paludarium build log

xashc200 · #1 11-15-2010, 02:29 PM

this is my first attempt at constructing any kind of terrarium. im using an exo terra 18 - 18 - 24 with the intention of using the area below the door line as an aquatic zone in a paludarium type setup. over the coming weeks of the build il try and add pics and update as often as possible.

the plan is to keep things simple. i want it to be easy to access and maintain. iv kept marines and reef aquariums before and know how complex some systems can get when you need 3 seperate extension plugs for all the equipment, so here im going to try and keep it minimalistic as i can,.

im going for a terraced design, sloping up to the rear corner of the tank. the bottom level will be a roof for an open cave in which fish can swim about and aklso will be where water drains through from the planted zones above, (kind of a bio filter)

water will be pumped from under the cave up to a waterfall/stream (not really sure yet). an additional pump or maybe the same one depending on available pressure will supply a spray nozzle system at the top for watering.

not sure what livestock will be included yet so im building with an open mind...

xashc200 · #2 11-15-2010, 03:56 PM

So, heres a couple of pics of how the terrarium looks out of the box and some of the equipment i brought to kick off the construction.

I abandoned my search for conventional egg crate and opted for this plastic patio tile type material. as i want to have a viewing window into the cave, the green colour will be less conspicuous too.

The plan is to keep the generic rock BG siliconed to the back wall, and create a surface on the adjacant wall from polystyrene sheet. the expanding foam will cover both of these when the time comes, but at least with the exo terra BG i dont need to put expanding foam right to the edges and it will stil look fairly natural. plus i want to try leaving some areas where the rock BG is exposed to see if it gives a nice effect or not.

xashc200 · #3 11-15-2010, 04:04 PM

heres how the palu looks in its current progress.

as you can see the generic BG has been chopped up to make supporting legs for the terraces.

some PVC tubing is also propping it up. i intend to have another PVC pipe running up the back corner to feed the hose from the pump through to the top of the tank

polystyrene covers about 80% of the left side which will be covered in expanding foam

I know it looks kind of boxy at the moment but this shape will be broken up when i giv it all a generous coating of expanding foam. and the gaps are intentional. here pices of malaysian bogwood will be mounted to break up the shape a bit too. the hole in the bottom right will remain an entrance to the cave for the fish and for me to hide the pumps and heaters

CLennerton · #4 11-15-2010, 04:43 PM

where did you get the green tile? I am planning on starting my palu build and I think that would look much better than white eggcrate

Grimm · #5 11-15-2010, 04:55 PM

I think you should plan to hide the egg crate. IMO hidden egg crate looks better then even the best colour of visible egg crate...

CLennerton · #6 11-15-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimm

I think you should plan to hide the egg crate. IMO hidden egg crate looks better then even the best colour of visible egg crate...

I am planning on hiding, but if there are any spots where you can see it for whatever the reason, it doesn't stand out as much as white would

xashc200 · #7 11-15-2010, 05:04 PM

It was from a DIY store called Hornbach. its German i think but they have a chain of stores in mainland Europe. Its actually a tile for an outdoor patio, but it works well and its easy to cut with a hacksaw.

If you look around the homedepot type stores in the gardening section you will probably be able to find it..

Xeophex · #8 11-15-2010, 05:20 PM

Looking good so far! It's easier to disguise the crate in a standard false-bottom build. I've seen several people neatly mask off round the outside of the terrarium on the glass with black card/plastic to hide everything below the false bottom including the water, sump-pump etc. But with a palu build it could be a bit more challenging. Still, agreed the green is the preferable colour over the usual white. Keep us posted.

CLennerton · #9 11-15-2010, 06:30 PM

I am going to follow this for sure...I like that you have the tiers for the ground...are you planning on having the water fall from the top onto the different tiers?

xashc200 · #10 11-15-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLennerton

I am going to follow this for sure...I like that you have the tiers for the ground...are you planning on having the water fall from the top onto the different tiers?

yeh, the plan is to have the outlet from the pump in the top rear left corner, possibly trickling over bogwood and dripping through the tiers which will have pebbles in to help the drainage. or i might try and direct the flow of water somehow to the front. il have to wait and see how well i can work the expanding foam