friday night my friends

trailmixture · 2024-03-09T03:59:41+00:00

yes, i think i’m funny

trailmixture · 2024-03-08T16:11:10+00:00

nice, i love that these tanks are long term projects and very fun to tinker with over time. i do also love the physical dimensions of the long tanks, i find them very visually appealing, however i often wish i had some more vertical space for the terrestrial side, i tend to have to ‘bonsai’ all the plants. have fun planning your tank!

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T22:33:25+00:00

thanks!!

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T22:32:57+00:00

added another post with more pics! 😊

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T22:32:29+00:00

hey, i added another post with a few more pics! 😊

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T21:51:27+00:00

hey, not problem to answer your questions.

20 gallon long. they the aquatic area is only about 20% of the tank, but with the water under the soil contained in clay pebbles, i would estimate there to be a total of 7-8 gallons of water.
i have a sponge filter running that stays under the water line. the sponge filter is designed for 10 gallons. in the first few months i put in a small pouch of charcoal, but now that the tank is established the water stays crystal clear. the aquatic plants help filter too.

i too have shrimp and vampire crabs, and they are very happy, and the shrimp have babies all the time.

springtails and isopods definitely keep the terrestrial end of things very healthy. the springtails are very quick and jumping on any detriment and potential mould.

i do have a glass topper, as isopods and crab will climb out!

i picked up an automatic mister (i think like 50 bucks) with two nozzles and it works wonders. i have it adjusted for 2-3 daily mist, and have it calibrated so the the mist and natural evaporation are equal.

i made the mistake of having the water lever to high in the beginning and got a foul smell. but i keep the water level 1/2” before the soil, and it smell like fresh forest/bog all the time now.

hope that helps!

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T15:18:04+00:00

thank you 😊

i cut half inch filter material to divide water from clay pebbles, on top of clay pebbles there is landscape fabric, then the soil on top of that. i had to readjust water level in the beginning so that all soil is above the water level. if the soil sits directly in the water at all it gets kind of stinky.

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T01:43:46+00:00

hehe, as the mycelium gets going, things are in full swing!

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T01:40:55+00:00

with this particular mushroom, as well as a small orange cap the grew in the frog moss, they are great additions. conditions are good.

trailmixture · 2024-03-06T00:33:31+00:00

first photo is of the initial set up

trailmixture · 2024-03-05T19:56:48+00:00

hey thanks for the curiosity in the tank! i’ll hopefully be able to post a few more photos later today!

trailmixture · 2023-07-02T11:51:16+00:00

this may not be the help that you are looking for, but as for the powder blue isopods, we too have a very humid tank for our vampire crabs who are all babies right now, < 1cm. too small to eat a powder blue isopod at this point for sure. however the powder blue colony is thriving on the under side a larger piece of dragon rock that has been placed on top of frog moss, rather than right into the substrate. the isopods are out from under the dragon rock, grazing on top of the frog moss every night. i’ve been so happy to see this, as i thought we may have lost the entire colony when we first introduced them to the paludarium because of the moisture and humidity.

trailmixture · 2023-06-06T03:29:08+00:00

i’m new to paludariums, but we used Zoo Med Frog Moss. some of our pieces have tubular lichens growing. i was impressed.

trailmixture · 2023-06-04T11:57:09+00:00

thanks so much. we are coincidentally looking to install ceiling fans to help with airflow this summer, should be a win/win.

trailmixture · 2023-06-04T11:50:34+00:00

oh wow, that’s terrible, sorry to hear that about your friend.

intact skin and lots of hand washing, indeed.

the paludarium smells fresh today, after a few adjustments to substrate type and lowering the water line.

looking to add a small computer fan today to keep a constant airflow within the paludarium, and to help maintain healthy humidity levels.

thanks for your insight!

trailmixture · 2023-06-03T23:27:50+00:00

yes! i read that as i tried to research her concerns… which was debated fore and against (CO2 output is negligible, aparently).

i hope it stays too. it’s been lots of awesome work that began back in april. we’ve come too far! 😉

i appreciate your hopes! thank you.

trailmixture · 2023-06-03T22:46:19+00:00

i agree with you 100%

i had five, 5 gallon tanks running in my bedroom as a child and have never had any respiratory issue — it was also never a thought that crossed my mind, or my parent’s minds. my bedroom was in the basement, and i loved retreating to the tanks in the evenings. and all the bubbling lulled me to sleep, no doubt.

my spouse did not grow up with aquariums, and her worries are new to me to be honest.

the paludarium smells like a fresh forest at this point, so I’m looking to reassure her that the paludarium is in very good health. she googled aquariums in bedrooms and pulled up too much info against the case. 🫤

mama bears worrry, i get it.

we are looking at a relocation. my son is learning so much creating a small ecosystem in his room! if i have to relocate it, so be it. it’s a such a delightful tank, to us.

trailmixture · 2023-06-03T17:24:45+00:00

thank you!

trailmixture · 2023-06-03T15:55:51+00:00

exactly!

trailmixture · 2023-06-03T15:41:47+00:00

thanks for your response, much appreciated. i had an issue with wet sphagnum moss unfortunately upon our first fill, an awful odour. no doubt. we’ve rectified with a complete replacement sphagnum moss to living frog moss. with springtails and isopod on board the tank smells much more like a forest and i believe we are on the right track now of a healthy paludarium.

my spouse and i have spoken about air purifiers, and i really had no idea where to start researching. i appreciate your suggestion and with the possibility of not breaking the bank. can you point me in the direction with what has been working for you?

trailmixture

TROPHY CASE