Finally got motivated to finish my 10 gallon tank for my spotted sals.
I took pictures during the build and setup. Basically a false bottom with a stream running through the middle.
This is my first "build" not using just substrate and sticks/plants so bear with me.
The bottom structure is made from a flourecent light diffuser, glued together with non toxic hot melt glue. I covered the base with a window screen cut to fit. The screen keeps the substrate from falling into the water below. I used 3" flat tubing for the inside of the waterway( I would rethink this material but had it at the house already). After a few tweaks I finally have it so the water flows downhill on its own.
Using a Repti-flo 200 installed beneath the base, water is pumped up to a 4 way valve. Two spouts will feed the stream and the other two will be used for a drip system I will be adding in the next few days.
Once all is set in place I used some natural colored fish tank pebbles to fill around the base, I would use a smaller gap on the next tank.... This was about 1/2" away from the glass all around so it took more rocks then I would have liked and the tank is on the heavier side.
First layer was Eco-Earth ground coconut husk, which was easier to work with then expected. The screening made it really easy to mold the base layer. Then came some bark chips and some moss I had been holding onto. Add some rocks and bigger rocks and its almost done.
My spotted salamanders are in the tank now, I will be finishing a few minor details and adding some live plants and replacing the moss with fresh moss that will hopefully take to the substrate. I should have completed pics shortly just need to get out to the woods.
I took pictures during the build and setup. Basically a false bottom with a stream running through the middle.
This is my first "build" not using just substrate and sticks/plants so bear with me.
The bottom structure is made from a flourecent light diffuser, glued together with non toxic hot melt glue. I covered the base with a window screen cut to fit. The screen keeps the substrate from falling into the water below. I used 3" flat tubing for the inside of the waterway( I would rethink this material but had it at the house already). After a few tweaks I finally have it so the water flows downhill on its own.
Using a Repti-flo 200 installed beneath the base, water is pumped up to a 4 way valve. Two spouts will feed the stream and the other two will be used for a drip system I will be adding in the next few days.
Once all is set in place I used some natural colored fish tank pebbles to fill around the base, I would use a smaller gap on the next tank.... This was about 1/2" away from the glass all around so it took more rocks then I would have liked and the tank is on the heavier side.
First layer was Eco-Earth ground coconut husk, which was easier to work with then expected. The screening made it really easy to mold the base layer. Then came some bark chips and some moss I had been holding onto. Add some rocks and bigger rocks and its almost done.
My spotted salamanders are in the tank now, I will be finishing a few minor details and adding some live plants and replacing the moss with fresh moss that will hopefully take to the substrate. I should have completed pics shortly just need to get out to the woods.
