Using insulation styrofoam in newt tank...

[ladystone]

Hello :happy:

I am gathering ideas on how to setup a new, bigger tank for my chinese warty newts, and I had a few questions. I have heard of people using the pink insulation styrofoam in their tanks, of course this is after they cover it in grout and then seal it.
What I was planning on doing was rather then using rocks to create a sloping shoreline and separating the tank into land and water, I wanted to use a piece of styrofoam (covered in the grout and then sealed) and silicon it in place about halfway up the tank. The styrofoam or floating land would take up a little less then half the top area so I could still have room for my pump (that would be set up kind like a waterfall) on the other end of my setup. This would also allow my newts to have a huge area for swimming and let's me add more hides for them and live plants.
What I wanted to know was, is it safe to use the styrofoam in a newt tank, even though it has been cover by grout and then sealed? What kind of grout is recommended? What should I seal it with? And is it okay to use sand in the bottom rather than pebbles or large gravel? Also which plants are safe for newts?
If anybody has any suggestions on how to setup a floating land tank please let me know. Also if anyone has a setup like this, can you post pictures? Thanks in advance :happy:

 

[eljorgo]

Warty newts do not use land area they are 100% aquatic living beings after sexually mature.
You should raise water level to the maximum the aquarium can hold, then find rocks and sand to create a stream type appearance and make them some cages. By last you shall get some plants to place aside from main area for egg laying purposes when they feel free to do it.
Keep it simple.

Cheers

 

[Kaysie]

I can also attest that 'fixed shelf' land areas are a pain in the behind to clean under.

 

[eljorgo]

Here you see my 120cm aquarium for warty newts.
Couldn't get any simpler or effective, thus this is the third year in a row my newts are breeding and I've got a few hundred eggs last years from them that are now terrestrial juveniles.

 

[ladystone]

Yes I did read that they are 100% aquatic when full grown, however I regularly find 2 of my newts up on the floating corner island I have now. I have been keeping an eye on them tho because it does say that this could be because they are sick but they seem to be healthy. I think they retreat up there because the other newt I have is kind of aggressive, that is why I am setting up a bigger tank for them.