Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Moderator: LoachForumModerators
Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Hi all.
I didn't want to go the traditional "sloping sandbeach"-route in creating a habitat for my mudskippers.
To start with, I had three Periophthalmodon septemradiatus males. This is not the most aggressive nor largest species of 'skippers, but it still wants to form and defend a small territory.
What I wanted was to create a habitat with multiple spots where the fish can hide from each other's sight.
I started with an old 140 gallon sump tank:
I disassembled the sump to replace the old, scratched front glass with a new one and painted the trims:
For hardscape I wanted to make a DIY root system with multiple little shallow pools and an inbuilt plumming to circulate water in the pools.
A sketch:
Platforms and volume of the scape:
Roots bent of pvc and added volume with foam:
A bit of shaping with a knife:
A stage after a few layers:
Hardscape pretty much finished:
Glued in and the first test was very succesfull. All the pools were filled up with just one pump feeding the plumbing system in the scape:
The mudskippers are using the whole scape and seem happy with it:
FTS, early stages:
BOOOOO!
The tank is still maturing. Water is kept at 1.002-1.003. I'm trying to find plants that would co-operate with me, but haven't had too much luck yet.
There, thanks for looking!
I didn't want to go the traditional "sloping sandbeach"-route in creating a habitat for my mudskippers.
To start with, I had three Periophthalmodon septemradiatus males. This is not the most aggressive nor largest species of 'skippers, but it still wants to form and defend a small territory.
What I wanted was to create a habitat with multiple spots where the fish can hide from each other's sight.
I started with an old 140 gallon sump tank:
I disassembled the sump to replace the old, scratched front glass with a new one and painted the trims:
For hardscape I wanted to make a DIY root system with multiple little shallow pools and an inbuilt plumming to circulate water in the pools.
A sketch:
Platforms and volume of the scape:
Roots bent of pvc and added volume with foam:
A bit of shaping with a knife:
A stage after a few layers:
Hardscape pretty much finished:
Glued in and the first test was very succesfull. All the pools were filled up with just one pump feeding the plumbing system in the scape:
The mudskippers are using the whole scape and seem happy with it:
FTS, early stages:
BOOOOO!
The tank is still maturing. Water is kept at 1.002-1.003. I'm trying to find plants that would co-operate with me, but haven't had too much luck yet.
There, thanks for looking!
-
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:22 pm
- Location: Boise, ID USA
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Wow.
That looks so awesome!
That looks so awesome!
- Crissyloach
- Posts: 289
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:41 am
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Wow! Looks great! I love the 3rd last pic -- LOL!
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
I love it! Very very cool!!
How was it fitting the new piece of glass between the existing sides & frame. It would seem difficult?
How was it fitting the new piece of glass between the existing sides & frame. It would seem difficult?
Layers of what??A stage after a few layers:
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Thanks, guys!
Layers of grout. Grout is cement, fine sand and coloring powder. A few colors was used.
I mix some concrete additive acrylic polymer to it before brushing it on. It seals the cement partially and gives strength to the structure.
It was a bit difficult, since the end glasses are in between the long sides and had to be taken out first. But still doable. I cut the silicones with a thin cut-blade knife.plaalye wrote: How was it fitting the new piece of glass between the existing sides & frame. It would seem difficult?
Layers of what??A stage after a few layers:
Layers of grout. Grout is cement, fine sand and coloring powder. A few colors was used.
I mix some concrete additive acrylic polymer to it before brushing it on. It seals the cement partially and gives strength to the structure.
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
That's brilliant.
How do the plants do with salt in the water?
How do the plants do with salt in the water?
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Thanks.
There are several species of plants that should do ok in the low salinities.
I'm not havin' too much growth yet, even though I tried to acclimate the plants during a few months.
But we'll see. My hopes are high. Java moss and Riccia are doing fine, a couple species of Crypts are surviving, java fern so-so. Vallisneria is growing and reproducing... Lotus seems to survive as well, but grows ve-ry slow-ly.
There are several species of plants that should do ok in the low salinities.
I'm not havin' too much growth yet, even though I tried to acclimate the plants during a few months.
But we'll see. My hopes are high. Java moss and Riccia are doing fine, a couple species of Crypts are surviving, java fern so-so. Vallisneria is growing and reproducing... Lotus seems to survive as well, but grows ve-ry slow-ly.
-
- Posts: 5054
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:04 pm
- Location: Tampa, Florida
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Absolutely fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
I had Mondo Grass (Ophipopgon japonicus) survive in an emersed 'skipper habitat, salt level at 1.004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiopogon_japonicus
Everything else died.
Try acclimating the plants over several months, starting them in hard water, and adding just a tiny amount of salt each week until the plants are in the water similar to your 'skipper tank. It takes them a long time to acclimate.
Beautiful job on the root and layers!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiopogon_japonicus
Everything else died.
Try acclimating the plants over several months, starting them in hard water, and adding just a tiny amount of salt each week until the plants are in the water similar to your 'skipper tank. It takes them a long time to acclimate.
Beautiful job on the root and layers!
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!
Happy fish keeping!
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Thanks, starsplitter7 and NancyD.
I acclimated the original plants in the tank for 2 months from 1.000 to 1.003. Might be something else going on along the salinity, but pretty much all I got was algae and either no growth or just dying plants...
Mondo grass is new to me, gotta look into it!
Thanks again.
Thanks for your 2c.Diana wrote:I had Mondo Grass (Ophipopgon japonicus) survive in an emersed 'skipper habitat, salt level at 1.004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiopogon_japonicus
Everything else died.
Try acclimating the plants over several months, starting them in hard water, and adding just a tiny amount of salt each week until the plants are in the water similar to your 'skipper tank. It takes them a long time to acclimate.
Beautiful job on the root and layers!
I acclimated the original plants in the tank for 2 months from 1.000 to 1.003. Might be something else going on along the salinity, but pretty much all I got was algae and either no growth or just dying plants...
Mondo grass is new to me, gotta look into it!
Thanks again.
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
wow ! just saw this...love your hardscape and love your mudskippers !! Awesome job , must be a joy to watch them
G
G
cider
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Thanks!
I'm no photographer. I certainly am no filmmaker.
But here's some overall footage of the tank, shot with a Nokia N8 phone.
http://www.youtube.com/user/hexisan?fea ... 9LNrbVcpe4
I'm no photographer. I certainly am no filmmaker.
But here's some overall footage of the tank, shot with a Nokia N8 phone.
http://www.youtube.com/user/hexisan?fea ... 9LNrbVcpe4
-
- Posts: 91
- Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:12 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Hx - this is such a cool build! Is that a turtle on the far right in the full tank pic?
Re: Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution
Thank you, Sarge.
No, no turtles in there. The round thing in the back right corner? A coconut shell.
No, no turtles in there. The round thing in the back right corner? A coconut shell.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests