Teachers wants Paludarium

[rdeloughery]

Hello everyone,
I will go though all the threads looking for info but I am a high school science teacher and have a 45 gallon tank and would love to build a paludarium with/for my students. I am hoping there are some good resources here and also would like to post our progress once the project is underway. Any hints or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Rich

[Ianne]

Hmm cycle your tank! it could even be a lesson!

[LeahK]

Hi! Welcome to Aquaria Central. A paludarium sounds like a great project for students!
Did you see the paludarium/vivarium forum? http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=71

[Rbishop]

Welcome to AC! Would love to see the build of it!

[1oooop]

WELCOME TO THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!

I'm 1oooop and I'll be your tour guide today

:D(just kidding)

[rdeloughery]

So with 10 months between posts I am really trying to get this build underway and done. I have been doing a lot of reading but still would like some input as I go. I have a 45 gallon tank that I have created a false bottom for using pvc for supports, egg crate and screen for a false bottom and have attached it all with cable ties to form the structure seen in the pictures. I plan on using a home made sponge filter in the back left that will drive the water up and out to a small waterfall that will feed a small stream to carry the water to the other side of the tank. The filter and heater (if one is needed) will be accessible by a door on top of the stucture in the back left. And this is where I find myself.
I have great stuff I plan to use for the background and the stream (I've seen a stream formed using great stuff on another thread or forum). I have the hydroton for the substrtae and plan on putting some screen/weed cloth over that to keep additional sustrate from falling through into the water. Based on the size of the tank and the depthe of the water (3"), it will have a total of 7.5 gallons with 2.4 or so actually accessible to the aquatic organisms. I may create a floating island (you can see it by itself on the right hand side of the tank) if I feel the right side is too open. I have built it and plan on using some great stuff underneath it to allow it to float.
Now here are some of my concerns:
1. My set-up has the screen covered egg crate highly visible under the water. What is the best way to dress this up and still allow water to flow through?
2. I plan on using great stuff for the background since it seems easy to shape once it is cured. Would I need to create large cups in it to hold soil/substrate/pots or are there any better ideas out there?
3. I am shooting for a sort of tropical river system, but if it looks to be too expensive (I am a teacher after all and have 2 small children) I will do a temperate river system. I want something that looks great and can be used both as inspiration in the classroom as well as a tool (pH, dissolved O2, etc) for my Biology and Chemistry classes.
Any input would be great, especially if you see something that is obviously trouble.
Many thanks ahead of time,
Rich

[rdeloughery]

The pics, that letter took so long I forgot to put them here.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2258&pictureid=19201
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2258&pictureid=19200

[Rbishop]

Start a build thread in our

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...splay.php?f=71 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...splay.php?f=71)

many folks would love to see it!

[rdeloughery]

Continued here:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2382991#post2382991