Have you considered using an overhead sump or hang on the back fuge?
Would this take care of the possible flow rate issue?
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Have you considered using an overhead sump or hang on the back fuge?
I've done this. Somewhere on this forum, I've got a picture or two. I had a great build thread on a defunct forum years ago. The only hobby version I found in my searches was a New Zealand Vivarium tank back in 2006-2008 where a guy had tropical plants and land crabs.Certainly! It's like a vivarium but with aquatic elements! So most people just take an aquarium, fill it half with water, and build a wall in the back for plants and vines etc. Sometimes you can incorporate shores/beaches. It doesn't seem to be too popular for marine aquarists yet, likely due to the salt creep factor. But I imagine misting the plants frequently (perhaps with ATO water) would help with that.
Edit: And I wouldn't be keeping any terrestrial critters, just trying out different kinds of tropical plants.
You can build, or have built, what ever you want to suit the needs and required flow rates. I don't know what you have available, but a simple shelf over the tank can house a decent size overhead sump. If you have the space, you can put it behind or next to the display tank. You can even put it in the other room. Like others have said, you can't really use two pumps and match the flow. So just create a system to pump water out of the display tank and then gravity return to it.Would this take care of the possible flow rate issue?
I've done this. Somewhere on this forum, I've got a picture or two. I had a great build thread on a defunct forum years ago. The only hobby version I found in my searches was a New Zealand Vivarium tank back in 2006-2008 where a guy had tropical plants and land crabs.
I'm at work now, but I'll get into more detail later with pictures when I get home.
Sadly I lost interest in continuing my 65 gallon setup and recently tore it down.
Ah yes, I've been reading through that thread.Here's a short discussion from last year, I summed up some of my experience with my 65 in this thread.
Saltwater Paludarium?
What do you guys think of a saltwater paludarium? With a beach setup and foam baffles covered in silicone to hold back water from the plants. This sound like a good idea?www.reef2reef.com
I would love to hear more about this!
@Ratherbeflyen thank you. I am super intrigued by the overhead sump idea and am going to seriously consider both. Part of me just wants to drill another overflow and use the existing sump, since I have it. By the way, will drilling twice into the same pane of glass weaken it more? This particular tank has the (internal) overflow drilled on the side panel, not the back. If I go for a new overflow, should I chose a different side for the new spot? Can I stick with an internal overflow, if I chose to do this?
EDIT never mind, I found some. Wow, that was an engaging little system.
Cool concept. Like you said earlier, the salt will be a problem. It is so toxic to plants that it would kill just about any that you put in.@Ratherbeflyen Ha! You are quite correct there, with half a tank of water I shouldn't be worried. By the way, killer build. That rock wall turned out amazing with the SPS and other corals. Simply ("simply") building a faux rock wall and keeping the 125 full of water is also on my list. I am kind of thinking that a wider tank might be more suited to a palu project, or at least one with slightly more workable dimensions.
Do you mind linking or sharing them? I'm very curious!