Paludarium Build

[coralbandit]

So the top is in place .
A light sanding to the inside which previously housed a Chinese water dragon 15 years ago and it is ready to go.
It needs a coat of toingue oil on outside and I am still undecided on what to do with inside . I left it natural years ago.
No glass;

The tracks that hold the sliding glass front ;
Bottom

Top also showing 1/4 inch hardware cloth top to keep creatures in .

From side with out decorative top .

Front with glass .

Need to rip two pieces for sides in front as I could not find them. That was the boys 'secret hiding place ' when it was his ..
The top is on reef tank so eithway I have to make one top and a band for the reef tanks lower frame .
I have matching wood for that also.

 

[Tacit Blues]

So how are you planning on filling up the top space?

 

[coralbandit]

Plants ,vines and I can fasten wood to sides. There may be a land section built up to left of the overflow with a tree/rubber tree type plant to grow up. Some plants from tank will grow out of water also I expect. I want to install a CO2 diffuser in the tank so it does bubble up and off gas to the closed top and promote terrestrial growth also. I also have in my head now possibly Spanish moss? Something possibly besides vine type plants? Not really sure at all !
I am thinking their has to be some kind of water fall but that may not be high up do to splashing . Probably in the right corner to promote flow from it to overflow.
I just have the pieces ,but no solid plan ! I think I like the idea of an anole or two ! They bred for me when I kept them before !
The glass is ordered for the sump . $30 worth of glass and $30 to seam/swipe the edges ..
I could have sanded them myself but not interested...Someone has to start back to work TOMORROW !
All good things come to an end they say..I am already looking forward to next winter no matter how much I love summer...

 

[TMaier]

Wow that is gonna be a big presence in that room!

 

[Tacit Blues]

Orchids and air plants would be cool...

 

[Autumnsky]

Dwarf anthurium, differing colors and a saw a newer one called Butterfly with a slightly different shape. Bloom with good lighting nearly all year long.

 

[coralbandit]

I am totally open for suggestions .
Should I paint the back of the top black or green ?
I may build some type of hardsacape but I really think the DIY foam is not me not now.
The top is 'open' with the hardware cloth so it will not be a steam bath inside the enclosure.
I do want plants and really think the CO2 will benefit water and land plants.
Co2 is heavier then air I believe so it should 'linger' in the top ?
I have an outrageous digital regulator that will make controlling a snap.
No need for bubble counters or worries about EOTD..DIGITAL.....

 

[Brookster123]

A deep jungle green would.be sweet. This build is going to make problems for me... looks epic

 

[TMaier]

Black is harsh and green could make things disappear. What about a nice brown?

 

[coralbandit]

This build is going to make problems for me... looks epic

It is easy to build stuff like this if you say it is for your kids ! I am just putting old pieces back together again and adding whatever I have learned since then.
When I made the canopy for my 180 one of my buddies labeled it 'museum quality ' and since then when I build stuff like this I put extra effort into it to make a piece of furniture also.
Like T said it is a big presence in any room.
I have long been thinking about this build with the pieces I knew I had. I am hoping it turns out good ,but even if it is average it should grow in?
I am thinking leaving the back wood tone . It is luan plywood which is mahogany veneer.
Is tongue oil safe for the inside ? I could seal it and that would darken it up also.

 

[Brookster123]

I don't know what's safe for the humidity?? What do they use to seal butcher block? It's food safe.

 

[coralbandit]

Butcher block !
Most use mineral oil and it says you can use 'pure tongue oil'.
My tongue oil says it has petroleum distillate.. Thinking I will test drive some mineral oil over the mahogany veneer.
This was set up with water right up to the top of the 75 for 6+ years at least and I left it bare without it rotting.. I think a coat of mineral oil will help it last another 6 or so.
I hope after grow in that the back of the top will not show much like in the tank.
I am thinking I want to silicone slate at the water line to the top of the aquarium so it looks like a rocky waters edge ? The black is for below water . It will look funny IMO if it is black above the water ?
I have roof slates that are flat so they would not have crevices or anything 3D about them , but again they are the back that will be behind some kind of growth I hope.

 

[Brookster123]

I didn't know if you were going to add a mister and a chameleon or something awesome?? Some spider plants?? I could send you so many spider plants.

 

[Autumnsky]

Check food safe finishes article from FineWoodworking - Expert advice on woodworking and furniture making, with thousands of how-to videos, step-by-step articles, project plans, photo galleries, tool reviews, blogs, and more

 

[coralbandit]

I am thinking a sprinkler or misting set up. A chameleon /anole..The little guys ..I already have had iguana's ,Madagascar day geckos ,Chinese water dragons even a Jackson chameleon with the mitt type hands and feet and horns !. No big lizards .
I think I would like to sneak in a Red Toed Bird eating spider ! No joke ,they eat crickets like tarantulas .I had one before and way more friendly then a tarantula. They are known to be one of the largest spiders in the world so if I found one he would not go unnoticed IMO.. All black with bright red toes ..
I can cover the top with acrylic and make a handy fan light coffee can dehumidifier . I had one in the 135 that was 50/50 when it had lids .Every morning the tank would be a cloud of humidity and when the lights turned on so did a computer fan mounted above a lightbulb in a coffee can. The fog would naturally vanish in like 10 minutes and tank would be clear to view as long as lights and fan were on...
I didn't have a lot of plants in this set up before so moisture was not a big issue. I definitely want plants so think I will seal and plan on it being a little moist inside the top.There is a 3/16 space in between the glass front sliders on the over lap so the tank will be by no means air tight. I might need to seal up the top a little ?
Being I have time now being back at work I will probably trade fish in before this is over. If that happens I will be wanting the new fluval 3.0 for at least one of the lights to go on top. The 24/7 feature will make the tank awesome IMO and everything should benefit from it . I like what my 24/7 does on my 180...

The glass for the sump is ready so Mrs.b will pick it up tomorrow for me. My drawers/egg crate/sock holders for the berlin filter in the reef sump can fit this set up if I space the baffles 8 inches apart in the mechanical area .I was thinking I would just cut my egg crate whatever size and then remembered the insert that came with filter. You can only use one of them in filter so seems like a no brainer to use them . Those are the only baffles I plan on besides the middle divider so I will still have about 20 " on the first half and all the other side for pump ,maybe a heater .
I do think I want a diffuser in the tank to make the misting bubbles from the CO2.
The CO2 is why I think this will really grow in top and bottom . I will probably have the DR. Chihiros in the tank for the sporadic bubbles it makes and whatever it does also...

 

[Autumnsky]

No Spider for me thank you!

Chameleon would be my fav, but they could fall in water and drown if i remember what a Paludarium keeper/builder told me awhile back.

 

[coralbandit]

Mrs.b got the glass so hopefully I will get sump assembled this weekend.
I got one coat of mineral oil on the inside and really like it .She picked up a butcher block 'special oil'... Looks nice and I am sure will protect better then nothing.

Not so bad looking for $10 luan ?

 

[Brookster123]

Luan is highly underrated, needs a little fine sanding but finished out nice nice. Use it for drawers and bookshelf backing.
Build looks sweet man!

 

[Autumnsky]

Looking good.

 

[coralbandit]

Ordered Fluval 3.0 48-64 inch for the tank along with a stainless steel diffuser and 4 replacement heads for CO2. The stem is 12 inches long so I should either be able to mount it to overflow or cut the stem and place it where ever.
Hoping I will be able to snake the supply line in through the drain pipe in the overflow so no wires or hoses still coming out of stand or tank visible .