My Paludarium

My naturalistic paludarium in a 75 gallon bow front tank. As well as many species of aquatic and terrestrial plants, it is home to Amano shrimp, White Cloud Minnows, Red Phantom Tetras, Dwarf African frogs and Fire Bellied newts, which all make appearances toward the end of the video.
With thanks to Armands Končus for his inspiration and help: • Creeperland (my paluda... , zooistaba.id.lv/en/paludarium, • Creeperland 2 (my palu... .
And to Uncle Ned's Fish Factory: unclenedsfishfactory.com/

[@cyberaquarist]

I have been in the aquarium hobby for 32+ years, and your paludarium is the most fantastic work of living art that I've ever seen. Absolutely stunning! I've kept reef tanks, discus, planted tanks, Africans, but none of that compares to this. Your creation has given me inspiration. I've read most of the comments, but I need to do more research before attempting to create something half as good as this. Thanks for posting this.

[@1969hippiechick]

I channeled the outflow tube from the filter through PCV pipe to build the waterfall. The stream is made from black liner material that is used for outdoor water features lined with small rocks. I don't remember all the terrestrial plants but they include fittonia, creeping fig, a selanginella, an ivy, andjava moss which is also used in the water . (Great plant!). The aquatic plants include dwarf hair grass, anubia, java fern, elodea, pennywort. Hope that helps. Have fun!!

[@warriorking6477]

Thank you

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks LIasis. While many paludarium builders choose to use a false bottom, I built my land areas by enclosing then with large rocks and filling the space delineated with hydroponic clay balls. I then stuffed knee highs with the clay balls to make the land "walls" of the mass higher and filled this in with more clay balls, topping it off with substrate.

[@danielbolf7896]

Wow! What a beautiful display. One of the nicest I've ever seen.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much Daniel!

[@51mushudragon51]

Your video is absolutely lovely. Thank you for the inspiration. Beautiful.

[@1969hippiechick]

+Victoria Stark Thank you so much! I have made a new tank and should take a video and post it.

[@sharonhesterlee5172]

This is beautiful and inspirational--thanks for posting! I am in the process of planning a palidarium setup for my 75 gallon (the current inhabitants are moving into a 150 gallon aquarium). I'm really good with fish and amphibians but not so much with plants so this will be a real learning experience!

[@cyberaquarist]

Thanks for offering to give me advice. I've always enjoyed designing my aquariums and overcoming new challenges. I've been thinking of ways to set up a paludarium. I work for a water municipality, so I have access to wetlands and reserviours. I've always collected my own driftwood. I did watch the video in your link above, and it too is a true work of art. However, I still like yours better than any I've ever seen. It appears much larger than it is, and it looks extremely natural. Thanks again!

[@lookatthebriteside]

Serpa Tetra! Beautiful setup, it looks ginormous.

[@1969hippiechick]

+lookatthebriteside So sorry I missed your post. Thanks!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much Peter! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks Gene. I bought them because they like the newt like cooer temps. Have grown quite fond of them.

[@GeneBurnett]

Lovely tank! White Clouds are some of my favorite fish.

[@saurianscapes2805]

I love this set up. Just gorgeous.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks Brian!

[@saurianscapes2805]

Your welcome! I need to post more of my planted tanks on here.

[@Tervnut]

lovely job. Love the budda. Thanks for sharing!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks!

[@benjaminb594]

Wow that's incredibly well done. I am about a week away from having all my materials arrive to my house to make my 75 gallon Southeast Asian paludarium. I hope it turns out this nice.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! It was so much fun to plan and build and to nature watch in my living room.

[@TheNewtman12003]

Paradise ... well done !

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you Alejandro!

