70gal Paludarium/Vivarium Build

[calivivarium1]

Interesting thoughts, Mellowvision. When I do a water change I may see how things look with less water. Fortunately due to my inline heater and the powerhead (essentially) filter intake I can drop my water level quite a bit. The problem of course would be in deciding if the background looks better that way or not. Thanks for the suggestion though, I will definitely try it out.

 

[calivivarium1]

Here are two different water levels I am considering based on Mellowvision's posts... I kinda liked the lowest one because it gives me a ripple-effect on the water surface (I had originally wanted this but my filter doesn't push enough water to really provide it how I was hoping..).

 

[authmal]

because there are very few terrestrial plants that look right without more air space, and your viewing angle down is better when the water is lower. With less water you'll be able to grow more lush green moss and liverworts as well, where they'll be kept moist by the waterline without being too close to the lights. Many people agree that 1/3 or less water generally has the nicest sense of proportion in the tank.

That makes sense, I guess. It'd probably make more sense if I was more familiar with this type of set up, myself.

 

[mellowvision]

I'd say you can go even lower, but even that inch or so makes a big difference visually. The ripple effect is a good good thing. It will help keep the water from getting nasty on the surface and will create more humidity in the enclosure. The more ripple the better IMO. I originally designed my tank to use an Eheim wetdry filter that raised and lowered the waterline by 1 inch every couple of minutes... it was awesome but the filter was too loud, was used and working hard to overcome the big suction needed. In the end I am running a SUNSUN canister and it works just fine as long as I rinse the prefilter sponge once a week.

 

[calivivarium1]

Thanks, right now the water is about 12" as opposed to my original idea of about 14-15." I do think it looks kinda cool lower, but because of my design I think the background looks pretty lame at that depth. If I do it again (and I will either re-do this tank or do another one at some point) maybe I'll get a tank around 24" deep but go with a water depth of 10" or something.

Yeah, I had thought my filter would have a higher output (and thus give me more ripples) but that is not the case. I am thinking about switching out the pump that came with the filter (rated at like 210gph) to something more along the lines of 300gph. I just don't want to put too much pressure inside my filter lines. Maybe I'll look at hiding a pump somewhere and pumping water straight to the "waterfall" instead.

The last of my plants aquatic plants should be here next week, so I'm exciting to finish that off. By then I'm hoping to have figured out what plants will grow on my background. My two mosses (one Java moss, another I have no idea about) have started throwing off new growth. The Hygrophila and the Crypts are also all giving off new growth. I keep waiting to see an algae explosion, but that has not happened yet. I did see this little guy hanging around my tank the other day though. No idea what kind of bug it is...

 

[authmal]

Looks like some kind of moth. I know, it's very specific, but that's as good as I have.

 

[calivivarium1]

A practiced my google-fu and apparently the bug is a "drain fly." I'm going to download a few pics and i'll post them here in a bit.

 

[calivivarium1]

Here are some new pics. I was borrowing a Canon something or another; I wasn't super familiar with it but it seemed to take decent shots. Excuse the bacteria bloom in the water... I didn't realize how many streaks were on my glass either until I took a picture. Tank looks better in person, lol! The camera didn't have a big zoom lens, but I think you can see the new growth on my moss pretty well in it. I am quite impressed with the LED lights, plant growth is good, tank looks good (I usually just leave it on the "yellow" or plant grow setting unless I am actively watching the tank), and the lights give off only a little heat.

 

[calivivarium1]

Small update: Tank now holds seven dwarf chain loaches in addition to the school of barbs. Riparium Supply rafts/plants are in as well. I thought I had it figured out as far as my actual land plants; however, I am have yet to actually make up my mind due to concerns over how moist/humid I really want to make the tank (and thus affecting the types of plants I grow on the back). I am like the humidity level I have it at right now, I don't really do anything to adjust the levels thus creating less maintenance. I am starting to get a little bit of green spot algae in the corners of the glass, but not much else. Hopefully I can continue to avoid an algae bloom.

Here's a poor picture, I am going to try to borrow a better camera next week.

 

[jpappy789]

Where'd you get your loaches? I was thinking of ordering from Mg. but he's pretty far away from where I am in FL and I'm not sure I want to risk shipping them that far...