PacMan's viv build log.

[PacMan]

Well, its time to start my project..This is my first viv so take it easy on me!

Well the idea is to make Paludarium. I will be using a sump to clean/filter the water. Its just going to be a simple 5.5g tank with a Eheim 2213 Canister Filter to "polish" the water and a power head to bring the water back up to the tank to the water feature.

here is a list that i will be updating as i go..I will also be making a plant list(i will be using mostly miniture orchids)

"THE LIST"
-27g bow front
-5.5g tank(sump tank)
-Eheim 2213 Canister Filter
-T5-ho lights(6700k bulbs)
-two tubes of silicone(GE II)
-two cans of "GS"
-one sheet of "eggcrate"
-small peice of PVC pipe
-Small sheet of plexi-glass
-Everything needed to do a false bottom(substrate,mesh,etc etc.)-
-driftwood and differnt sizes of rocks.

My inspiration for this viv is Timsviv tank on the dendroboard.com forums...its awesome!

This is what i have right now...the I made a cardboard template so i can transfer it to the plexi-glass(measure twice cut once). I also made a cave type this to maximize the land area.





Hope you guys like whati have doen so far. Sorry for the crap pictures..but w/e.

C&C are welcome. Ill try to keep this up to date as best i can.

thanks.

[calvin_orchidL]

Cool! Can't wait to see it in action - I'm interested in seeing how the water feature works out. Looks like an exciting project

[Bird Song Farm]

Following the thread with interest. Please do take photos as you go along, even if you haven't time to post. Then post when you do have time. Also very interested in the water feature.
AL

[PacMan]

****UPDATE****


Well i went to get a top made and get holes drilled for my bulkheads. It turns out that the whole m'fin tank is tempered glass and i can not drill it. SO, with that being said. im going to have to change the plans. There is going to be NO water feature. ill just have to get another tank that i will be able to drill..Oh well. more the merrier! Ill will be getting another tank on thursday. So, ill make another thread on that one..Sry for the disapointment..

So the plans are to just pond type area for right now. Ill keep you guys posted!

*EDITED*

P.s, i was digging around all my reeftank stuff and found and old powerhead i had from an old set up...Might be able to make a little water feature after all!

[CoolPhrog]

I'm really interested to see the end result for your tank but I wanted to add that when we set up our 80 gallon bow front (used to be a reef) we used the canister filter for the water feature....the tank was already pre-drilled from the bottom so we plugged up one hole and use the other hole for the drain into the filter while the other hose simply takes the "cleaned" water and dumps it over the waterfall...no need for a sump or an additional pump for a water feature....though I also want to add that the entire bottom of the tank is water....about 15 to 20 gallons

[PacMan]

ah kool. Well the reason why i am going to do a sump(not on this tank anymore tho) is that water changes and heating the water is much easier and the 2213 flow is much to high for a water feature of that size, there are ways to get the flow down, i just thought i would be easier to use a powerhead..which i have many of! lol. This bowfront was reef tank too. I love them.

I made the GS backround today. looks pretty good. Ill get some pictures.

[PacMan]

***update***

Well i made a GS back round for this viv. i got some pictures to show i have have doen so far.





As you can see by the shaded area, I ahve made little cave/overhangs to get some shade for plants that like a bit of shade, Im not too sure what ill be putting there, I have also made a bunch of little shelves to put plants on. I have Not dont anything to the side of the tank. im Not too sure what ill do on them.

The next set is applying the coco-fiber with silicone. Ill have some more updates tommorow or next day.

Hope you guys like it so far. I sure do.

[Bird Song Farm]

Looking Good!! Was the background material hard to work with?

Al

[PacMan]

Well accually no, i thought i was going to be but it wasnt at all. I used a sharp knife to cut it foam.. as long as yu have everything planned out before hand its easy to do. I used 1.5 cans of GS. I put it on thick so i was able to cut it back.

[PacMan]

Well today i went into calgar yot buy some things. I pick up some super hard to find riccia as ground cover for the viv. Its really hard to find in calgary i dont know why, but it is. Right now its just floating around in my 72g bow front planted tank.

Tommorow ill be adding the coco fiber to the backround and also doing and false bottom and add the substrate also. Ill post pictures when im doing it.