How to Set up A Paludarium Tank

 

Why there is only half water in the Paludarium tank?

The answer is that the Paludarium can provide a perfect habitat for amphibians (such as crabs, frogs, and salamanders), while the water can be used for small marsh fish such as medaka and betta as their home.

More importantly, many aquatic plants are semi-aquatic plants, with their roots in the water, but their leaves sticking out of the water. In this way, they can take advantage of abundant sunlight and carbon dioxide, while also obtaining a permanent source of water and nutrients.

Paludarium can be made from any container that can hold water. Use aquarium lights to promote plant growth, use driftwood and rocks to create a land space, and combine aquatic plants and land plants to create an amazing miniature nature landscape. The clever use of built-in filters can create waterfalls, enhance the visual effects of paludarium, while providing additional humidity for land plants and ample space for the growth of wet-loving species such as mosses and ferns.

Steps set up a Paludarium tank

1. Choose the right aquarium.

It shall provide a viewing area of just the right size above the water surface and sufficient depth to keep the fish underwater.

2. Install the filter system.

3. Install the heater.

Similarly, the heater should be placed horizontally to ensure that it is always underwater. Set it to tropical water temperature under natural conditions.

4. Start stacking rocks and wood.

Place a pile of rocks in a corner. To make it this way, put the big rocks on the bottom and the small ones on the top, and arrange the rocks so that they are inclined from the front to the back.

5. Put the gravel on the bottom.

Any gravel can be used. Pave the gravel to a thickness of 5 cm, and if you want the underwater plants to grow well, you also need to lay a layer of base fertilizer.

6. Fill the aquarium with some water.

This will leave enough space in the water to grow plants, but the key is to cover the filter and heater and leave enough space for some small tropical fish.

7. To ensure the safety of fish, plants, and amphibians, water needs to be dechlorinated.

In most cases, tap water is sufficient, unless you want to raise fish that require soft water.

8. Add nitrifying bacteria to start the process of cycling.

Next, add ammonia water and check the water quality every day until the ammonia and nitrite reach the peak value and then return to zero.

9. Plant small aquatic plants and floating plants to create a swamping effect.

10. Place large terrestrial plants between rocks and wood to create a landscape overhanging plants on the top.