[NotCousteau]

I have no experience with silicone/foam. Just wanted to stop by and say good luck. What do you plan to keep in there?

 

[PhysicsDude55]

The silicone will hold the wood down. Its how I have my wood attached to my tank. I never soaked them and waterlogged them, I just siliconed them and filled up the tank.

The foam will be a bigger issue than the wood since foam is VERY buoyant. But you've got plenty of silicone on there (rookie mistake is to not use enough silicone). You should be good to go

 

[Freemananana]

That is a nice looking 10G tank. I am in the dark on your design concept though. I'm looking forward to updates, but until then I'm a little confused on the overall need for the foam.

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Thank you for your warm welcome!

@NotCousteau: I am not sure yet.. I was thinking of European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), but then I saw African dwarf frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) and now I don't know..

First, I'll setup my tank and plant it with stuff, than when everything settles down, I'll do some temp, ph, hardines, etc. measurements and decide accordingly.

@PhysicsDude55: Nice, I wasn't sure about amount, and then went by "more is better".. I've used the whole "bottle" of silicone just for mounting the background with pipes and that one piece of wood.. =)

@Freemananana: I hope next few photos will make it clearer.. I don't like the bottom rock on the left thou, it's to small, so I am still searching for a more suitable one. But in short, 3 pieces of wood, 2 standing on rock/bottom and one sticking from the background. All three will have running water over them, and there will bi a small ledge on the right side with one cup for orchid.

Green line will be the water line.

One more thing, those lines glued with silicone are guide lines, so I can insert and change the actual ones, which fit inside, if needed.

 

[Freemananana]

Okay, I'm getting it now. I'll be interested to see how this plays out. I often see adventurous individuals in hobbies who never finish projects, but I have hope. Good luck!

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Okay, I'm getting it now. I'll be interested to see how this plays out. I often see adventurous individuals in hobbies who never finish projects, but I have hope. Good luck!

I hope I could finish it to the testing phase with water until the end of this week. The only real set back I can see currently, is the need for custom filter for my water pump, as the original one is to big. I am deciding between pump stuck on the glass and filter above the sand, or the other option with building filter as a rock and pump standing on it. I am leaning towards the first option, as it takes a lot less time..

Thank you for your wishes!

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Another update, and a tough decision!

Silicone has cured enough so I can proceed.. But now I am not sure if I want that ledge for the orchid or some other plant in cup or not.

What do you think? From the front I like the ledge, but from the right side view.. not so much :S

For the bottom I have a bag of black sand/gravel.. (Karlie Flamingo Aquarium Gravel 8 L 10 kg Black: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies)

Do you think it will be ok?

 

[drewsuf82]

Such an interesting build and idea with the foam.

I hope you all the best in this tank and hope that you keep us updated! Subbed!

BTW welcome to the forums!

 

[Hilde]

For the bottom I have a bag of black sand/gravel.. (Karlie Flamingo Aquarium Gravel 8 L 10 kg Black: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies)

What do you plan to do with the tubes in the foam?

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Such an interesting build and idea with the foam.

I hope you all the best in this tank and hope that you keep us updated! Subbed!

BTW welcome to the forums!

Thank you for your warm wishes!

What do you plan to do with the tubes in the foam?

It's plumbing for three waterfalls, that I have planed to run over the wood pieces.

Today i'll cover the foam with coco peat, just I still haven't decided if I want that ledge for plant or not..

I'll post some more photos later today..

Regards
MM

 

[Hilde]

It's plumbing for three waterfalls, that I have planed to run over the wood pieces.

Today i'll cover the foam with coco peat, just I still haven't decided if I want that ledge for plant or not..

Interesting!! Is there a reason for the waterfalls or is it just something you want to do? So this is going to be an open tank? Coco peat tends to float thus uncertain if that will be a good covering. I think moss would work better.

Perhaps this thread on how to make the illusion of a waterfall would interest you.

 

[leemacnyc]

Welcome aboard DIY Man Lots of great people and information here. I guessing this is a riparium? What type of flora & fauna are you planning on getting?

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Interesting!! Is there a reason for the waterfalls or is it just something you want to do? So this is going to be an open tank? Coco peat tends to float thus uncertain if that will be a good covering. I think moss would work better.

Perhaps this thread on how to make the illusion of a waterfall would interest you.

Sorry for my bad english, but it's not my native language. Waterfalls will be the "normal" ones, not under water.. I hope you will imagine better from the photo attached bellow, where I did draw a waterline and also waterfalls. Tank will be covered with fine mesh, as I've decided it will host a pair of bombina frogs and one betta fish, and frogs would escape otherwise.

Welcome aboard DIY Man Lots of great people and information here. I guessing this is a riparium? What type of flora & fauna are you planning on getting?

Thank you for your warm welcome! I am not so good with terms yet, but I think it would fall under paludarium or riparium, as it will have water and land features. For fauna I was thinking one pair of Bombina frogs, one Betta fish, and one snail.. I think that will be more than enough.. =)

For flora I am open to suggestions. I like any kind of moss (I did bring few specimens from local forest http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=829489, almost any kind of orchids, and also dwarf baby tears as a carpet doesn't look too shabby.. =)

..but as I've said, I am a total noob with no previous experience what so ever, so any advice is more than welcome.

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

..not such a good timing to run out of silicone!

..but you can see, how it will look eventually. I am quiet pleased with the current result, despite the stupid silicone situation.

 

[drewsuf82]

This is going to look really awesome when it's done, can't wait, I love how you're adding a waterfall to it as well.

 

[Freemananana]

What kind of animals are you putting in here? Is there going to be any fish? I must have missed it if you have already mentioned the answer.

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

What kind of animals are you putting in here? Is there going to be any fish? I must have missed it if you have already mentioned the answer.

Pair of Bombina frogs and one Betta fish, and one snail, at least that's the current plan..
But it depends on what kind of environment will it be, when it stabilises.

This is going to look really awesome when it's done, can't wait, I love how you're adding a waterfall to it as well.

Thank you!

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Finally an update..

..I've had few things that had to be done, so Riparium was on a side track for few days. Finally I've had some time to spare, and here is the result.. I hope you like it, I know I do.. =)

Now just 1-2 days of waiting for silicone to cure, than water test!

 

[DIY Medicine Man]

Finally the water is in!

Couldn't wait any longer, so here it is..

My first paludarium/riparium filled with water, waterfalls running, and fog machine also. Now comes time to plant the tank.. Any suggestions?

Current water temp. is 24-25 °C

Better photos will follow..