I think its been a year or more since I have been on this site. I've been a 'lil busy with life and other than a fauna-free paludarium (well okay, it has some snails in it still) and two dogs I no longer have any fish/reptiles/amphibians/inverts/etc. I took down all my other tanks, gave away my fish (breeding colonies of pygmy cories and peacock gudgeons too!), and pretty much have just been biding my time in the small critter department. Well, that's about to change!
I've had a tank/stand sitting in a spare room for about three years. I recently (yesterday) took out the stand, sanded it, and painted it. Friday night I plan to put some elbow grease into the aquarium and figure out exactly where I want to display it. IIRC, dimensions are close to 49"Lx13"Wx25"H (it has kinda odd dimensions). I don't have my equipment or hardscape decided (or probably even purchased!) yet. Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out how I am going to set the thing up and what its inhabitants will be. I don't think this tank will be a true biotope, but perhaps attempting to "get close" would be fun. The only fauna I really have my eyes on right now are dwarf chain loaches. That's not set in stone though. The biggest key for this whole setup will be ease of maintenance. I don't want extremely complex filter maintenance/access, overly-picky fauna, sensitive plants, etc. The most water I am thinking of is about 30gal while the least would be about 10gal. A few options I am tossing around right now are:
1) Open top (or at least mostly-open top) lower-humidity plants above the water line with only about 15gal of water total. Land surface would take up most of tank. I was thinking of going a bit "large" with some of the plants and having them grow out the top. Lights would likely be suspended from the ceiling (though this is not an absolute).
2) Mesh/glass combo top, moderate humidity environment with some frogs (possibly Reed frogs or similar). If I go for Reed frogs, I would like to find some kind of small/medium sized "reed" type plants for them to hang out on around the waterline. I could either have land to one side or make the back side of the tank the "edge" of land.
3) Higher humidity setup with shallow water. This would be a rainforest type setup, probably with dart frogs, automatic misting system, etc. Probably very little water as well.
I try to take some pics in the next few days of the tank/stand. Doesn't look like there has been tons of activity in this sub-forum lately, but if anyone has any cool ideas/pictures I wouldn't mind seeing them for inspiration!
I've had a tank/stand sitting in a spare room for about three years. I recently (yesterday) took out the stand, sanded it, and painted it. Friday night I plan to put some elbow grease into the aquarium and figure out exactly where I want to display it. IIRC, dimensions are close to 49"Lx13"Wx25"H (it has kinda odd dimensions). I don't have my equipment or hardscape decided (or probably even purchased!) yet. Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out how I am going to set the thing up and what its inhabitants will be. I don't think this tank will be a true biotope, but perhaps attempting to "get close" would be fun. The only fauna I really have my eyes on right now are dwarf chain loaches. That's not set in stone though. The biggest key for this whole setup will be ease of maintenance. I don't want extremely complex filter maintenance/access, overly-picky fauna, sensitive plants, etc. The most water I am thinking of is about 30gal while the least would be about 10gal. A few options I am tossing around right now are:
1) Open top (or at least mostly-open top) lower-humidity plants above the water line with only about 15gal of water total. Land surface would take up most of tank. I was thinking of going a bit "large" with some of the plants and having them grow out the top. Lights would likely be suspended from the ceiling (though this is not an absolute).
2) Mesh/glass combo top, moderate humidity environment with some frogs (possibly Reed frogs or similar). If I go for Reed frogs, I would like to find some kind of small/medium sized "reed" type plants for them to hang out on around the waterline. I could either have land to one side or make the back side of the tank the "edge" of land.
3) Higher humidity setup with shallow water. This would be a rainforest type setup, probably with dart frogs, automatic misting system, etc. Probably very little water as well.
I try to take some pics in the next few days of the tank/stand. Doesn't look like there has been tons of activity in this sub-forum lately, but if anyone has any cool ideas/pictures I wouldn't mind seeing them for inspiration!
