6ft paludarium journal- pictures

[eddy planer]

Yo Folks

So after 2 months since my 422 tank's front glass panel collapsed and I finally seeking advise from gurus.So I've been planning, gathering materials, researching, and practicing fake wall construction, I'm finally taking the plunge to build a mega sophisticated paludarium for the first time I never have the experience before. Well I love challenging project which I have never done before!

Thanks to the guys at AQ (I'm thinking of process of creating another thread site but I still stick to this), I was able to pick up the largest OHS tank that's made - 6 x 2.5 x 2 with 15mm thick glass panel--- for a mere $150 2nd hand with free delivery!!!!

I also got the matching stand with dark glass panel sump, because I had limited space, as you'll see... I wanted something that would fit perfectly...at my balcony with HDB approval, so I wasn't too worried.

Plans for this tank include:
-- Back ground cork bark background wall using foam / grout / epoxy method.
-- Bogwood effect
-- misting system (DIY method)
-- drip wall (sprinklers)
-- 2 filters (1 sump / 1 Laguna cannister with UV)
-- waterfalls + pond
-- all the kinds of plantlife one could ever hope to have

Hopefully, I'll have this baby completed by before Christmas... but no rush!

DSC00690.JPG
This is my SGD150 monster tank with free delivery! who can beat this?

DSC00768.JPG
That my Jebo 828 cannister, laguna cannister with UV attached 3000l/hr pump and new Dymax pump of 2500l/hr

DSC00772.JPG
Coco Fiber, sphagnum moss, aquatic fertilizer, hydroponic peat and wood chips

DSC00782.JPG
Transparent, beige and black silicon and also GS foam spray.



Be continue...

[69efan69]

looks very promising dude. keep us updated wo0ho0o

[eddy planer]

Yo folks
I won't let you down :-) All the fine people here on the AQ have taught me a lot (including you) from all the questions and trial / error... I just need to add my creative touch, and we'll be golden.rite?

Attached another materials picture


pix2b.JPG
Aquatic Compost Soil ..no need ADA,JBL or what's ever brands. This still the cheapest one (25kg under SGD15!) pm me if you are interested.

DSC00790.JPG
Bogwoods..in the tank corkbark in the tank


With this materials, we're going to learn how to create waterfall or wood background walls at the same time! right? But not too soon...hehehe i have to take leave to work on this project...have to apply leave first. ok, folks

Let me know your thoughts

[tarzanboy]

Hi, it the GS foam spray it for you to create a artificial wall where you purchase it and how much for that seem that all your materials is gather looking forward to see your tank soon, as I now planing for my second rainforest tank also

[Wild Ginger]

Eddy, I just checked with JM and these woods have not been treated yet. So you can use these as a background if you decide to do so. As for attaching it to the back, my only concern is that the silicon work has to be generously applied to ensure that the wood stays firmly to the back wall. As it's dry when you apply the silicon. When the tank is filled with water, the wood will be buoyant and that's when you'll see if your silicon application is substantial enough to hold it down in the water.

Alternatively, you can choose to soak the woods first and just let them sink and stack them up loosely in the tank.

Regards,
Phillipe.

[eddy planer]

Thanks Phillipe,

Do you think this straight wood look nice or natural for submerse or top background and will it leech the water?

If this ok, I will lay them behind the eggcrate with either GS or black silicon or screwing them behind the eggcrate with plastic screws to secure them after soak them for a week.

Where can I purchase mistking system in Singapore?

Let me know your thoughts , bro.

[Wild Ginger]

The wood from JM will not leech tannins into the water unlike driftwoods and tree fern barks. Since the wood is elongated and mostly straight. I suggest you arrange them in a random criss cross way to mimick fallen branches from trees into puddles of water. Some of it can be sticking out of the water against the back wall.

Try doing a 'dry' arrangement of the woods before actually placing them in their final positions. In such a way, you can adjust till the positions are deemed aesthetically nice to you.

Use silicon to fix them in their places. With plastic screws, it's more hassle of a job and the drill holes in the wood will expand when submerged, so the screws won't fit after a while thus endangering the whole construction.

