How to Build a Paludarium

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Looks like it will be a blast Steve! Needed the sump room for beer keg storage? Wendy and I have been toying around with a mantella tank for sometime now. I have them before and have always wanted a properly built tank for them. Not quite a paludarium, but close

Yeah something like that. A mantella looks pretty much the same, and I'm not even convinced paludarium is the right word for mine, more like a mini ornamental aquaponic system, but it seems to fit the best.

[sphelps]

Going back to complete step 3, plumbing.

Here you can see the return line which feeds the main return and two branch lines. The smaller branch line feeds the drip system, the larger branch line feeds the water fall.



For now I've just connected the canister filter, it's a Fluval FX6. Later on I will be adding a UV sterilizer, an inline heater and probe holders for control of various operations.



Here's a shot of the drip lines I ran. There's one main drip line that runs the top perimeter of the tank and essentially cascades down the rock keeping most pots wet. I also tee'd off that line and ran some dedicated lines to feed the larger pots. Valves will be added to these lines later to limit the flow a little more as it's pretty heavy right now, but for the time being the extra flow will help cure things up nicely. I also filled the pots with Hydrocorn for growing medium.










And that pretty much sums up step 3, plumbing is essentially done except the few extra options that will be added later down the road.

[sphelps]

To clean things up I added some moss. I also filled the tank and started curing the concrete. No idea how long that will take but once the water clears up I'll start measuring pH. Here's the latest FSS.

[gregzz4]

That is so kool

What critters are you planning on adding ?

[Howie]

You have done an awesome job so far. I am looking forward to seeing it once it's all completed!!

[Bayside Corals]

Nice work Steve, It's very impressive! can't wait till you put some livestock in there.

[Scythanith]

Looking awesome! Bet you're glad you didn't switch out to the blue 6200 mitras pucks now

[FishyFishy!]

You're a man of many talents brew. Looking simply amazing as usual.

[sphelps]

Thanks guys. No real plans for livestock yet as I'm not very experienced in the fresh water and haven't done much research. Open to any suggestions for some fish that are good with plants and the theme, also things like vampire crabs caught my eye just don't know much about them. The main goal is to keep maintenance down, don't want anything that requires special feeding on a regular bases, the whole point of this transformation was to have something I can essentially leave unattended for weeks without issue.

[intarsiabox]

I've seen Archerfish kept in Paludariums. They are an interesting species that are well suited to this style of aquarium.