Building new tank, need advice

[jett862]

Alright, well I just finished a 25 gallon tank (focus on terrestrial) and I have room for another 25 gallon on my rack. I figured this would be a good time to move my CFB over from there 50/50 20 gallon long into something more fitting (they never use the land area).

That's my basic idea for the cage, but I have a ton of questions (I had a hard time deciding whether or not to put this in the plant section, but decided against it.)

Greatstuff/silicone background: No problems building it, but do you think a tank like this would like better with 1, 2, or 3 viewing panels? That is to say, should I only cover the background and maybe 2" of each side pane (my current plan).

Filter: Undecided cannister filter; my question here is, do you think I should bother with a water feature in a setup like this, or should I just have it hidden in the bottom? Intake/out tubes will be hidden in greatstuff background. I was also debating about adding a "router" of some sorts to my out tube, so I could switch to my secondary tubes that would run along the top of the cage and drizzle water down the side to any plants I might have planted (so I wouldn't have to mist). I could just switch back to my primary out hose when I wanted to resume filtering the bottom. Any ideas?

Substrate: Ahhh, now I'm not sure what I want to do. I love the way finer substrates look, but I'm wary of impactions that might occur as a result. I'm using crushed onyx in a fishtank right now, and love it, but I don't think it's safe for my newts who'll be eating off the bottom. Any suggestions?

Lighting: Typically you would 3-5 watts per gallon in an aquarium, but I'm afraid of burning any terrestrial plants/moss I have. I'm think 2-3 watts might be appropriate (65?). Help please.

Plants: I really need suggestions of a suitable semi aquatic moss that might go ballistic and take over my dry(er) greatstuff; If need be, I could plant terrestrial moss on top of the driftwood and aquatic on its underside.

Also, can anyone reccomend a "clover-like" plant that can be used as a creeper on the walls?

My main concern with this tank is the feeding frenzy my CFB go into whenever I feed them; Is it really possible to pull of an aquascape like this, or are newts too disruptive to plantlife (They've yet to ever uproot an anubias or sword on me, but I'm not so sure about needle grass or dwarf baby tears.)

Thanks a ton guys.

[falconlb45]

Originally Posted by jett862

Filter: Undecided cannister filter; my question here is, do you think I should bother with a water feature in a setup like this, or should I just have it hidden in the bottom? Intake/out tubes will be hidden in greatstuff background. I was also debating about adding a "router" of some sorts to my out tube, so I could switch to my secondary tubes that would run along the top of the cage and drizzle water down the side to any plants I might have planted (so I wouldn't have to mist). I could just switch back to my primary out hose when I wanted to resume filtering the bottom. Any ideas?

Well, I like the idea of the out hose being used as a spraybar/mister- I dont see why you couldn't use it like that all the time (other then it making your water evaporate quickly)

Originally Posted by jett862

Substrate: Ahhh, now I'm not sure what I want to do. I love the way finer substrates look, but I'm wary of impactions that might occur as a result. I'm using crushed onyx in a fishtank right now, and love it, but I don't think it's safe for my newts who'll be eating off the bottom. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by jett862

My main concern with this tank is the feeding frenzy my CFB go into whenever I feed them; Is it really possible to pull of an aquascape like this, or are newts too disruptive to plantlife (They've yet to ever uproot an anubias or sword on me, but I'm not so sure about needle grass or dwarf baby tears.)
Thanks a ton guys.

I figure this answers both
I also love fine substrates, play sand, pool filter sand mainly
My solution to my impaction worries was to buy a feeding dish-
I actually used it as the water portion of their juvie setup, but then recycled it and now use it for feeding.
I find its very helpful, i dont have to wory about blackworms escaping, I can clean out any uneaten food quickly, and it just seems a lot neater to me then feeding them without it

Originally Posted by jett862

Lighting: Typically you would 3-5 watts per gallon in an aquarium, but I'm afraid of burning any terrestrial plants/moss I have. I'm think 2-3 watts might be appropriate (65?). Help please.
Plants: I really need suggestions of a suitable semi aquatic moss that might go ballistic and take over my dry(er) greatstuff

It all depends on the plants-
I'd reccomend java moss for all applications!
The trick is, you have to let the moss "grow out" of the water
Submerge it in about an inch of water, and let it grow- eventually it will adapt and become terresterial-
if you try to just haul it out of the water it dries up and dies
also- are you going to cover the great stuff with coco fiber?
I've had an idea of using fake moss instead of, or in conjunction with cocofiber.

Originally Posted by jett862

If need be, I could plant terrestrial moss on top of the driftwood and aquatic on its underside.
Also, can anyone reccomend a "clover-like" plant that can be used as a creeper on the walls?

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I honestly have no idea, I've been wanting to do something similar and have only found out how to make a moss wall