Brackish Fiddler Tank Build

Well almost done so I thought I'd share what I have so far...
Sorry if I miss any steps, did this over several nights of Wild Turkey and Sailor Jerry...

The tank is a Exo-Terra Glass Terrarium. I picked the 12" cube due to counter space, but after building everything so vertical, I really wish I could of fit the 18" cube.

The filter is the Zoo-Med 501 turtle canister filter. Small size and a low 74gph turn over made it perfect for this tank that will only hold about 2-3 gallons.

Lighting is Coralife mini PC 18w fixture, that I use to use for a nano planted.

Heat will be a small Hagen Betta tank heater. I think its like 5 or 15w. Not sure cause I haven't unburied it yet.


Tank


Had the choice of slate or sandstone. Sandstone was my first choice, but after a few swings of the hammer...I decided slate was a better choice.



Laying out the back wall, was planning on painting so I knew I didn't need to fill every gap. The black 1/2 tube is a water catch for the water dripping down the back wall.


The next night I played for an hour or so with the main structure. Finally I made something I liked, but by the time I disassembled, I forgot how to put it back together...



with the light....


Tonight I painted the back, Benjamin Moore (I manage one of their company owned stores) makes color samples, which makes great paint for the back of small-ish tanks.


I then added male-to-male 1 1/2" PVC couplers to the bottom ( forgot to take a pic). Then layered some fiberglass window screen inside the structure.


Next I coated the drip system drain with silicon and covered it with sand.


Then started working on the waterfall feature. which took me a while to find the right pieces that would make the water flow right. then siliconed them in place, siliconed the edge to the side and covered in sand, pouring sand on them kind gave me a visual cue on how the water would flow.




Front view

Top view, after adding some accents




Tomorrow night (hopefully) will be filling the structure with gravel and sand, and filling with water. Also adding moss and plants.

Tonight I finished it for the most part. Still need to dig out the heater and install the water temp. probe, and clean the glass.

Placed fine gravel at bottom of structure and filled tank with water to see where the water line was going to be.


Hooked up the filter.


Water features seem to be working surprisingly well for not really testing them.




Filled the rest of the structure with sand.


Add some Anubias Nanas and Java moss. And built up the back to hide the drip system drain.


And the build is done.




Hopefully the Nanas do ok emerged and sprout new leaves, since they've always been submerged. Their roots in high flow areas of water. The moss I just kinda threw in, I let it go where ever it wants/needs to.

Since I used the gravel from my 55g tank and water is flowing through it, the tank should cycle quickly. I'm going to test the water Tues. and if the levels seem ok, get a crab on Weds.

After the crab and plants get use to the new digs I will slowly start adding salt during weekly WC for about a month until it is up to 1.005. This will also let me see how the evaporation is and find away to combat the salinity swings if necessary. Probably just a freshwater drip. But since its all enclosed, I don't think too much water will escape, maybe it will condense on the glass and drip back down.

Comments/Suggestions?

Thanks for viewing,
Jason