die. So be carefull, make sure your frog knows how to swim

Any recommendations on pdf's that have been known to swin or at least have a liking to water??

[Tiamat]

Can't help you there myself. Hope someone can answer that for you. I know that azerus would be a bad choice.

[Fisherman 1991]

I won't be much help with the animal selection, but I just wanted to say that the tank looks awesome. I'm getting more anxious with every one I see. But I gotta keep my priorities straight (snake cage first).

fisherman

[fitzy]

Good news, got my plants wayyy faster than I thought, so I "finished" planting for now.

2 broms (1 fireball other HD special)
1 coleus
1 polda dot plant
2 Selaginella kraussiana
2 bits of hanging houseplant (not sure type)
a few aquatic plants from local pet stores
handfull of Salvinia natans
vial moss spores (hope it grows...)
and lots of riccia!







Thinking about trying to stuff more plants in, possibly another brom and some pilea.

[Futurehabitatcreator]

Wow! Great setup.



So what is this going to be for? What animal?

ps-I'm not familiar with abbreviations so please say the whole name =)

[fitzy]

I am indending this for a pair of dart frogs either D. Intimitaor or D.Ventrimaculatus.

The broms are Bromeliads, not sure if thats what you were referring to...