sealing a paludarium/aquarium

[enjoi_madness]

My recent project has moved from monster fish to a paludarium, i've included a picture of my paludarium. But just like any monster fish keep things just aren't big enough for us and i am at the point now where i want to build a larger enclosure, i've look into building a tank in the past and it seems like some work, but i'm up for the challenge, I only have two questions: 1. What is the accepted norm for both quailty and costeffectiveness(a real word?) for sealing a tank? only the bottom half has to be waterproofed as it is the only part that is going to hold water and 2. What do you think of my paludarium? The drifwood on the right is a waterfall.

 

[enjoi_madness]

:bump:

 

[softturtle]

Looks good! I've always loved paludariums and vivariums. Is the land section divided from the water, or is the driftwood the only barrier?

 

[Nic]

looks real good

 

[enjoi_madness]

all the driftwood is siliconed in, you can't really tell but there are three pieces of driftwood. The front left piece is removable so that i can reach the filter intake that is below the land. The land rests upon a piece of acrylic that has a lip of rocks so the soil doesnt contaminate the water. The island is held up by bamboo pillars almost like a warf or something. The "air island" next to the waterfall with the spiderplants is also a piece of acrylic that is siliconed to the rear of the tank.

 

[Nic]

how big are you planning to build it

 

[enjoi_madness]

I'd like to build it like a 55 gallon tank standing on end so almost 4 ft tall, I would like to have enough room for some cool fish but really highlight treefrogs and geckos, and a nice huge waterfall.

 

[Recycling Works]

menards has the brand name bondo fiberglass epoxy resin works great, its 27 bucks a gallon and i think 1 gallon is all you need. thats the strongest way to do it, or the other option is any marine paint or patable paint that is used to line water tanks.

Are you gonna put any critters in there.....frog? snails would keep the glass clean for you..blue lobster for color but he would graze on your plants big time. i have a small painted turtle that would be groovy in there, sorry this is the only picture i have of him...i didnt eat him for real k

 

[guppy]

Nice looking set up.
I would seal the entire thing when you build it, I is not much more expense or effort, aquarium sealant in not that expensive.

 

[enjoi_madness]

Yeah, i'm going to put some madagascar tree frogs in there, was gonna do some snails and some hillstream loaches that i just love. I dunno about any crustaceans like lobsters but possibbly some crabs cuz those guy are so curious and they'd be everythwhere. as fas as more amphibians go i would probably ad some geckos or something not sure about amphibians only becuase i dont know much about them. any suggestions? Has anyone else used bondo fiberglass epoxy resin and had any luck? or badluck even? I would like to know what product to use.