6Ft long x 2.5 x2.5 Paludarium

eddyplaner · #1 10-19-2009, 04:21 AM

Yo Folks

So after 2 months since my 422 planted tank's front glass panel collapsed and I finally seeking advise from gurus.So I've been planning, gathering materials, researching, and practicing fake wall construction, I'm finally taking the plunge to build a mega sophisticated paludarium for the very first time I never have the experience before. Well I love challenging project which I have never done before!

Thanks to the guys at vivarium forum , I was able to pick up the largest OHS tank that's made - 6 x 2.5 x 2 with 15mm thick glass panel--- for a mere SGD150 2nd hand with free delivery!!!!

I also got the matching stand with dark glass panel sump, because I had limited space, as you'll see... I wanted something that would fit perfectly...at my balcony with HDB's approval (Housing Development Board, Singapore), so I wasn't too worried.

Plans for this tank include:
-- Cork bark and mangrove long straight logs for background wall using foam / grout / silicon method.
-- Bogwood and diftwood effect
-- misting system (DIY method)
-- drip wall (sprinklers)
-- 2 filters (1 sump / 1 Laguna cannister with UV) with 2 AquaB pumps (2800l/hr)
-- waterfalls + pond
-- all the kinds of plantlife one could ever hope to have

Hopefully, I'll have this baby completed by before Christmas... but no rush!

Epiphile · #2 10-19-2009, 06:42 AM

Sounds good- are you going to use natural sunlight on your balcony?

eddyplaner · #3 10-19-2009, 12:43 PM

Hi

Not likely at all..natural sunlight will create and bloom the hell out of algae and will spread like fire and will quickly increase the temperature to 48 deg C!!!! Remember Singapore's climate is the similar to Hawaii.

I usually bind and shade my balcony away from the sunlight.

I will be using back the 2 (4x 48w) T5 HO lighting system which i used for my previous 422 planted tank.

eddyplaner · #4 10-20-2009, 06:44 AM

Hi Folks,

So I made some more progress today, these are the materials,a heavy duty egg crate,4ft long mangrove straight logs, corkbark, small cable tie and the net to construct the background support all done in my kitchen...!!

DSC00850.JPG pix1.JPG

pix8.JPG

So here's this is how the proposal paludarium background with pots will looked like after it was all done. So what do you think, folks?

beckdg · #5 10-20-2009, 02:32 PM

a little great stuff magic on that at the seams of your ??cork bark?? and around those planters and that should look fantastic.

i am anxious to see this project as it transforms.

eddyplaner · #6 10-21-2009, 03:47 AM

Hi folks,

I'm very happy with the way it turned out. When starting something like this, it isn't too hard to form a general idea of what the tank should look like upon completion, but once I get all the materials (which don't exactly match the imagine originally conceived), it's always nice when they can be added together to form something that exceeds the conception, isn't?

Next comes the siliconing of the wood, cork bark and little pots with black/beige silicon and GS.

pix12.JPG
Bind the 4ft long straight Mangrove logs together with 10" cable tiers and sealed along the logs side by side with beige silicon.

pix17.JPG
Seal the cork bark with GS and black silicon to the eggcrate. And foam the GS to create vine-like along the mangrove logs and allow the GS and silicon to cure at least 48hrs or more.

To be continue, folks

beckdg · #7 10-21-2009, 09:36 AM

looking good eddy, looking good!

eddyplaner · #8 12-14-2009, 07:17 AM

Hi Folks,

Sorry keep you guys waiting....at last. My time has permitted me.

I've completed to construct the false bottom platform with screen and center waterfall piece. that's going to be a blast.

I then started cemented 3 layers of waterproof cement with construction sand on each side... few days of curing time on each layer. rough sanding.
as described above.

Next I started the painting with acrylic paint . I tested the paint on a small area and waited for it to dry to make adjustments and see how it would look. You can see that in the bottom left. I also spray thick glaze of epoxy seal the acrylic paint and make sure it dries right and waterproof.

Here is the completed back wall in place with "rock platform",the waterfall feature wood are in place with black silicon. It was time to add the gravel to the front slit.

Stay tune...next week will be plumbing and water testing .

any comments please.

DazzleDiscus · #9 12-14-2009, 10:14 AM

Wow! That is coming along great! I really like the GS vine. I was curious as to what it would look like, but after you added the moss to it, I really like the idea!
Do you have any specific types of plants that you have in mind for the setup?

eddyplaner · #10 01-13-2010, 07:21 AM

Hi folks,

Here it is, finally my first ever 6ft paludarium is now almost 90% complete when the water piping system, waterfall and with the flora and fauna in place.

I wanted to purchase humidifier, mini ventilation fan, misting system and more flora but unable do due to as I'm now on Nepal trip for biz trip.Actually this 6 ft palu is my blast Xmas present ever.

here the video taking of my first palu.

Please ignore the audio and enjoy the video.

Your comments , please