Paludarium Questions

Cidman0123 · #1 06-28-2010, 04:45 PM

Hey all,

Trying to remember the ideal of "keep it simple stupid" I've designed, redesigned and then dumbed down multiple times what I'd like my paludarium to look like.

With that in mind, I have a few questions that will help me narrow it down on how to actually build it.

I want a space for fish as well as land for plants and possibly mudskippers (if I feel like trying brackish...)

First question is, I understand the false bottom and the reason for having one, can the false bottom water be "mixed" with the fish area water? Would soil get into it and harm the fish or just make their water look dirty? By this I mean having a false bottom to drain the land but not have a seperator extending down from there. Just have it hanging there above all the water.

Question 1.5: If I do brackish for the fish and still want to do plants on the land, would then seperating the two water areas be enough to not dilute the brackish water and also not kill the plants? (fresh water the land area and let it drain through the false bottom and then acryllic sheet seperate the fish area brackish water)

Second, I plan on using great stuff and some sort of grout or acryllic paint (I'll check for safety first with aquarium use) so do I just need to epoxy, or seal, the areas that are underwater and where the animals may go? Or should I epoxy it all as a precaution?

Thirdly, I want to use a sump, but my concern is overflow into the display tank flooding the land area or overflow into the sump flooding my livingroom. That is, if I use 2 pumps and only one fails. I know I can make an overflow valve type of thing, but that requires drilling the bottom of the tank and I don't know if it is tempered glass or not. Will the water still drain correctly if I drill close to the bottom on the back? That way I'll only have the return pump to worry if it shuts down and then no flooding worries. It will also keep the water at the level I want it at

3.5: Can I drain the false bottom water into the sump and let the filter clean it? Would that just clog my filter and have it require more maintanence?

Sorry, a lot to ask that I'm sure has been covered, but I've been sifting through threads for over a week now and its sometimes hard to find that already answered question on a 5 year old post 22 pages in... Hopefully none of it was right in front of my face :P

Thank you!

Grimm · #2 06-28-2010, 05:21 PM

IMO some of the best looking "true" palus are one that are built up using rocks and then mounting epiphytes in the cracks between.

There is a Palu at my local aquarium shop that is solely made of built up stone. I cant remember the name of stone, but it is grey and very porous...Anyways.... Then there are multiple tubes running to various spots to provide a constant drip of water for the mosses blanketing the rocks. The rocks are held in place with their weight and friction between other rocks, so no other bonding agents are needed, also simplifying the build.

As for plants to be used in this type of setup would be...Java moss, broms, ferns, and any fully/partial aquatic plants. I should definately take a picture next time I go in the store. Its super nice!

Epiphile · #3 06-29-2010, 12:03 PM

I think that your plan to have the false bottom hovering above a single water area is a good one, though I'm not too sure about how quickly the salinity of the water will be affected by watering with fresh water. How were you planning on doing this? If it were just hand misting there probably wouldn't be too much water making it down past the substrate anyways. Pick a really coarse substrate and you won't have to worry about anything falling through and dirtying up the water. One more thing to consider is that plant roots will find their way through the false bottom, and if the water's brackish, it may cause problems.

Drilling for an overflow at the back of the tank will give you peace of mind- I say do it.

It sounds like you've thought a lot of this through- looking forward to seeing it come along.

Cidman0123 · #4 06-29-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimm

IMO some of the best looking "true" palus are one that are built up using rocks and then mounting epiphytes in the cracks between.

There is a Palu at my local aquarium shop that is solely made of built up stone. I cant remember the name of stone, but it is grey and very porous...Anyways.... Then there are multiple tubes running to various spots to provide a constant drip of water for the mosses blanketing the rocks. The rocks are held in place with their weight and friction between other rocks, so no other bonding agents are needed, also simplifying the build.

As for plants to be used in this type of setup would be...Java moss, broms, ferns, and any fully/partial aquatic plants. I should definately take a picture next time I go in the store. Its super nice!

While I have thought about and do like this, I plan on having to move the tank a couple times in the next 3-4 years. It doesn't sound like a lot, but the more weight, the more difficult that will become. Although, if I cannot figure out a way to do this effeciently and keep it lightweight then I'll stick with the rocks. (They look more natural anyway then what I could make since they are actually rocks :P)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epiphile

I think that your plan to have the false bottom hovering above a single water area is a good one, though I'm not too sure about how quickly the salinity of the water will be affected by watering with fresh water. How were you planning on doing this? If it were just hand misting there probably wouldn't be too much water making it down past the substrate anyways. Pick a really coarse substrate and you won't have to worry about anything falling through and dirtying up the water. One more thing to consider is that plant roots will find their way through the false bottom, and if the water's brackish, it may cause problems.

Drilling for an overflow at the back of the tank will give you peace of mind- I say do it.

It sounds like you've thought a lot of this through- looking forward to seeing it come along.

I think I will for sure drill the back, or bottom if its not tempered.

I plan on hand misting until I get some more money to make the system more automated. So for now I could probably more easily control the amount and where the water is misted.

Do you have any recommendations on a coarser substrate to use? I've heard of LECA, but also heard that it is expensive...

I'll have to look more into the plant roots. If I seperate the 2 areas it means 5 gallons in the display and 5 in the sump. If i don't seperate them its 10 gallons in the display and 5 in the sump which is better.

If anyone else can help input is much appreciated. Thanks Grimm and Epiphile so far!

Epiphile · #5 06-29-2010, 04:53 PM

LECA's cheaper than dirt, in my experience, though it is a little less than natural looking. A lot of hydroponics stores sell it for about $1 a litre around me, and if I just need a little they'll usually just give it away.

I'd go with a coarsely chopped coco husk, personally. One other thing is that you'll have to run the system for a while before the tannins fully leach from the substrate to the point where you've got good clear water to work with.

Perhaps the roots will just die where they meet the brackish water and you won't damage the plant as a whole- I've never worked with brackish water before, so I can't really say.

Cidman0123 · #6 06-29-2010, 05:02 PM

While I've had experience with fish and other pets before, this will be my first venture into plant life. I was actually thinking of possibly trimming the roots before they touch water, but I'm not sure if that will kill the plant as well, or if it won't effect it at all. I suppose I also need to start researching how to take care of plants as well.

I'll look into that chopped coco husk as I have planned on using cocofiber anyway in parts of my background or in rocks as planting points. I haven't actually shopped for LECA around my town yet so I'll also do that.

Still in my research and learning phase. I don't plan on building for at least another month or so (after I get married... too busy until then). But when I do I'll make a thread about my construction

Also, Grimm, I'm interested in seeing that picture if they allow you to take on the next time you visit. May help spark some more ideas.

Thanks again!