65 Gallon built and almost ready

raymondsmindjob · Jul 7, 2011

Here a few pics of my lastest creation, a 65 gallon Paludarium. Still needs a few more plants and I am waiting a while while the water cycles before anything else gets added to the tank.
The large obstructive object in the first photo is a reptofilter that I put in there to help clean the water up for a while, it is only temporary.

Having tons of difficulty finding an aquarium hood or lid for this tank. It is a 65 gallon high tank, with a divider in the middle. Measures 36" across and 18"wide, but the actual openings measure from inside the aquarium lip at 16 and 3/4" by 16 and 3/4"

If anyone can link me to a lid for this tank, that would be extremely helpful. If not, I will DIY build one here in a few weeks.

warrior · Jul 7, 2011

How did you make this great setup? It is a nice paludarium. Did you use greatstuff? I would like to make something like it. Thanks for the photos.

Miss · Jul 8, 2011

Looks awesome. Great job you have done :happy:

Viv · Jul 8, 2011

Very nice tank. What are you gonna get? And I like the temple and the buddha

SpaceCadetHayde · Jul 9, 2011

That's the same length and width of a 40 gallon breeder tank. I'd search for a lid for one of those that goes over the top since they're a more common size.

Also, very nice tank! What are you planning on putting in that?

raymondsmindjob · Jul 9, 2011

warrior said:
How did you make this great setup? It is a nice paludarium. Did you use greatstuff? I would like to make something like it. Thanks for the photos.

There is a complete build log on Vivarium Forums under paludarium construction, which has all the materials I used and steps I took.

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I definately built it with some newts in mind, I think I'm gonna plant a few more things before I put any inhabitants in there. I have done a lot of research, and I think something a little bigger like some paddletails or Emperor Newts would work out the best, plus stick with the asian theme in the tank.

40 gallon breeder? I'll check that out! Thanks!

SpaceCadetHayde · Jul 9, 2011

T. Shanjing sound like a good choice for that. What was considered Pachytriton labiatus are entirely aquatic and wouldn't make good use of any of the land area.

Azhael · Jul 9, 2011

I don´t know...Pachytriton won´t use the land area, but T.shanjing is not likely to use the water. Most individuals rarely if ever use the water outside the breeding season, and even then, it may be used very briefly or not at all. Some females choose to lay their eggs just on the edge of the water.
The problem with aquaterrariums is that they look great, and we all love them, but they are not very practical. Few species in captivity are significantly amphibious, most being either totally aquatic or totally terrestrial. Those who use the water just for breeding tend to use it for a short period of time, which means that for most of the year the aquatic area is empty and wasted.

Viv · Jul 9, 2011

If you made a current it could work for a dusky or a small salamander that spends time near water and land. But it would have to be a hardish current.

FrogEyes · Jul 10, 2011

Why not warty newts and tylos? The warties aren't as big a hazard to other residents as the torrent newts are, and they are likely to prefer the slower current I think is likely in this setup. Otherwise, various Asiatic frogs would be even safer with crocodile salamanders and not likely to gobble any fortunate eggs or larvae you might get. To add life to the water area, you could try Tanichthys, Rhinobogius, and various balitorid loaches like Sewellia or Gastromyzon [which prefer strong currents and are likely to hang from the sides of the waterfalls]. These all overlap with the ranges of Tylototriton, Laotriton, and Paramesotriton, and are not likely to be a threat.

Azhael · Jul 10, 2011

An important consideration is to know how much water there is in there. Either that´s a HUGE filter, or the volume of water is not that big. Given that it´s a 65 gallon, i´d guess the water volume is larger than it looks, but if you could give meassurements, it would be better. The amount of water you have will be an important factor in which species could be suitable.

raymondsmindjob · Jul 11, 2011

A lot of interesting feedback. I guess you are all right, there really isn't a species that spends equal time on land and water, but I don't think any amphibian is entirely aquatic or terrestrial, but that their adult tendancies lean one way or the other.
The queston of water volume and current is definately a valid point.
In this tank the land area has a false bottom, and there is currently about 12.5 gallons of water in there. The current produced by the waterfall is not very strong at all and it is powered by a very small pump that is adjustable but is already at its highest setting.
Surface area is about 40% land and land access and 60% water.

Any advice about an inhabitant now that there is more light shed on the specs of the tank?
If there isn't a caudate that would get the benefit of both land and water, what about a frog or toad? Or even a reptile or turtle?

Azhael · Jul 11, 2011

Ah, if you are open to anurans, i can recommend Bombina orientalis. They WILL use both the terrestrial and aquatic areas and they are very interesting and easy to keep. I would advice you to look for captive bred individuals if you decide to get any Bombina. The way they are collected in mass and sold in bad conditions for no money is just disgraceful, specially since they are so easy to keep and breed in captivity.
Some smallish species of turtle could work but i´d be worried about their destructive power...most turtles tend to be in the businness of remodeling their tanks in a random way (i think it´s called neokaoticism). The foam and the coconut fiber coating probably wouldn´t survive a turtle´s claws.

froganole · Jul 11, 2011

Mouth drops in a perfect comical O

. .
O

froganole · Jul 11, 2011

Alex, Duskies are american and he said he wanted the asian theme, so duskies are one of my favorite species (mountain dusky) but they wouldnt work.(well they would but he wouldnt want them) (probably)

jstedman1 · Jul 19, 2011

In response to the lid...I would suggest making one, since you made the rest very well. It's quite easy when you think about it. What's on a normal mesh wiring lid? The screen, and the edging. You could probably get the screen like material at a home depot or supplies or hardware store. Be creative. Good luck!

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