My first Palu

AquaticEscapes · #1 01-07-2010, 02:24 PM

Hi all, this is my first shot at a paludarium/terrarium/vivarium. I think its a paludarium? I've been keeping aquariums for years.

Inspiration from this tank is mainly from Japanese-style planted aquariums. I want to keep it minimalist and open, which is why I opted out of doing a background.

Here is Day 1, after creating the terrain and adding substrate. I used river pebbles as the base, which are large enough to allow water movement and prevent stagnant areas. I decided not to do an eggcrate structure so I can more easily tear it apart and re-do if I want to (I like to reaquascape things :P).

The pebbles are supported in areas with pieces of petrified wood to prevent collapse. On top of the pebbles is a layer of dried (and re-moistened) moss, to prevent the peat from falling into the water. On top of the dried moss is a 1" layer of sphagnum peat.

The water depth is approximately 3". Stream feature is created using cork bark and a small fountain pump. There is also a heater. The heater and pump are hidden using a removable piece of wood. ( I think I will float duckweed in the back pool over the heater to cover it up further). I stuck in some plants that I had, not too sure of the names of them

.

Day 3

Today I added the moss. I put in about 4 or 5 different types of moss growing locally in my neighborhood, just to see what types will do well in the light and warmth. I can already guess what will survive based on where I collected it, but I figured I would give the others a shot nonetheless. I am going to start it off with a short photoperiod since there is lots of light.

I plan on adding also: a reddish colored air plant, venus fly trap, small orchid, and small bromeliad. Also I might silicone some turkey tails onto the back glass. If I can get some plants to grow in the blackwater that would be cool. Maybe a killifish or small aquatic frog in the future.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, since I am new at this. Maybe except telling me to do an eggcrate base

.

Cheers,

-Diana

Epiphile · #2 01-07-2010, 02:33 PM

Hi Diana, and welcome to the forum. It's great to see someone applying the principles of those Japanese-style planted tanks to terrariums/paludariums- I've been playing around with this a bit myself, though no terrific success yet. Do you keep planted aquariums as well?

The tank looks great- I hope your mosses do well. Perhaps you might consider blacking out your background to hide the wires a bit and give a more dramatic effect? Just a thought. It looks great as it is, but I think it might do a lot to bring out the green of the moss.

And is this an open-top rimless tank? How's your humidity in there?

AquaticEscapes · #3 01-07-2010, 02:45 PM

Hi Aaron, thanks for the reply. I normally do black backgrounds on all my aquariums. This is the first time I am doing the "white" look, and I kinda like it. It def looks better in person than in the photos... I am trying to go for this sort of look: (not my aquarium!)

I will try and tidy up the cables though.

I have done planted tanks in the past, most of them end up looking like jungles because I am not diligent enough to keep the plants trimmed. I think moss and I will be very good friends.

Yes it is a open rimless tank (yipes I was slightly concerned about the weight of the pebbles against the glass- its one of those Hagen tanks w/ pretty thin glass. But it held water fine for years). I will steal the hygrometer from my chameleon to check humidity. It feels quite warm and damp in there though. I will do a daily spritz.

U can see some of my other aquariums here:

Aquatic Escapes

Cheers!
-Diana

Grimm · #4 01-07-2010, 02:51 PM

Cool looking viv.....And OMG!!!!!!!!! Page 1, Pictures 2 and 3 of ur clients pictures are AMAZING! What a fantastic design and house!

AquaticEscapes · #5 01-07-2010, 03:02 PM

Hey thanks! You would not believe some of the houses we have aquariums in.... I'm talking upwards of 10 mil. The houses are so unbelievable, I enjoy my job so much cus I get to oogle them every time hehe.

Grimm · #6 01-07-2010, 03:05 PM

Yeah I looked at every client picture and they definately seem to be in amazing homes...Where r u located?

Edit: Nevermind I saw you guys are in BC

Epiphile · #7 01-07-2010, 03:15 PM

Please let me know what your hygrometer says- it'd be nice to know that it's possible to run something like this with an open top. Then again, humidity where you are is likely a lot better than what I've got going for me at the moment.

I really like the right side, but feel that the left needs something to balance the two sides more- perhaps moving a bit of moss over to create continuity and a connection between the two? Just speculating, and please let me know if you think I've given you enough "advice" already. Oh, and can we get a shot from the front post-planting?

AquaticEscapes · #8 01-07-2010, 03:22 PM

You know, I was thinking the same thing about balancing the sides. I was thinking about moving the air plant and putting some moss on top of the wood. Maybe I will try it and see how it looks, and post a pic.

AquaticEscapes · #9 01-07-2010, 08:07 PM

I did some tinkering:

-Diana

Epiphile · #10 01-07-2010, 08:24 PM

...And it looks all the better for it. Good one. I think that moss did a good job of evening things out on the left there- what do you think?

And is that a Hydrocotyle species? And what's the one directly below that?