Mistkings are not available in Singapore. If you wish, you could place an order with them via their website. www.mistking.com

Just to add, if you use a mister, make sure you have an outlet where excess water can be drained off. If not, your paludarium will become a drowned forest in not time!

Regards,
Phillipe.

[vinz]

...

Thanks to the guys at AQ (I'm in the process of creating their new site: check it out), I was able to pick up the largest OHS tank that's made - 6 x 2.5 x 2 with 15mm thick glass panel--- for a mere $150 2nd hand with free delivery!!!! ...

Hi Eddy,

What new site are you creating for us? A typo?

[eddy planer]

Oops Vinz,

Sorry . wrong typo I mean this site my thread lah! i type so zealous, type till i blur blur liao...

[eddy planer]

Yo folks

I just bought some more materials the 9 straight long logs of 4ft long, 2 more white eggcrate and 4 pcs of 9 inches PVC pipe ( support false flooring) today.

Hmmm i really need to clean and disinfect straight long wood as they had been store there for long time, noticed they were a lots of bugs, mud and white fungus when i start choosing for the best straight long log. But alas those wood already weighs a ton....oooh my poor back!

4b.JPG

But i find the wood is difficult to disinfect if I using bleach due to the interaction of the wood with the bleach and typically wood should not be reused unless soak them with boiling hot water.But i did it anyway, so what i did is to disinfect the wood, I wrapped them with long towel soaked in a 10% bleach solution 90% water solution for 10 minutes and rinse with 2 large pots of boiling water, then let dry for 48 hrs if not dry, another 48hrs.

But i would still be worried about something from the wood will leaching out over time from the bleach. Cross-fingers, hopefully this wood didnt , folks!


I planning to lay these 4 ft long straight log horizontal as the background will be planing to lay behind the eggcrate and bond them with liquid nail the kind of adhesive for wood bonding .. And so it begins this Saturday. I'll be updating and upload more project pix each week as the project progresses. Just be patience, folks

[eddy planer]

Hi Folks

So I made some more progress today, these are the materials,a heavy duty egg crate, small cable tie and the net to build the background support.

pix1.JPG

pix8.JPG
So here's what the paludarium background with pots will looked like after it was all done. So what do you think, folks?

to be continue...

[eddy planer]

Hi folks

I am very happy with the way it turned out. When starting something like this, it isn't too hard to form a general idea of what the tank should look like upon completion, but once I get all the materials (which don't exactly match the imagine originally conceived), it's always nice when they can be added together to form something that exceeds the conception, isn't?

Next comes the siliconing of the wood, cork bark and little pots with black and beige sealant
p3a.jpg p4a.jpg

GS the Great Stuff in action..taking some places .
p5a.jpg p6a.jpg

to be continue..folks

[eddy planer]

Next day, I then carved off the shiny coat of the GS so that it would adhere to the coco bedding after the GS fully cured

P8a.JPG P10a.JPG

P12a.JPGP13b.JPG

Let it set a day or so on its side and it now looks like this and my primary background is now completed!!!!

P14a.JPG

Now that I have the background pretty much done at this point, I will work on the bottom...mainly the focus point,the waterfall.
Next week, I'll probably use GS the Great stuff and number of woods for the water fall,false bottom and layout of water piping system (filter) and electrical connection. Wow alot of work need to be done...

Thank for viewing ,folks

[dkk08]

looking very good eddy! U might wanna check out this link on large Vivarium

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/par...stions-24.html

[limz_777]

nice project

[Ben555]

Just curious,

is it possible to setup a vivarium outdoor?

[dkk08]

as in a green house vivarium? Definitely you can!

[69efan69]

any update bro?

[dkk08]

Yo Eddy! Update?? Its X'mas in 25 days!

[eddy planer]

yeah folks,

Sorry for the delay,

I got a big problem and very challenging . I need to hunt for water proof materials like water proof and non toxic cement mortar, sealer and wood glue. I managed to buy cement and wood glue for my support base.

The next question is I still know nuts about poster painting for my support base after I complete the cement mortar work.

Anyone can advice me...poster painting or help me to paint greenish brown base.

Will upload the support base when I done this week.