want to redo my 30g FBT tank

[ufvj217]

its very plain looking right now, with just gravel (large enough so they dont mistake it for food, at least they never have yet) and some of those little tree-bark looking cave things you can buy at petco. i dont have any plants, background, anything. i have 6 FBT's. ive been looking all through here at different setups, and i think what i want to do is make a background and sides out of styrofoam or that 2" pink foam insulation stuff, and then coat it in something. i was looking at this old thread, and i really like how his looks with the little cave and all (most of the pics don't work anymore though)

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69630

also, i was reading up on this:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_aquarium_background3.php

what is the best thing to coat it in, or paint it, etc?

i saw another guys build log wear he coated the cement on the floor of the tank as well which i think looked cool.

i need ideas though on how to set it up. what to use, etc. the filter i have now is a whisper (http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Pro...Nao_24_sku_933740_familyID_12460.aspx#details)

any ideas will he helpful!

 

[user_name]

I would persoanlly switch the gravel over to bark designed for amphibians and reptiles. Then I would get some "forest moss" for on top of the bark, its sold by ZooMed (not sure) and comes in bricks.

You should look into paludariums, as thats the best set-up for FBT's. Look at Christinators paludarium (scroll down a bit) for a good way to seperate land and water using sillicone

 

[ufvj217]

ill check that out now. i actually have a brick of that moss. i had it in there a while ago, but it seemed to start to stink/bring flies, and i dont know if thats where the flies started breeding (see my fish tank thread i just made) lol.

wow, thanks for showing me his thread. that gave me some good ideas, i think im going to copy his zigzag partition! all i need is like 1/4 or 1/2" plexi, and GE silicon II right?

 

[user_name]

I think so, I'm not that educated on palus, but I am planning on redoing mine using spray foam sealed off with aquarium grade sillicone.

That moss stuff has to be changed out every few months I think, not 100% though.

heres a video of one of my favorite set-ups, FBT's need more land, but this would be cool for the water part : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71oP9YaUdk&feature=related



How deep do you plan on making the water?

 

[ufvj217]

I think so, I'm not that educated on palus, but I am planning on redoing mine using spray foam sealed off with aquarium grade sillicone.

That moss stuff has to be changed out every few months I think, not 100% though.

heres a video of one of my favorite set-ups, FBT's need more land, but this would be cool for the water part : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t71oP9YaUdk&feature=related



How deep do you plan on making the water?

not too deep, depends on how ever i set up the plexi i guess.

 

[ufvj217]

what kind of pump would i want to get if i want to hide it under water, and run a hidden tube to the land part to create a waterfall, rather than the current Whisper pump i have now?

 

[farrk]

The best thing to do would be to dump the whisper filter, because the intake won't even be able to reach your water line, and replace it with a small canister filter. The output tube for that can be used to create the waterfall, and you won't even need to worry about buying/hiding/maintaining a pump.

Also canister filter is cooler, more effective, etc etc..