[@heartofahobbit]

I have read in the comments that you have actually broken down this tank awhile ago. Maybe if you decide to do another one, you might do one where we can all watch what you have created. I started out with just a planted tank, but now, after seeing so many beautiful paludariums, I want to set up my own. It is difficult finding one that someone shows how they set up their tank. Most videos the table are complete our people don't want to share what they have done so they do a speed-through filming of bits and pieces. Your tank just makes me want to create my own little piece of realistic nature. Thank you so much for having shared this beautiful piece for the rest of us to drool over!! LOL!

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Thanks Mona - I have already set up a new tank, so I can't do a live video of setting it up. But I did take process photos and I was considering making a video of the process photos. Your comment is an encouragement to do just that.

[@heartofahobbit]

Jeanne Holtzman That would be Awesome! I am pretty decent at doing fresh water tanks. Just did a "forest" planted tank. Stepping into doing a pico reef tank now. Then I started seeing paludariums and really, really want one for myself. It just helps to see setups in order to do it the right way and to see materials being used. I have looked up tutorials but so many of them are very short, not much detail or they zoom thru the whole thing. Thank you for responding! Have a great day!

[@1969hippiechick]

Wow! Thank you so much cyberaquarist. I hope the judges at the Aquatic Gardener's Association agree with you ; ) I entered it into their contest this year and am awaiting the results. I'd be happy to help you in anyway I can. When I was making mine I pestered a guy in Latvia who's tank I admired. I added a link to his tank in my description above.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks Steve. I use a turkey baster to clean the bottom and change the water every few weeks, and top it off every few days.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks Rodrigo

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much, Liam. It is a 75 gallon bow tank with two compact florescent lamps. I put down a layer of gravel, enclosed the two land areas with large rocks from my yard and filled them with clay balls used for hydroponics. I filled nylon knee highs with clay balls and used them as logs to heighten the enclosure, and then added more clay balls. On top of that I added the planting medium. I used an ovation filter which is hidden behind the land on the right.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks George.

[@StanTheObserver-lo8rx]

Great job...it DOES look like a section of a stream..you have the right rocks. Feels right. Congrats!

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Thanks Stan!

[@2869may]

Beautiful..!!! I've kept fish all my life, I always try to make look as natural looking as possible, I just started building a Vivarium in a 40 breeder, stood up. for dart frogs maybe a Day gecko. I also have 2 freshwater & 1 saltwater tank, It's the only hobby that can hold my interest...lol ( Gemini 1969 as well ) Once again your tank is Beautiful.!!!

[@1969hippiechick]

+2869may Thanks! It is a fun hobby. Good luck with your vivarium!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much Newtman!

[@petermcguire2482]

Hippiechick this is just beautiful and inspiring. Thanks!

[@brennanfisher6368]

This is so awesome it's given me the inspiration to build a tank like this for my spotted salamander

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks and good luck!! Does your spotted salamander like to hide? Because if he does, in a tank like this you may see him only when he comes out to eat.

[@brennanfisher6368]

+1969hippiechick right now he's still a baby but whenever I walk in he's poking his head outta somewhere...should be fun though. This is really awesome!!!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you Kiet!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! I mixed the substrate for the terrestrial plants from coconut fiber, oak leaf mulch from my woods and orchid bark. The soil is sitting atop clay balls piled just above the water level. They wick the moisture up from the water in the tank, so I never actually water the plants - just add water to the tank.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! You will love it. Mine has been up since about September and not a day goes by that I don't enjoy it.

[@1969hippiechick]

molte grazie!

[@kylesandilands1617]

Beautiful

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you! The waterfall is powered by a small ovation submersible filter that is hidden behind the landmass on the right. The outflow tube is channeled through some small diameter PVC pipe hidden behind the rocks. The stream is merely a rubber liner pressed into the substrate and lined with pebbles.

[@aguma2067]

Una verdadera obra de arte llena de vida.

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Muchas gracias!!!

