30 gallon paludarium tips?

Anonymous372747 · 03-25-2008, 10:47 PM

ok, I want to create a simple paludarium type tank. I want to create an Amazon streambed theme. where water is like 75% and 25% land. I want the substrate to slowly rise to a hill in one side as the water level decreases as if it is the edge of the river. however, I have some concerns regarding too much weight on the land side. Just a suggestion, but would it work if I add a block of Styrofoam, and then put the substrate over it? This would make the hill higher, and not as heavy. would the styrofoam be ok if I weight it down with the sand? Are there any things I would have to do to the styrofoam to keep it ok and ready to use?

would I have to put something between the water and the land to keep the water from coming on the land part? or will the water not come to the land part at all?

my substrate is a mix of silica sand, with a little soil, and some gravel.

Are there any plants that you would recommend for both water and land?

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@marko@ · 03-25-2008, 10:57 PM

cut a peice of acrylic and seal around it with silicon as done here:
http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...to-Journal/28/

crypts would grow good in both parts. but if the ones on land flower, cut of the bud before it opens. the blooms smell like rotting meat to attract flies for pollination. you could also grow emeresed anubias, java moss, hairgrass (any kind i think), and HC.

Anonymous372747 · 03-26-2008, 01:19 AM

Do I have to seal it with silicon? or can I just fit it in?

If I silicon plexiglass in between the land and water, does that mean its safe to use top soil on the land side and not have the fear of getting the whole tank a big mud puddle?

I think I may do something similar to what is on http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...to-Journal/28/. But do I have to do the whole sump with pipes? I want to have a good looking paludarium, but simple and not something that is so complicated to make. Is there a way to make something similar to that without the whole pumps and pipes.

**tundragirl** · 03-26-2008, 03:26 AM

definately seal it in
the soil will stay way too moist
some of your land plants won't do so well and the soil will start to smell bad.

03-25-2008, 10:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anonymous372747 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 2	30 gallon paludarium tips? ok, I want to create a simple paludarium type tank. I want to create an Amazon streambed theme. where water is like 75% and 25% land. I want the substrate to slowly rise to a hill in one side as the water level decreases as if it is the edge of the river. however, I have some concerns regarding too much weight on the land side. Just a suggestion, but would it work if I add a block of Styrofoam, and then put the substrate over it? This would make the hill higher, and not as heavy. would the styrofoam be ok if I weight it down with the sand? Are there any things I would have to do to the styrofoam to keep it ok and ready to use? would I have to put something between the water and the land to keep the water from coming on the land part? or will the water not come to the land part at all? my substrate is a mix of silica sand, with a little soil, and some gravel. Are there any plants that you would recommend for both water and land?

03-25-2008, 10:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
@marko@ Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: livingston, nj Posts: 1,023	cut a peice of acrylic and seal around it with silicon as done here: http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...to-Journal/28/ crypts would grow good in both parts. but if the ones on land flower, cut of the bud before it opens. the blooms smell like rotting meat to attract flies for pollination. you could also grow emeresed anubias, java moss, hairgrass (any kind i think), and HC. __________________ Tanks: 20L: community tank Eclipse 3: betta tank 6g reef: clown pair tank My Dragons:

03-26-2008, 03:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
tundragirl Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (79) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: wisconsin Posts: 629	definately seal it in the soil will stay way too moist some of your land plants won't do so well and the soil will start to smell bad. __________________ Cynthia

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03-26-2008, 01:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
Anonymous372747 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 2	Do I have to seal it with silicon? or can I just fit it in? If I silicon plexiglass in between the land and water, does that mean its safe to use top soil on the land side and not have the fear of getting the whole tank a big mud puddle? I think I may do something similar to what is on http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...to-Journal/28/. But do I have to do the whole sump with pipes? I want to have a good looking paludarium, but simple and not something that is so complicated to make. Is there a way to make something similar to that without the whole pumps and pipes.