Display Paludarium Build

[UncleChester]

um im not sure where you get this from but the bottom piece should always lay flat on the stand and all side pieces should be built on top.

It's called a "floating glass bottom" and protects against point forces from small debris especially in a frameless tank. It's how my commercial tanks are made as well (though the largest of these I have is 20 gallons). I understand the calculations in the link I gave above give the glass thickness for the bottom piece assuming it is not supported from below, as in the floating approach and/or with a frame. If you can ensure your stand is perfectly level and clean (or use some kind of filler), then I understand the capped approach works too.

I've never made anything this size or to hold this much water, so if you've got information on why the floating approach wouldn't work here with a strong enough bottom pane, I'd love to hear it. I'm sure I've read it's also used in bigger tanks than this, but I could be mistaken.

[VicSkimmr]

Live and learn I guess. I didn't figure there would be enough pressure from the water to warrant using thicker glass on the base, but if I ever build another large tank like this I'll definitely take it into consideration. I did use aquarium grade silicone, and thankfully that wasn't the cause of the leak. I do wish I could refill it as a paludarium, but I'm still pretty happy with how it looks now. All of the plants are now emergent instead and doing just fine. We also just had our carpet restretched so the tank is back where it was intended to be. I'll post a couple of pics tomorrow.

[7urb0]

im not saying you are wrong. just never saw it built that way before. if anything i would put 4 thin strips of glass around the edge of the bottom piece. i think thats how glasscages.com build some of their rimless tanks.

[Toby Bell]

where could i get the eggcrate and how do you keep the substrate from falling in between the holes and from going into the water? thanks

[UncleChester]

where could i get the eggcrate and how do you keep the substrate from falling in between the holes and from going into the water? thanks

Eggcrate is in the lighting section of hardware stores like Home depot Plaskolite | Egg Crate White Louver - 23.75 Inch x 47.75 Inch | Home Depot Canada

Fibreglass window screening can be layed down on top of the eggcrate to hold the substrate up and still let water through. You can also use landscaping fabric (I prefer this, I find it nicer to work with especially for curvy shapes).

[VicSkimmr]

Little late on the pics, but better late than never right? Finally got one of them to pose long enough to snap a few pictures I don't know if this is a male or female, but it's the odd one out from the trio.

[VicSkimmr]

[Kristen87]

Wow this tank is amazing!! Sorry about your cracked panel mishap. Still looks incredible though
I've just bought a 6 footer (picking it up this weekend... pretty excited! ) than I'm planning to turn into a paludarium with a false bottom so I can have some community fish in there too, so thanks for sharing your experience so I know to get myself some foam for under the tank!

Question for you, what aquatic plants did you have? It looks like java fern on the left? Did you pick plants that do okay without much light because of the distance they are from the top or did you get a stronger light or find another way to get the UV to them? (Or did you just chuck them in and hope for the best hehe).

If my tank turns out just a fraction as nice as yours looks I'd be over the moon, did I mention it looks amazing?? :P

[VicSkimmr]

Thanks! The plants I used are a variety of common aquatic plants for terrariums. Some cryptos, anubias, mondo grass, java fern, etc. The idea (at least for my plan) is to starve the plants of a lot of light, which helps to inhibit algae growth. Do a google search for low-tech planted aquariums to learn more about it. All of my plants were growing fine with the given amount of light.

The nice thing is that they'll also grow out of water in a vivarium quite well I didn't lose any plants in the conversion.

[Kristen87]

That's awesome that you could use all your aquatic plants still! I didn't know anubias grew out of water, might have to try that. I have java fern and anubias in a 3 foot high tank at the moment that are starting to die and I thought it was the distance from the light, but maybe they were just getting eaten by snails or something... Looks like I'll have to do some more research hehe.

[VicSkimmr]

I imagine there's a fine balance between just enough light and not enough to survive. I did have to move a few of my plants around as they were being blocked from the light by the ground area above it. My light is quite bright, so they may have been receiving more light in the water than you would first expect.

[Kristen87]

Oh ok thanks. Darn, I was excited that it looked like you had some plants thriving under the land area haha.

[VicSkimmr]

Wow I haven't updated this in a while.

The tank is still growing in nicely, but I'm considering tearing it down to put a freshwater planted tank in its place.

Then the next day I found a froglet


a couple days later


So now I'm not sure what to do, but I guess I have time to think on it since I won't be able to catch/move that guy for a while. I could potentially catch the frogs, tear down the bottom portion of the tank and replace the botton pane with something a lot thicker. Then I could potentially turn it back into a paludarium. Or I might just move the frogs to the little tank downstairs and make a nice planted freshwater tank. I'm so torn

[VicSkimmr]

more random pics


didn't realize this one was so underexposed when i hosted it

[deranged chipmunk]

Funny, even being under exposed, it's much better pic than i could have ever taken.....lol and i only skimmed this post (spoiled from the completed posts on tpt..lol) but did i see an original rhd mini in that first pic?? They are such a blast to scoot around in

[VicSkimmr]

I did have a RHD mini I ended up selling it to a friend because it spent all its time in the garage. It felt like a death trap during tourist season. It's the same reason why I haven't gotten into motorcycles despite loving them to death.

[deranged chipmunk]

Yup, they are great for guys like me (mechanic), i also work on a few rhd rolls and a couple morris minors. Greta little money makers from my standpoint. Lol i gave up on my motorcycles, i don't feel like putting my life in the hands of the maniacs out on the road anymore.....lol

[Adam R]

wow this thread is old. i got my tank concept from your prototype. you should check it out jason. http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...k-setup-2.html

[doodle1800]

Your thread makes a big jump from egg crates to soil or substrate on them. For a newbie, a few questions. Can you please go over briefly if possible on those steps inbetween?

[Adam R]

Your thread makes a big jump from egg crates to soil or substrate on them. For a newbie, a few questions. Can you please go over briefly if possible on those steps inbetween?

here is his prototype for this tank, might be of some help

http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...build-log.html