Headwater - Method's 75 G Paludarium (HMF + canister + RFUG)

14388 Views 57 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Method, Nov 28, 2019

Method

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2014 (Edited)

First off: I must acknowledge and thank many planted tankers on this forum who have either inspired me or served as inspirations for my current project. My stand is directly inspired from Hydrophyte's 'raw industrial style' http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=85748 . I also received several good ideas from people who posted on that thread.

Ok, here's where we are so far:

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Method

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 3, 2014 (Edited)

Current build:

Tank- Deep Blue 75 G. Since I will only be filling the tank between 30% and 40%, I _may_ attempt a derimming.

Stand- 'Raw Industrial Style'
Yes, there is a DVR and a PS3 under the tank :icon_eek:! You may also notice a sheet of acrylic in front of the right side. Toddlers like to push buttons...

Lights- 3 Par38 9X2 W LEDs with 120 degree optics. The lights are shaded by DIY shades made from Blanda Blank bowls from Ikea drilled with a 1.5" hole saw. The cords are Hemma, also from Ikea. I ran the cords through 0.5" EMT conduits which I bent and attached to the rear of the stand. The lights are both adjustable in height and dimmable.

Method

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 3, 2014

The plan:

This will be a paludarium. It will have a false bottom set 6" above the tank bottom.

Filtration: Multistage. The false bottom will support a Hamburger Mattenfilter (HMF) as per an earlier post of mine http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=536346 . A SunSun 404B will power the HMF and return the water via a reverse-flow undergravel filter (RFUG).

Substrate: Not set on this yet, but I'll probably go with the coal slag from my deceased 55 gallon.

Scape: I really like the shape of the riparium at the bottom of this page http://www.aqua-rebell.com/aquascaping/andreas-ruppert-aquascaping.html . I will do something similar to this using polystyrene pads and drylok as rocks. It will almost certainly have a waterfall.

Inspiration: A pool in a headwater stream

Plants: TBD, but including crypts, lilaeopsis mauritiana, and dwarf sag underwater, and orchids, tillandsia, mosses, and ferns above water.

Fauna: Probably pygmy corys, my farlowella, otos, and possibly shrimp. If I don't do shrimp I may go for something to add some flash, such as cardinals, emerald eye rasboras, or pencil fish.

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The Trigger

· #4 · Feb 3, 2014

Should be an awesome setup! Keep the updates coming!

Spiffyfish

· #5 · Feb 3, 2014

Looks promising, I really like how the lights came out.

thelub

· #6 · Feb 3, 2014

Those lights are genious. I might have to steal that idea. I'm eagerly waiting progress reports

howze01

· #7 · Feb 3, 2014

Any chance of humidity issues with the tank that close to the TV?

Method

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 3, 2014

howze01 said:
Any chance of humidity issues with the tank that close to the TV?

I hope not. We'll find out!

Method

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 5, 2014

thelub said:
Those lights are genious. I might have to steal that idea. I'm eagerly waiting progress reports

Thank you. As with almost everything else I plan to do, the lights weren't all my idea. I just combined a few ideas I'd seen others use.

This is a quick mock-up of what I plan to do for the false bottom and HMF.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 22, 2014

Haven't had as much time to work on this in the last couple weeks. I have made some progress in the last few days though! Here's a teaser

Cyanider

· #11 · Mar 3, 2014 (Edited)

Very cool tank idea - can't wait to see how it pans out! I LOVE all of the DIY you have going on here.. I wish I didn't live in an apartment so I could attempt to build my own stand. Can't wait to see the updates on this tank. Subscribed.

Curious, where will the equipment for the tank go? Or will having the HMF avoid having a cabinet full of equipment?

Also, hello fellow Marylander!

Method

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 3, 2014

The waterfall pump, heater, and canister input and outflow will be hidden behind the mattenfilter. The reverse-flow undergravel filter will be... under the gravel. The canister itself fits nicely into the left hand side of the stand.

So far everything is going according to plan. I'm currently carving the polystyrene rocks in preparation for painting and planting.

I _should_ be able to start the dry-start process within a week or two.

Method

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 9, 2014

Finally gotten some more work done! Here is the bottom, assembled from egg crate, PVC, and zip ties. A retaining wall made from corner guard will hold the sponge mattenfilter against the PVC uprights.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 9, 2014

Here is the first layer of Black Diamond blasting sand with the RFUG filter return manifold over it. I intentionally designed the filter return to sit over a layer of blasting grit and substrate so I wouldn't sandblast the bottom of my tank. I'm pretty sure that's why my geriatric 55 gallon failed so spectacularly. You'll notice that the RFUG manifold gets fed from a pipe on the left side.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 9, 2014

Here's the working side of the RFUG. All the pieces of PVC were just dry-fitted together. I've been told that should be sufficient for such a low-pressure application. Some of the pieces were scavenged from my last RFUG (hence the different colors).

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Method

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 9, 2014

Here are the two sections of the Hamburger Mattenfilter being prepped for moss growing. I did the general recipe of a big handful of moss blended with a cup of buttermilk and some molasses. Paints on pretty easily! These were done with a mixture of Christmas and java moss.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 9, 2014

Here is the HMF installed. Sorry about the crappy light and the iphone pics.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 9, 2014

Plenty of room for equipment behind the HMF! The pump that will power the waterfall is on an egg crate platform to keep it gunk free.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 9, 2014

The rocks are installed! They aren't quite as accurate as I was hoping but it's my first foam rock scape. The 'rock' sits directly on the PVC uprights and the HMF but is otherwise unattached. The rock itself, like the HMF, is actually two pieces so that I can take it out for cleaning as needed.

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Method

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 9, 2014 (Edited)

Probably the last pic for a while as this grows in. The upper part of the rock is painted with a terrestrial moss smoothie, the lower with riccia. The three levels each have their own shallow pool. The highest one is planted with Lilaeopsis mauritiana, Hygrophila angustifolia, and creeping jenny. The middle level pool has Alternanthera reineckii, broad-leaved ludwigia, dwarf sag, and creeping jenny. The lowest level pool has Rotala colorata, Lobelia cardinalis (dwarf), one Crypt spiralis, glosso, and creeping jenny. In the middle right is a Phalaenopsis orchid. In the middle left is a Dendrobium orchid. The bottom right is an Amazon sword (currently submerged form). The far left and right are Tillandsia. The water level will eventually go to *almost* the top of the HMF.

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