How to Build a Paludarium

Skimmer Juice · #1 03-03-2015, 12:33 AM

should not have looked at this thread . Now I want to build one after googeling . Will follow see how it turns out

sphelps · #2 03-03-2015, 12:54 AM

Step Two: Background.

I wanted something 3 dimensional that would hold some plants and act as a water feature. Only option was to build one from scratch so I picked up some rigid foam and some spray foam and got to work.

Foam outline and pots all siliconed in place

Spray foam going on

After burning through 2 cans of the expensive black pond foam rather quickly I just decided to continue with the standard great stuff.

Then I curved out the exist to reveal a more rock like structure.

After one coat of Quickwall Cement with Acrylic Fortifier

Next layer had brown cement coloring added

Final Layer has charcoal coloring

sphelps · #3 03-03-2015, 12:54 AM

Apologies in advance for poor picture quality, just snapped a few rather quickly with my phone as I worked through the process.

sphelps · #4 03-03-2015, 12:59 AM

Another method used:

Rigid foam rough cut

Followed buy some blow torch action

First coat

Finished product for the back wall

kien · #5 03-03-2015, 03:48 AM

you shut your reef down Steve ??

straightrazorguy · #6 03-03-2015, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

you shut your reef down Steve ??

You shut down your reef for a swamp Steve???

sphelps · #7 03-03-2015, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

you shut your reef down Steve ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by straightrazorguy

You shut down your reef for a swamp Steve???

You guys got to keep up, that was step one.

Ryanerickson · #8 03-03-2015, 05:48 AM

After looking up that word, [Paludariumcan] had to paste it can't spell it lol or not trying. Amazing tanks from what you have started with this should be a show piece, maybe look into making statues lol looks amazing I'm very impressed.

Seriak · #9 03-03-2015, 01:37 PM

Lit by a mitras no less

sphelps · #10 03-03-2015, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryanerickson

After looking up that word, [Paludariumcan] had to paste it can't spell it lol or not trying. Amazing tanks from what you have started with this should be a show piece, maybe look into making statues lol looks amazing I'm very impressed.

Thanks, so far it has turned out pretty good, hopefully I can keep it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seriak

Lit by a mitras no less

Lit by 3, I removed 2 for access but eventually will go back up. The gimmick features of clouds and storms seem more appropriate for my "swamp" than my previous reef.