[@r3v3rs3tWiLiT3]

You should make a tutorial on how to set up a tank like this. I would love to know how you made the waterfall and stream.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you. I have since made a second tank and have considered making a video or writing an article of the build. I used an underwater ovation filter to power the waterfall and brought the tube up thought a small PVC pipe with an elbow, surrounding it with stones, bark and plants. The stream is built like a miniature outdoor stream, with a pond and liner laid into the substrate, hidden and covered with stones and pebbles.

[@notyouraverageaquarist8886]

really cool!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks!

[@jeremyleighty9182]

Very cool

[@1969hippiechick]

Hi BoY860. The branch in the water is store bought, however the bark that is hiding the wires from the heater/pump is from my backyard. I had no problems with it in this setting. The land area is built up by outlining the areas with stones from my backyard and "logs" of clay nylon knee highs filled with clay balls and filling the enclosure with clay balls and then adding substrate on top. In this way the land plants get the water from the entire water column.

[@GeneBurnett]

Yes, they like cooler water...I don't know if they'll do it in shallow water but the males do this funny little display and dance with each other sometimes. GB

[@davidvitali6957]

Amazing 🙏

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks David!

[@thaiger3712]

awesome !!

[@1nation1love]

this is art my friend awsome

[@1969hippiechick]

1nation1love Thank you so much!

[@jacyll1966]

1nation1love lOVE YOUR HANDLE!

[@Aleos49]

Spectacular

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you!

[@kennedycamarena4998]

I’ve got a question about this tank! I recently got a 75 gallon bow front aquarium and I am turning it into a bioactive frog Vivarium for whites tree frogs and possibly green anoles later on. I’ve got to make my own lid and can’t find anything for a bow front Vivarium. I’ll most likely be setting heat lamps on my screen and plant lights, so the mesh has to be specific as well so it doesn’t melt or burn. Anyone got any ideas?

[@wdmcdonough]

I love this, pretty sure I've watched it 20 times I was thinking of doing something like this in a drilled 72g bow front, but with a canister filter underneath.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much William. I originally tried to use an Eheim canister filter underneath, despite the fact that my LFS guy warned me it might not work, and he was right.I don't remember all the details or the reasoning now, but I gave up and used the underwater filter which has been working well for about 18 months. My tank was not drilled however.

[@hooperhumperdink4166]

Eheims are great for full aquariums, but they are self priming so it doesnt work for low water levels....I too learned this from experience. I found that the Marineland Magnum 350 canister filters are perfect for this kind of set up. I have a 40 gal breeder with fire belly toads with only a few inches of water and it works perfect.

[@jay_c2669]

wow, just...Amazing that's all I can say...

[@paulrichardson4719]

that is so cool, nice job :D backing track is quite nice too lol

[@1969hippiechick]

+Paul Richardson So sorry I missed your post somehow. Thank you. I will pass that on to my friend who is the guitarist.

[@1969hippiechick]

Sorry I don't understand what you are asking.

[@rodrigoangeles9558]

That is awesome

[@lctikisab007]

Ohhhhhh my goshhh Hippiechick...im speechless. I must have this...I'd give anything for a step by step if you ever make another one.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much! I may make another smaller one and the editor of the Aquatic Gardening Magazine has asked if I do to take pics and write an article. Hopefully I will do that! I do have a couple of construction photos but not sure how or if I could post them here.

[@lctikisab007]

you should have a blog. Don't think there's too many blogs about paludariums out there. lol at least not that I know of.

[@1969hippiechick]

lctikisab007 Good idea! If/when I get around to my new build, maybe I should start a blog.

[@lctikisab007]

cool thanks for mentioning my post. Yeah you should start a blog. People in my neck of the woods are starting to catch on to these paludariums and vivariums and other various aquatic interest. The best part of a paludarium for me would be like having my very own personal rainforest right here in my home. Bringing the outside in. If you did start a blog I think you'd have very very good response from people and many followers. Me for one. thanks alot and good luck to you!

