Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution

convict360

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Dec 9, 2013
4,499
1,875
164
Scotland
Hi all.

I didn't want to go the traditional "sloping sand"-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 plumming 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' had too much luck yet.

There, thanks for looking!
Amazing!
 
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Chasmodes

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Apr 9, 2015
87
164
51
Maryland
Hey HX.

Any updates on your tank?

I'm not sure if you remember me, but I am still working on my build, a DIY rock wall with artificial roots. Your are one of the folks on here that inspired me to give this a try. I've made progress and am finished with the faux rock work. I began the root structure but wasn't happy with it, so, I'm starting over. I just wanted to say thanks again for answering my questions and giving me tips.
 
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