[gamefe]

Setting up a 20 gal long vampire crabitat. The goal is 3-5 vampire crabs

Long bit of stone on a cm of pebbles so water can flow under and around. The front has just under an 1” layer of sand for crabs to dig through. The water is expected to get just below the height of the stone - about 3” deep.

The back will have a water pump to make a little waterfall or disperse water around. I’m planning maybe 50-80 gph pump. The back 2/3 will be a sloped area full of land mosses and some sort of plants. The goal is to put as much plant life asNot figured out what yet.

I will have a lid, waiting for the next paycheck to order a glass lid.

Advice / questions
1. Do I fill back area with lava rock or can I just fill with pea gravel pebbles ? I have pea gravel but I’ll buy lava rock if I need to.

2. Advice on plants, ferns/epiphytes or other mosses to put in there? I’ve started to research but im not sure what im looking for.

3. I can replace the light with a Fluval 3.0 plant , it is a aquaneat cheapo led light now. I’m not sure if mosses and such need the fancy Fluval light or not.

4. in the back I put down layer of stones for drainage. Above the water level I lay down a cm or so of dried spaghnum moss and then I can put whatever plants Into that? Or do I put a fuller soil like the miracle grow peat moss mix? I’ve never done this and im very confused about the planting.

5. Plant suggestions?

6. Anything else wrong with this setup before I get too far?

 

[LidijaPN]

I have no answers to your technical planting questions but I’m so here to see crabitat pics down the line ♥

I’d check out some Serpa Design videos, he does amazing terrariums/ vivariums/ paludariums etc with live plants and describes in great detail what he’s using and how and why...

 

[minorhero]

Setting up a 20 gal long vampire crabitat. The goal is 3-5 vampire crabs

Long bit of stone on a cm of pebbles so water can flow under and around. The front has just under an 1” layer of sand for crabs to dig through. The water is expected to get just below the height of the stone - about 3” deep.

The back will have a water pump to make a little waterfall or disperse water around. I’m planning maybe 50-80 gph pump. The back 2/3 will be a sloped area full of land mosses and some sort of plants. The goal is to put as much plant life asNot figured out what yet.

I will have a lid, waiting for the next paycheck to order a glass lid.

Advice / questions
1. Do I fill back area with lava rock or can I just fill with pea gravel pebbles ? I have pea gravel but I’ll buy lava rock if I need to.

2. Advice on plants, ferns/epiphytes or other mosses to put in there? I’ve started to research but im not sure what im looking for.

3. I can replace the light with a Fluval 3.0 plant , it is a aquaneat cheapo led light now. I’m not sure if mosses and such need the fancy Fluval light or not.

4. in the back I put down layer of stones for drainage. Above the water level I lay down a cm or so of dried spaghnum moss and then I can put whatever plants Into that? Or do I put a fuller soil like the miracle grow peat moss mix? I’ve never done this and im very confused about the planting.

5. Plant suggestions?

6. Anything else wrong with this setup before I get too far?

You can use pea gravel if you want BUT a bag of lava rock from home depot or your hardware store of choice is 5 dollars and it will be significantly easier to build height then the pea gravel which will seek a state of repose at a gentler slope then the lavarock. If it were me, I'd buy the lavarock.

Plants for the water area would be limited by the depth of the water. Some small crypts, anubias nana petite, buce, maybe some blyxa japonica. Etc.

You do not need a wifi light unless you want one. An app controlled light will let you have sunrise and sunset effects. This is 1 part aesthetic for you, and 1 part not spooking the animals when the light turns on. I am not familiar with the light you mention but if its an aquarium light its likely going to be strong enough on a 20 long.

If it were me, I would not put down any soil into the tank you did not want to get into your water. Sphagnum will stain your water very yellow from tannins. Dirt will do even more. Personally I like to use a mix of aquasoil and calcined clay products (like safe-t-sorb you buy from tractor supploy, or turface). These are safe for aquatic use and won't stain your water.

Good luck!!