[@ironhorsefsu]

A chick that's hippy and into green, I love you hippiechick. Just saw your response below about plants dying...maybe because you're using a soil-like substrate (usually they're enert or don't give off enough nutrition for demanding plants) unless you're fertilizing, or perhaps a biotope that large is still finding it's balance? What'd be rad is if you used a drip system to water your plants using water pumped from the bottom of the pond substrate and returned to the pond, as they do aquaponics. If you do that already then I'm more in love haha. Big thumbs up! I LOVE it, zoo worthy!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks Blah Blab! No need to water or fertilize substrate as water from the tank is drawn up through the clay balls into the substrate and fertilizer is added to tank water as needed. If anything the substrate is already too wet.

[@ironhorsefsu]

Lol. So now I am completely enamored haha. Go all out and rig up a variable water level system to further replicate a natural setting!:D Perhaps that could help the oxygenation of your plant roots and the substrate being too wet all the time? Rock it rad hippy chick.

[@floraefauna4391]

incantevole!!!

[@hsinatnias]

awesome!!!!!... I would love to make one.. I can't wait... going to collect materials.. :) Very nice...

[@breker19er]

Wow!!!

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks!

[@berrybertin7291]

this tank is amazing, do you know the name of those round leaf creepers? I want the same for my terrarium

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much. The plant you are asking about is creeping fig, Ficus Pumila. It is a vigorous grower and can take over a tank if not regularly pruned.

[@1969hippiechick]

My paludarium does shake when people walk by and in the 10 months of its life I have noticed some clay balls "escaping" and some shifting down of the land mass, but I doubt this would be an issue with a more solid footing.

[@1969hippiechick]

My apologies if there is anyone whose comments I didn't respond to. I just found some very old comments that were marked as spam, and for a while google changed things and I couldn't figure out how to reply at all.

[@jacyll1966]

1969hippiechick So So AWSOME. Very tranquil. Could you list the plants you used if not asking too much, and what type lighting

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks so much Jeff. I'm sorry, but at this point I really don't remember what plants I used, and I have broken down the tank. I think I may have answered this in an earlier comment? I Used 2 compact florescent light bulbs, but when the fixture died I replaced it with an LED fixture.

[@liamboyd1148]

Amazing tank. Would it be possible to get information on the plants, lighting, and build itself? Like how you built the stream and waterfall. I would love to know. I hope to build a couple of paludariums soon myself and yours is most definitely an inspiration. Thank you.

[@jacobbeddow8720]

Sorry to hear that but I'm sure he had a lovely life I this awesome paludarium

[@indio076]

ME ENCANTO !!!

[@petravermeer3349]

Incredible , You can put this in my home as well ! I like it a lot .

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks!

[@petravermeer3349]

1969hippiechick You have Dwarf clowd frogs ( 24 * Celsius) and black Salamanders (gold water) together . which kind of salamanders are they ?.

[@1969hippiechick]

petra Vermeer HI - sorry to take so long to reply. Google was messing with my head. It was a fire bellied newt.

[@petravermeer3349]

I also have some Fire bellied, made a much more little home for them now, because I could not find them back ! lol.

[@Carlos0TP]

:O amazing!

[@1969hippiechick]

Sadly, Newt Figton has met his maker, but you're right. He came out at feeding time only.

[@1969hippiechick]

Ah. I see. That would be huge! Hard to estimate, but maybe about 15 in the water column, 10 open swimmable gallons.

[@godofmen54]

How long do you spend a week maintaining? And how much did it cost?

[@stevescott1585]

Absolutely stunning - we are planning to put something together for a couple of green tree froggies - but not in the same league lol - have to ask is it hard to keep the water

[@Liaisis]

Hey, really liked your Paludarium. abseloutely stunning! Im planning on turning my fish tank in to a paludarium, where i keep a common musk and a few tetras and endlres guppies. I really wonder how you created the land on each side of your tank, it looks so natural

[@kevinbrislawn5918]

I wish that I could see how you set up the pump and filter to flow down rocks..

