Creating a Center Island

[Crazygar]

Here is a view of the tank we plan to use as our Paludarium. The Canopy hinge opens to 9.5" so we can squeeze a 5.5GAL tank in there for sure along with another tank as long as it is higher than 10" (we plan to keep the water level at least 9.5"


The style of tank is really really unique and has many options for modifying and retrofitting. As you can see it would make a wonderful Paludarium...


Giving you an idea of the depth of the tank. Its nice and wide and not too short (29.5" X 17.75")

Top of the canopy (which is a part of the Aquarium and can not be removed without damaging) has vents, slats and holes for all sorts of add on equipment. Its a European Style tank and I believe we are the only ones in the area with this type of tank.

It came standard with 2 X 13W T5 lighting and tray filtration unit. We plan to remove the filtration unit and add extra lights for yet even more light along with a moonlight for night viewing.

Gary

[Epiphile]

It's a really sharp-looking tank. Can you give us a shot of the inside of the hood? I'd love to see how the guts are set up.

[Crazygar]

I'll hook you folks up with an interior shot tonight. It is a sweet tank indeed.

Gary

[Maverick]

I am planning on doing a stone/rock island scene for my tank as well crazygar! I was originally going to separate the two areas but decided against it. I'll be done with this thing soon, it's taking me longer than i expected! The way I did mine worked out extremely well, so if you'd like check out that post.

[Crazygar]

It's beginning to look like the project is in peril. My GF wants to put in Dwarf Pike Cichlids instead into this tank and use the 50 GAL Custom Tank (with sump) instead of for the Paludarium.

Our biggest concern is fitting things into a canopy that is not removable. We only have 9.5" of space when the canopy is open to work with. This, does not afford us much room to work on building up the island, now in the 50GAL Custom Tank, it has an open top and construction might be easier.

From the looks of it, the 53GAL will be the final project location due to size and dimensions (36 X 18 X 18).

Gary

[Epiphile]

I think that that's the best way to go. The dimensions on the 53G sound really nice for a paludarium, too, actually. I'm looking forward to this build.

[Crazygar]

Us as well, we live in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada where we just had a major Spring Blizzard on Friday. We have long winters and short summers, so having some sort of greenery around us all year round is the optimal thing we wish to achieve. We are in Zone 2B for Outside Growing plants. We I used to live, I was in 7.

Gary

[beckdg]

i like those dimensions too. that's exactly the same as my 50... except it's custom so a couple inches taller, maybe 20" or so. a center island would look great in there.

[Epiphile]

And I thought we had it bad in Toronto... zone 2. Awful. You'd definitely have to keep plants going inside- I'd go mad in the winter otherwise.

[Maverick]

yikes. Zone 2? Wow, im in 8b or 9a (on the line) .. I couldn't even imagine being any less than 6..