I plan on contructing a paludariums with a large land area but still plenty of water for a few fish. I am going to use acrylic to make a box for dry land area in the one corner. Then use foam and slate style rocks to build a nature looking stairway to the land mass. On the opposite side I am going to have an underwater cave with a water fall sitting on top of it. All along the back wall I will use foam, silicone, and coconut husk to make a back drop. I want plenty of plants to make it look as natural as possible.
I got the idea for the cave from a product from http://www.crabhomes.com they are underwater air pockets for crab to get out of the water underwater. I loved the idea and thought I would adpat it to be intergrated into my palu.
My naked tank pictures were accidentally erased before I could upload them and I don't have my nice camera for another week so I apologize for the crumby iPhone pictures I promise the image quality will be better in the future.
At home depot I picked up some foam and some black silicone
I cut a three pieces of acrylic sheeting the cave ceiling, side, and a support. I put a notch in the back corner of the cave ceiling so I could run an air line in and siliconed everything into place.
Then I siliconed the support and side cave wall in
The blue tape indicates water level
After more than 24 hours to cure I decided to test it out. I need to see if the silicone is strong enough to hold the pressure of the air and water. I filled the tank with water.
There were two leaks in the corners that my buddy held close while we pumped the air into the cave.
The air camber is filling up
The underwater cave air camber is full and it looks like the sela is holding aside from the corners
It was important to me that the water line be above the cieling of the cave that it looked like a cave and not a wall holding back water
I need to order the underwater led light that will light this cave red.
This kind of explains how its look.
I am so excited that it looks like it will work and I am driven to keep working I will try my best to keep this updated with pictures. I welcome all suggestions and questions.
LankyB
I got the idea for the cave from a product from http://www.crabhomes.com they are underwater air pockets for crab to get out of the water underwater. I loved the idea and thought I would adpat it to be intergrated into my palu.
My naked tank pictures were accidentally erased before I could upload them and I don't have my nice camera for another week so I apologize for the crumby iPhone pictures I promise the image quality will be better in the future.
At home depot I picked up some foam and some black silicone
I cut a three pieces of acrylic sheeting the cave ceiling, side, and a support. I put a notch in the back corner of the cave ceiling so I could run an air line in and siliconed everything into place.
Then I siliconed the support and side cave wall in
The blue tape indicates water level
After more than 24 hours to cure I decided to test it out. I need to see if the silicone is strong enough to hold the pressure of the air and water. I filled the tank with water.
There were two leaks in the corners that my buddy held close while we pumped the air into the cave.
The air camber is filling up
The underwater cave air camber is full and it looks like the sela is holding aside from the corners
It was important to me that the water line be above the cieling of the cave that it looked like a cave and not a wall holding back water
I need to order the underwater led light that will light this cave red.
This kind of explains how its look.
I am so excited that it looks like it will work and I am driven to keep working I will try my best to keep this updated with pictures. I welcome all suggestions and questions.
LankyB
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