[@1969hippiechick]

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to post a picture in my reply. I used an ovation submersible filter located in the middle back of the tank behind the right land mass, just barely accessible for maintenance. A tube connected to the filter goes horizontally behind the land when it gets to the edge of the tank the tube goes through a PVC elbow to point it vertically. When it reaches the desired height it goes through another PVC elbow to point it horizontally. This is then hidden behind and supported by a pile of rocks, bark, plants etc. I had to play with it a bit to get it to point the right way after that. I hope that helps. I have since torn this down and rebuilt it and I do have pictures of the process which I someday plan to post.

[@RevPunisher]

Outstanding work on this. I especially love the waterfall and creek. How do you keep the creek from soaking into the substrate before it reaches the water?

[@1969hippiechick]

The Creek bed is made with a flexible impermeable liner like the stuff used for outdoor water features. My LFS had some extra lying around and gave me a small piece which was all I needed. Then I covered it with stones.

[@bpolitepass2urright]

beautiful! love your youtube name also ^_^

[@1969hippiechick]

Haha! Thanks. Everybody's gonna want a dose of you, LOL.

[@joshmhall80]

I would love to have something like this. any advice about where you got the supplies/what you used?

[@1969hippiechick]

Most of the supplies ( Tank, lighting, filters, etc) are no different than what you would need for a regular planted tank.In my second paludarium I used 2 filters, a Cascade canister filter as well as a small submersible ovation filter to power the waterfall, and an LED light. If you go with a false bottom, you can purchase "egg crate" at your local big box hardware store, i.e. Home Depot. If you use clay balls they are available at all hydroponic stores, and, of course, Amazon. Depending what you use for substrate for the terrestrial plants, most items can be purchased at pet shops in the reptile section ( i.e. coir) or Home Depot. Black Jungle (www.blackjungle.com) is also a good source for plants and substrates. I also gathered leaf mold and stones from my yard.Hope this helps. You should check out the forums online. Good luck!

[@SmokeumPeacepipe]

this is incredible. i was blown away by the filter powered stream! such a striking detail in your obviously well thought out paludarium. i have to ask, how did set it up so that the filter is in your substrate, but draws water from the main body of water?

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! The base of the land areas is made up of clay balls that are used in hydroponics, with the soil-like substrate layered on top of this. The filter is behind the land-mass in the water portion, where I have access to it. The outflow tube goes up through a hidden PVC pipe and out into the stream. This was extremely successful at first, though recently ( over a year after set-up) it seems the soil may be getting a bit waterlogged and while some plants are thriving, others have died. I'm not sure what has caused this change. Perhaps there's been some settling so that keeping enough water for the fish has caused the soil to become too saturated?

[@Tarsan97]

Nice. What kind of frogs can be bought or placed in a paludarium like this ?

[@hooperhumperdink4166]

Looks awesome, great job....you have a good eye for this. What kind of light are you using? Wich plants are thriving? I have a simular setup but he soil got too water logged and my ferns died.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! Well, I was using a very old Perfecto fixture with two compact fluorescents, but it died yesterday :( Just bought an LED light but haven't set it up yet. Pretty pricey, but you don't have to change bulbs and it should last for 5 years. The color looked pretty good in the store. We'll see. For the first year ALL my plants thrived. More recently I too have been having problems with plants getting waterlogged and I am stumped as to what changed. I don't know if maybe things settled a bit? I tried stuffing more clay balls under the soil but not sure if that did the trick. Still, many of the plants appear to be indestructible. The schefflera is hard to keep short enough. The creeping fig runs rampant and needs frequent pruning but I love the way it fills things in. I can't remember the name of the spotted plant, but when it gets too tall I just cut off the top and stick it back in the soil and in a day or two it is good as new.I had to pull up one of the ferns that wasn't waterlogged but got way too big, and just noticed there are a few tiny baby ferns that sprung up so hope they do well. Is there somewhere I can see your set-up?

