My 25G Paludarium comments love / hate?

[Younglin]

I would say put a blue crayfish in there but not with those fish and shrimp. I think it would look awesome though, the blue crayfish and all the plants.

 

[Fat Homer]

Good to hear... i think you'll enjoy the project, lots of fun learning and trouble shooting how to setup such a system... albeit at times it can be frustrating...

Can't wait and im expecting some frustration from this project.This is my first project >_< [/QUOTE]

Yeah, this was my first project too so i can relate to how you may feel in the near future... but in all honesty, even the frustrating parts are fun when you look back at it... i know for me it was the waterfall feature that did my head in... although now looking back i'm glad i did it myself rather than purchase a ready made one...

I would say put a blue crayfish in there but not with those fish and shrimp. I think it would look awesome though, the blue crayfish and all the plants.

Yeah, i already have a marble cray tank, so no more crayfish tanks for me... plus the fact they aren't exactly plant friendly from what i've noticed in the past...

 

[Younglin]

Yeah, i already have a marble cray tank, so no more crayfish tanks for me... plus the fact they aren't exactly plant friendly from what i've noticed in the past...

Good point. Mine used to tear up even my silk plants before she died.

 

[David K. Bradley]

Fat Homer:
I just finished reading your entire thread. For someone who has built a plaudarium for the first time, I must say you are an inspiration and a shining example of perservereance and determination. You have done an outstanding job. Your plaudarium is awesomely beautiful and yet so simplistic. I have enjoyed your creativity in it's construction and wise choices of inhabitants. I wish you much luck and continued success with your plaudarium. I'm looking forward to see how your 4 footer turns out. It's been a pleasure having you share this experience of yours with us. Thank you.
Best Regards,
David K. Bradley

 

[Fat Homer]

^ Wow i'm speechless for your kind words, so thank you very much for your compliment

As for the 4 footer, i personally can't wait to set one up, but as mentioned, its really a matter of taking my time and seeing what other potential future problems i may run into with this smaller one first... since i'm still expecting to learn a lot from this tank...

Especially since now the plant roots have just started to penetrate down into the water below, so i'm guessing chances are they may slowly overtake the bottom, which could potentially lead to problems?

But all in all, even these situations are all part of the fun, especially the achievement you feel when you can solve some of your problems and share it with friendly members on a board like MFK

 

[David K. Bradley]

^ Wow i'm speechless for your kind words, so thank you very much for your compliment

As for the 4 footer, i personally can't wait to set one up, but as mentioned, its really a matter of taking my time and seeing what other potential future problems i may run into with this smaller one first... since i'm still expecting to learn a lot from this tank...

Especially since now the plant roots have just started to penetrate down into the water below, so i'm guessing chances are they may slowly overtake the bottom, which could potentially lead to problems?

But all in all, even these situations are all part of the fun, especially the achievement you feel when you can solve some of your problems and share it with friendly members on a board like MFK

Being one who enjoys great achievements and seeing accomplishments reached, even for beginners, kind words of encouragement where deserved are warranted.

Anything worth while you are doing and doing well may take a longer time than other hobbists. It's okay to do this. Patience is a vurtue and you seem to have great amounts of patience. Your plaudarium emulates your patience. A rare quality indeed.

To solve the issues involved in problem solving, experience is the best teacher. What better way is there to learn? But if you can not resolve the issues of solving potential problems, find a wise and educated person and ask. Listen to what they have to say, weigh their advice in your own mind and then act on your choices to resolve your issues.

Trimming the roots may keep it in perspective with the relationship to the tank size. Just like the Bonsai Tree Master, he trims only the amount of the tree roots needed to allow it to continually grow in it's size related to the vessel which the tree is kept in. Maybe with transplanting his tree to a vessel one size larger than it's previous one, every 5 to 10 years. Keep this in mind. Trim only those roots of your plaudarium plants to allow it continual growth may help. Keeping the hair roots of your plaudarium plants trimmed just below the water line, say maybe 1/2 inch at most, and allowing the main roots to remain, should allow for this to happen without damage to the root system if any at all. Yes, once the main roots reach the bottom of your tank, occasional trimming of them may be necessary to keep them from overtaking swim space from your tank's inhabitants.

The good feelings accompanied by accomplishments you have achieved are always welcomed to one's self. The pride one feels inside, should be cherrished forever and shared with only the very few, closest to you. I wish you much success with your 25 gallon plaudarium and look to the future for seeing the completion of your 4 footer. ~ David

 

[Fat Homer]

^ Thanks again for your kind words... and thanks for the advice on the plant roots, i'm sure this will give me something to think about over the next few weeks as i try and work out how i'm going to get under the land area without having to lift all the plants out...

 

[David K. Bradley]

^ Thanks again for your kind words... and thanks for the advice on the plant roots, i'm sure this will give me something to think about over the next few weeks as i try and work out how i'm going to get under the land area without having to lift all the plants out...

You are most welcome, F.H.
It looks to me, this is an issue for you to decide upon. Keep us posted. I anxious to see what you may have in mind. I have an idea, but I wish to first see, what you might try.

 

[Fat Homer]

^ Hahahaha, thanks David... at least now i know i may already have a backup plan if whatever i come up with doesn't work

Although atm, one idea i have had, which i know most likely won't work is to try and get some wire underneath the whole land area and lift the whole thing up just high enough for me to trim the plants roots...

But since i know that idea most likely won't work, i'm going to have to think of a few other ones before i start messing around with my tank just incase i mess up...

 

[David K. Bradley]

Hahahahaha! I went back and viewed all of your photographs of your plaudarium, re-thinking my idea, too. After much deliberate thought and careful consideration, my idea would not work either.

I was thinking possibly taking a small pair of scissors, with a curved tipped blades and reaching under the land area to remove the roots. You might have to remove the drift wood to reach under the land area. There is however the issue of being able to place your hand between the glass and the rock edge. It would seem to me there may not be enough space to allow for this to happen, so I may have to re-think my idea and come up with a more suitable possibility.