MalawiManDan
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2015
- Messages
- 5
Ok i'll be setting up a small glass aquarium for a land crab, I need to keep then water to 22-24C which is easy with a aquarium heater, but how do I heat the sand (land) area? It gets cold in the UK lol so the African crab won't like it in winter haha.
My set up will be 3 inches of 1mm coral sand on one side of the tank sloping down to the other side slightly and 3 inches of fresh water on the other side, a bit of bog wood separate the sides to help stop too much sand sliding into the water area, They'll be a few rocks in the water too and a thin layer of 1mm coral sand on the bottom.
There will be a small internal filter in the water to help keep it clean, i'll try to extend its spray bar buy buying and adding on a bit of clear pipe and stick it on the tank with suckers going around to the other side, this pipe will go over to a corner of the aquarium sand on the opposite side of the tank, I'll get the spray bar to go spray over a rock or something on the sand to prevent too much sand being dislodged, I hope this will help the sand area not dry out.
Now with all this in mind, how can I heat the sand area? Heat mat under sand is not possible due to water in the tank. I don't know if I can put a heat mat under a glass aquarium? between the aquarium stand and the glass aquarium bottom? I don't want anything to burn, plus will the heat actually transfer through the sand anyway?
Can't use a heat lamp as that will dry out the sand and crabs then kill them (they need a moist environment, they live on the waters edge, but not in water)
Any suggestions?
My set up will be 3 inches of 1mm coral sand on one side of the tank sloping down to the other side slightly and 3 inches of fresh water on the other side, a bit of bog wood separate the sides to help stop too much sand sliding into the water area, They'll be a few rocks in the water too and a thin layer of 1mm coral sand on the bottom.
There will be a small internal filter in the water to help keep it clean, i'll try to extend its spray bar buy buying and adding on a bit of clear pipe and stick it on the tank with suckers going around to the other side, this pipe will go over to a corner of the aquarium sand on the opposite side of the tank, I'll get the spray bar to go spray over a rock or something on the sand to prevent too much sand being dislodged, I hope this will help the sand area not dry out.
Now with all this in mind, how can I heat the sand area? Heat mat under sand is not possible due to water in the tank. I don't know if I can put a heat mat under a glass aquarium? between the aquarium stand and the glass aquarium bottom? I don't want anything to burn, plus will the heat actually transfer through the sand anyway?
Can't use a heat lamp as that will dry out the sand and crabs then kill them (they need a moist environment, they live on the waters edge, but not in water)
Any suggestions?