Journal Paludarium Conversion 180gal

[DTWGulo]

Thought I'd finally share the full journey. This was my Iwagumi ADA tank. After building 3 other paludariums, I had the techniques and vision to work it out the way I wanted to. The tank needed to be rehabilitated first, which was the new (seriously nerve-wracking) part.

Summary Statistics:
180 Gal Acrylic plumbed with external overflow and eurobraced top (Midwest Custom Aquarium)
Homebuilt stand
3x Nettlea AT6 Pros
Octo S4 Varios Pump (large circulation)
MJ-1200 powerhead (waterfall)
Finnex Heater Controller
Internal filter box : PVC board, 4" filter sock
Various types of filter media (ceramic spheres + blocks, charcoal chips, Seachem Matrix, Purigen)
Substructure: Aquablox landscape waterfall blocks, customized w/jigsaw
Artificial stone from Universal Rocks
Wood, Flora and Fauna from Aquarium Plants Factory, Glass Box Tropicals, Josh's Frogs, Frogdaddy, LFS (Moby Dick), The Wet Spot, Local Club Auctions
Starter Bacteria from Seachem, Microbe Lift, Brightwell Aquatics
Fertilizer from NilocG
Ventilation: Coolerguys PC cooling fans, controllers

 

[DTWGulo]

Substructure and initial scaping. This changed a bit as I assembled and fiddled with various configurations.

 

[DTWGulo]

Initially I planned to use foam (matala or porous) in the middle section as fine particle filtration. Decided to go with a filter sock instead. Return pump's on the left, return on the far right below the water so I have a very fast current. The pump in the photos was later replaced with the Octo pump. That big MightyJet was spectacular, but too much for the tank, even at the lowest setting.

 

[DTWGulo]

I used leftover pieces of the PVC board just as reinforcement for the land portion. Landscape cloth should keep the dirt out of the water. Final scaping layout. Built a little grow box to hide the top of the overflow portion of the sump.

 

[DTWGulo]

More wood for the hardscape, lots of sphagnum moss. Mistking misting assembly was installed. Cooling fans were placed on the overflow box. The bulkheads inside are sealed off with filter media to prevent escapees. I later installed another fan on one of the lids to increase air circulation and aid with temperature control. Still struggling with the temps due to the location of the tank, but so far the fish are doing well. I also glued some clear acrylic pipe elbows to the lids to route the ventilation exhaust away from the lights. When the mister and fans run concurrently, it's like a humidifier.

ABG and Peat/soil mix for the land substrate (with a clay ball drainage layer); no active substrate in the water portion.
Water portion has buces, java ferns, mosses, Hydrocotyle tripartita, one Homalomena, anubias.

Current livestock:
Odessa Barbs
Kuhlii Loaches
Hillstream Loaches (reticulated)
Mandarin Vampire Crabs (Geosesarma sp.)
Zebra Isopods, tropical and temperate springtails

 

[Kwyet]

Seriously cool!

 

[Art]

WOW! I had no idea paludariums were so involved! Wonderful work and tremendously beautiful result!

The picture with you in the tank is awesome. Really shows the scale. And, oh my!, what scratches! I'm hoping you used some sort of orbital sander to get those out.

 

[DTWGulo]

WOW! I had no idea paludariums were so involved! Wonderful work and tremendously beautiful result!

The picture with you in the tank is awesome. Really shows the scale. And, oh my!, what scratches! I'm hoping you used some sort of orbital sander to get those out.

Yup! Used the random orbital in the first set of images to go from 800 grit to 10,000 grit in stages, wet sanding the whole way. Finished the polish up with Novus 2+3 to get it crystal clear. I practiced on a patch on the bottom of the tank to get the technique down and to make sure it was going to work. Seriously sweaty moment to put that sander on the front panel though!

 

[Art]

I've polished cars but never tanks. It's work to get it looking good but when you do it's like magic. Great work!

By the way, you may enjoy this video by our own @Krandall. It's called Planting the Big ExoTerra Paludarium.

 

[DTWGulo]

The video is excellent, thanks!

My car felt easy in comparison to the tank!

 

[Krandall]

This is what it looked like after it grew in!

 

[DTWGulo]

This is what it looked like after it grew in!

Super lush and nice! I've used underwater light bars for a couple builds. I wish they were more reliable for color and output.
Is the top light from Spectral Designs?

 

[Krandall]

Yeah, the underwater light bars are super unreliable. I've had to replace it a number of time. But at about $11, at least they re not expensive!

The lights are Fluval 3.0. There are 3 of them over the tank.

 

[Count Krunk]

Very nice tank. How many hours spent on the acrylic? Looks great