a 2ft naturally lighted vivarium

[cdckjn]

Dear all,

I have a spare 2 ft fish tank at home. It is sitting near the the baloncy ledge where it gets plenty of filtered natural sunlight through the windows most of the day. I was looking at Eddy_Planer's tank (his 6-foot Paludarium) and I was hoping that I can get something up by Chinese New Year.

There are some pictures that I gotten from the internet, my idea is that I wanted a "water-based" garden - where I will get some plants that can flower and at the same time can have some fishes (guppies or swordtails) and then some shrimps.

Any comments or recommendations as regards to the substrate and water circulations?

I was thinking of just getting some gravels and a pump to pump/circulate the water around. The "splashing" of the water would be enough to "water" the plants and with regular spraying of water would keep the plants well-watered.

I am concerned as I want all 4 four sides of the fish tank to be "seen" Perhaps the bottom of the 4th side (the one closest to the wall) can be hidden with some sort of wall. In the foreground of the tank, with the gravel will be the hairgrass or moss (for the shrimps to graze on) There would be some sort of driftwood amongst the plants so that the lower end of the driftwood in the water will have moss/plants on it. The rest of the background will be the rest of the plants.

Can experts/gurus share some comments on this idea please. Thanks so much.

[dkk08]

for a 4 sided see thru setup or what some might call a centre piece, in my opinions I would do an "island" style setup. The island would be in the middle of the tank and surrounded by about 3-4 in of water (taking into considerations if your tank is a standard 2x1x1ft tank) hope you ca visualize what I'm trying to say...

for plants you can try bromeliads, anthuriums, tillandsias as they do have nice colors and they're pretty hardy plants... of cause mosses would be great too...

for fauna I would say there're so many to choose from... barbs, tetras, minnows, cories, shrimps

[cdckjn]

One Question, in the 3 picture that I have attached, why are the plants in plastic pots, is there any special reasons why it is done in that manner?

[eddy planer]

Hi Jackson!

Welcome to our Palu / Viva fashion!

What's about try another creation like King Kong's valley theme where the dinos trampled those poor guys along the valley. So with 2 "cliffs" with all the flora that you like while the center part will be "the stream". So the pump will be hidden within either "cliff" will improve the water circulations like mild current flowing.

the mosses will be anchor the side of cliff will be simply stunning isnt it?

If you decide to put up this way, I'll try to provide all materials for you if you like!

[dkk08]

One Question, in the 3 picture that I have attached, why are the plants in plastic pots, is there any special reasons why it is done in that manner?

well some folks propagate plants in that manner and they might be getting their plants to get use to being emersed... correct me if I'm wrong

[Merviso]

Wow! I like the layout of the second tank!

[limz_777]

One Question, in the 3 picture that I have attached, why are the plants in plastic pots, is there any special reasons why it is done in that manner?

this pic is a riparium set-up , which plants are planted in hanging planter cups and floating platforms . always partially-filled just enough for the roots to be in water

[cdckjn]

I am think of doing something like the 2nd tank but without the background so that the natural lighting wil be able to filter in. The last tank is the current position of where my tank is now.

I would like the King Kong valley idea but with the centre piece being some sort of mini water fall.

[eddy planer]

I would like the King Kong valley idea but with the centre piece being some sort of mini water fall.

The King Kong valley theme where you can find most of the natural light will filter throughout your both side flora, there no need for waterfall required, just a little water circulation will do, bro.

If you like I'll try to draft a drawing for you ..

[David Moses Heng]

for a 2 feet tank, you may want to consider duplicating something like the one shown in picture 1. Either that, you can also try the one that desmond suggested. I am currently near completion setting up my 2 ft for my brood of crabs. what I did was a broken sewage pipe protuding out of the wall with roots around it. Materials used are hessian cloth, baked clay pellets, garden soil from cold storage, egg crates, bags and bags of cable ties, small pieces of bog wood, pvc pipe and sphagnum moss.

Flora are bromeliads, ferns, moss and crypts. Intended fauna will be 4 pairs of vampires crab, CPO and betta.

For lighting, I am using a set of DIY 75 watt tornado bulb fashion out of baking bowl and E27 socket.

Water circulation is done using a dymax pump with flowrate of 340 l/hr and for the waterfall, I am using a boyu 601 with flow rate of 250 l/hr. No filtration as I intend to change the water once every fortnight.

if you need my help, let me know cos i will be hougang ave 8/serangoon ave 3 every tuesday until 4pm.

cheers!!

[fisbike]

Any recommendations for mist-making in this type of 2ft setup? I also have a 2ft but considering whether to get pump or those mist type I see in floral shops.

[cdckjn]

After discussing with Eddy Planer last night, he has a interesting proposal which is more what I want. I think I want a sort of high driftwood about at least 1m high and having it sticking out up high. at the bas of the drift wood, with be the pump. Eddy Planer suggested the pump also pump water up to a overhead filter but the filter is filled with plants and substrate. The overhead filter can also help to support the driftwood. Eddy also shown me the spray foam can which I can use to decorate the overhead filter

By the way, Altum_lover76, where are you in Hougang ave 8/serangoon ave 3 every tuesday until 4pm.

I actually stay in Hougang Ave 5 and work in Ave 8.

[cdckjn]

Yes, I finally found the website again and has the picture. It is like this!

[cdckjn]

YouTube- Volcano Tank 102609

A Youtube link

[fotoudavid]

Yes, I finally found the website again and has the picture. It is like this!

Solid master piece, some more marine tank.

[fotoudavid]

For the 1st picture on the first post, i saw the mosses was above water? Meaning my java moss can do that?

[dkk08]

Yes, I finally found the website again and has the picture. It is like this!

That's a marine mangrove setup, I've seen that tank pics before

I was actually contemplating on doing a Marine Mangrove Terrarium with juvenile horseshoe craps or maybe frog fishes, that would be interesting wouldn't it?

[dkk08]

For the 1st picture on the first post, i saw the mosses was above water? Meaning my java moss can do that?

Hi David, yes mosses can be grown emersed (go google and you'll have tons of info on emersed mosses and aquatic plants), but not all mosses or aquatic plants grow well emersed

[dkk08]

Flora are bromeliads, ferns, moss and crypts. Intended fauna will be 4 pairs of vampires crab, CPO and betta.

David ah, u getting Vampire crab ah? Can I get together with you? I want 2 pairs too (sorry for being off topic)

[fotoudavid]

Hi David, yes mosses can be grown emersed (go google and you'll have tons of info on emersed mosses and aquatic plants), but not all mosses or aquatic plants grow well emersed

Thanks, this forum is good!!

Suddenly i cannot focus on what i want to do....... too many ideas and only 1 tank!!