[@topanekgonggong1797]

wow, amazing, for lightning, how much power of lamp do you used ?

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

I don't recall exactly. It was a 48" fixture with tow compact florescent bulbs.

[@q.a.terrace]

Beautiful work! What is the upkeep like for such a large tank?

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! This tank has been taken down because after about a year it failed to thrive. I think perhaps it needed more filtration and water movement. I have a new tank with improved filtration but haven't gotten a good video of it yet. The upkeep of the water is not really different than a common planted tank with regular water changes, fertilizing, etc. Some of the fast growing terrestrial plants require a lot of pruning, and the stream needed to be tended to as it often began to overflow its banks and soak the plant substrate.

[@amaryllisbrooke8098]

1969hippiechick what? failed to thrive?.. this is one of best that I have ever seen... well you probably improved your new one.

[@1969hippiechick]

I briefly had a beard alge problem which I solved by getting 3 American flag fish. If I don't feed them enough spirulina they start eating my plants though. There is a small amount of algae on the pebbles but the oto cats seem to keep that controlled.

[@BoY860]

Can you put branches from out side in these? Trying to figure out how ppl get those branches like you have the one big one in the water doesnt look store bought. Also how did you seperate your land from the water it looks very nice

[@UlkOgan]

Beautiful! :) How did you make that river/stream and the waterfall?

[@MrBushel86]

Very beautiful tank. Inspired me to want to convert my 55g aquarium into a paludarium. May I ask what did you use for a background?

[@ArmandsKoncus]

I am glad you made it and thanks for mentioning my paludarium as your inspiration! It is very beautiful and deserved better place in AGA contest. You can find updated version of my paludarium (Creeperland 2) here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpCUh5yPr8-jgNk

[@1969hippiechick]

Thank you Armands! I actually watched that video several times last night! I will try to update my comments.

[@ViceArancibia]

great

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks!

[@shawndoe2834]

Amazing Video. Can the newts pick off small fish??? Thanx: Shawn

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! Never seemed to have a problem with that.

[@steveharper8106]

great tank . one question are your land plants in pots and if so have they got holes in the bottom thanks

[@1969hippiechick]

No they are not in pots, just planted in the substrate. I should add that the tank thrived that way for about a year, and then some ( not all) of the land plants started dying. I think maybe there was settling of the clay balls and the land area became too wet?? I have tried to push more clay balls underneath but now that it is 2 years old I think maybe it is time to re-do it.

[@steveharper8106]

1969hippiechick thanks for the reply if you do redo it can you make a video of the setting up would be really interesting .

[@1969hippiechick]

Less than an hour a week I would say. I never kept track of the cost. I'd had the tank for many years. If I had to guess, maybe a couple, three hundred for the substrate, plants, filter, fabric background, pebbles etc.Not really sure, but I doubt it was more than that.

[@franklinmichael671]

Update with better video quality?? the tank looks awesome.

[@1969hippiechick]

+Franklin Michael Thanks. This tank is no more, but I just built a new one. Need to make a video of the new one but not sure I have any better video quality at my disposal.

[@1969hippiechick]

+Franklin Michael Thanks! I'll have to try that.

[@ijaija643]

Do you have tutorial / steps for how to make this ?

[@1969hippiechick]

Sorry, I don't, but I have since made another version of this tank and took photos of the build and hope to make a video showing the steps some time in the future.

[@frankenspud3]

exceptional! what type of soil do you use? newt figton..heh heh

[@kietnguyen6000]

Sooooooooooooooo beautifulllllllllllllllll

[@DarioPapetti]

It's amazing! What kind of plant are there?

[@1969hippiechick]

Sorry I don't remember all the terrestrial plants but they include fittonia, creeping fig, a selanginella, an ivy, and java moss which is also used in the water . (Great plant!). The aquatic plants include dwarf hair grass, anubia, java fern, elodea, pennywort. Hope that helps.

