Potential new Paludarium

[andy]

Just tentatively looking into creating a paludarium which will combine my love of tropical fish and tropical plants. Any paludarium experts out there?

I have room for the Exo-Terra 36x x 36 x 18, which will give me the best of both worlds.

My current Chihiros 90cm wrgb pro lights will fit perfectly over the top

I'm going to need a filter....I currently have a Fluval 303 with a spraybar which could be used for a water fall or I can upgrade.

My existing D&D heater linked to an external thermostat will heat the water.

Would I need a mister/fogger to increase humidity?

Also what decor would you use?

 

[Tyko_N]

Just tentatively looking into creating a paludarium which will combine my love of tropical fish and tropical plants

An excellent idea 🙂

Would I need a mister/fogger to increase humidity?

Probably not, but it depends on (I) what you want to keep in there, and (II) if you can cover parts of the screen top while still allowing for decent ventilation.

Also what decor would you use?

I tend to use fairly little hardscape, mainly to leave as much room as possible for the plants. That said, some good chunks of wood are always nice, and can be used for mounting epiphytes. Again, it depends on if you want any animals in there, then you have to tailor it to them.

 

[Nuno da Silva]

Would I need a mister/fogger to increase humidity?

I run my small exoterra with a glass lid and 4 vent holes. This way I can have really high humidity and I don't need the mister system. I used to run a fan on top but nowadays I just open the doors for a while.

 

[andy]

So I’ve been doing the sponge thing and looking at all possibilities.
I’m sure the external filter I already have won’t work sitting by the side of the tank as it requires a syphon to get it started.
I’m also sure the Fluval 207 won’t be man enough to push the water up five and a half feet.
Any suggestions for a man enough filter? Don’t want to be overkill so maybe a Fluval 407?

 

[Nuno da Silva]

That set up will be an absolute pain to prime every time you turn it off.

I recommend a small pump inside the tank. You can create a specific area for it, so you can easily access it, like this :

 

[andy]

So it’s all systems go…although a lot smaller.
Picked up an Exo Terra 18 x 18 x 24. It’ll sit in my office at work.
The background will be expanded foam chiselled out to form a decent scape on two sides. Small pieces of alphagrog will be siliconed onto the foam
There’ll be a small 600lph internal filter going to a spray bar at the top to for a waterfall.
Small heater too. Branches to provide somewhere for epiphytes.

The wet area holds 6 gallons…. What would you add, fish wise.
I was thinking of either a single male fighter or maybe a small group of nano fish such as galaxy or chilli rasboras.

 

[RotGoblin]

You could consider nano-killifish!

Normally you'd be worried about them jumping but that's not an issue here, they could jump to their hearts content.

You could have maybe 6 or so Clown Killifish (banded Panchax) in there. And they would potentially breed in there under the right conditions, and they are one of the few killifish whose eggs will hatch underwater.

 

[andy]

I've never seen them for sale but always loved photos of them. I'll do some research.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Epiplatys annulatus (Clown Killi) are lovely fish <"Pseudepiplatys anulatus – British Killifish Association">

I'll do some research.

They need soft water <"Banded panchax - Fireplace aquarium"> and ideally a Fruit-fly culture (vestigial winged Drosophila melanogaster) to <"keep them happy">.

They spawn fairly easily in the summer, if you feed them <"plenty of mosquito larvae">. They also like Daphnia, but usually won't chase them if they get away from the surface.

cheers Darrel

 

[andy]

Any suggestions for lighting?

it came with an Eco Terra light canopy with two bulbs in.
E27
40mA
7.3w
2700k
They seem very yellow and not terribly powerful. Are there any LED that can screw in?
I have room for a second light canopy if that’s any use?

 

[RotGoblin]

I'd personally be tempted to unscrew the whole current light bar and use the mounting points to secure in a proper LED light bar with a bit of 3d printing trickery or our good friends the cable ties.

 

[PARAGUAY]

@andy Think you will be able to get similar bulb in daylight 6500k

 

[andy]

6500k bulbs ordered plus looking to get a second light canopy.

The plan is to place the heater and internal filter....plus pipework for the waterfall, at the back.

Line the two sides with clingfilm (back and left side), use expanding foam to create a backdrop.

Once cured, the foam can be worked to create the design i want.

Remove cured backdrops and attach small pieces of alphafrog to create rocky backdrop. Any gaps will be filled in with peat, which i have at work already. I'll use aquarium safe silicon as a glue

Branches from Swell on order.

As for fish. I'm toying with the idea of half a dozen Honey Gouramies and maybe a small group of pygmy cories.

Opinions welcome.

 

[andy]

Just set up roughly to test everything. Still not sure of fish choice but I’m leaning towards a single male fighter.

 

[andy]

Waterfall has been running for a week. Added lots of small plants today…
Ficus pumila, peperomia repens, different Fittonias, small Areca palm, mini Phaelenopsis, mini Spatiphyllum, Cryptanthus.

I put some moss in there from the garden last week and that seems to enjoy it.

Water is brown and producing lots of foam scum. Will try to leave it to do its thing for a week or two and then do a 100% water change with RO

 

[Invert-105]

Stunning set up! What’s the mini orchid? A phalenopsis?

 

[andy]

Stunning set up! What’s the mini orchid? A phalenopsis?

Yes just a miniature Phalenopsis.

Things are coming on. Added a couple of Tilandsia plus some Spanish moss.

Any advice on what critters I can keep? Any frogs etc? I’m still looking at a single male fighter in the wet section but open to suggestions.

 

[andy]

Bit of an update.
Added some baby guppies to the wet section.
Add a pingu and a Nepenthes which seem to be doing well.
Also added some Anubias and Beuces to the areas above the water.