[@amyberg5310]

What animals do ypu use?is there a african dwarf frog?

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Amano shrimp, White Cloud Minnows, Red Phantom Tetras, Dwarf African frogs and Fire Bellied newts

[@PYROTOAD]

How’d you separate the land from the water?

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

In this tank I just used piles of clay balls surrounded by stones from the garden, In some areas I made "logs" out of clay balls in nylon knee highs to hold the loose balls in. However, this tank did not do well after about a year, and I wondered if I possibly was getting dead areas under the balls. In my next ser-up in the same tank I used stronger filtration and I built a structure of plastic surrounded by stones to separate the two areas. It is going strong after 4 years.

[@PYROTOAD]

Jeanne Holtzman ok 👌 thank you for the reply!

[@Cmcmurphy1406]

How long did you wait before adding the fish and other animals after initial setup

[@1969hippiechick]

Difficult for me the remember as it was many years ago. I think I added one or 2 fish right away.

[@Cmcmurphy1406]

1969hippiechick there's just plants and rocks? No spray foam or any thing like that?

[@lordhellsreach3552]

I notice you have now broken down this set up can i ask the reason why as i am in the process of doing something similar and just wanted to know if it was problems time or just moving on to other things.

[@1969hippiechick]

+Daniel Jenkins - Yes there were problems. After about 10-12 months the terrestrial plants started to die, and even their replacements died. I thought perhaps they were getting too wet and I tried to stuff more clay balls below them but it didn't help. Then the fish started to suffer as well and I finally gave up. I'm not sure but I suspected that perhaps the water got yucky and stagnant among the submersed clay balls. I am in the process right now of starting a new tank. Much to my dismay I am putting in a false bottom ( made with small plastic crates like small versions of milk crates covered by egg crate) on one side of the tank and some wood from my yard on the other. I am also going to use a stronger filter to circulate the water more effectively. Good luck with your tank!

[@andykrasa7448]

awesome! how did you do this? ☺

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! The land masses were made by enclosing areas with rocks from my yard and filling them with loose clay balls and some "logs" made from clay balls in knee high stockings. Substrate for terrestrial plants placed over that. Waterfall powered by an ovation underwater filter with stream bed made from a remnant of commercial pond liner. This particular set up faired well for about a year and then went downhill. I have since made a slightly different one with more filtration which is going well after 1 1/2 years. Need to put up a new video

[@Amithrius]

Gorgeous tank. If I may ask, what did you use a a base for the land areas?

[@1969hippiechick]

Sorry it took me so long to respond. KZbin just changed it's policies and made me sign up for google+ if I wanted to be able to keep responding to comments which really riled me. Anyway - the land is made up of clay balls either lose or in nylon knee highs surrounded by rocks and wood and topped by growing substrate.

[@Amithrius]

1969hippiechick Thanks for your reply. I keep several planted aquaria, but this is my first venture into a paludarium. Trust me, the new Google+ requirement is maddening as hell to most people. Are the clay balls you mentioned fired?

[@amaryllisbrooke8098]

林柏銘 what is wrong with you..

[@bly_the_wood4182]

How did you make the stream effect? It looks awesome.

[@1969hippiechick]

Thanks! A submersed filter is hidden behind the land mass on the right. A hose leads through PVC pipe to the waterfall. The stream is made with pieces of outdoor pond liner covered with pebbles and small rocks.

[@ViceArancibia]

how do you control snails?

[@1969hippiechick]

Not sure why, but I have never ever had snail problems. Maybe my water is too soft?

[@scarhbar23]

Amazing tank! What is the song name??

[@1969hippiechick]

Sorry. Google + is wreaking havoc on my KZbin site. The song is Prelude from Cello Suite III (J.S. Bach) John Lehmann-Haupt Songs of the Guitar and can be found on this album: itunes.apple.com/us/album/songs-of-the-guitar/id138458070