Is there any way to mix a half land half water aquarium?
by Aquaboy on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 | 6 Comments
I am trying to make a half land half fresh water aquarium. Im trying to think of a way so that the sand or whatever i put in there wont get sucked into the filter. I’m really having a hard time trying to think of a plan on how to divide land and water. HELP!!!
my tanks 50 gallons
you need to make a retaining wall to the height of the land, you could do it with glass cut to the width of the inside of the tank and to the height desired. Use Aquarium silicone (not the stuff for sealing baths) to make the joint. Allow it to cure fully before filling
well whats the purpose?
to have like a terrarium? or an amphibious pet?
for a terrarium you shouldnt need much filteration because of the plants. but if you want it for an amphibian or turtle then there are many floating platforms available that you can buy. there are also these barrier things that you put the substrate behind to make land but the water can only be as high as the barrier.
some products:
http://www.petco.com/product/105898/Zoo-Med-Floating-Aquarium-Log.aspx?CoreCat=LN_Shopping_ReptileSupplies_Decor
http://www.petco.com/product/12389/Zoo-Med-Turtle-Docks.aspx?CoreCat=LN_Shopping_ReptileSupplies_Decor
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753969
You can either have a beach-like aquarium with gravel or sand sloping at one side and water in the other, or you can erect pillars of rock or plastic and put a large flat object on it which would look cool and attractive. What amphibian are you going to put in it anyway?
Actually, yes, I’ve seen it before
on the side where the filter is(should be able to reach low), place the heater on that side as well if you have one. You will need a LOT of aquarium dirt, gravel and/or rocks. Start with the aquatic side and make the gravel look like a slide almost. Where it will barely have gravel on the aquatic side and the gravel will thicken as you go up.
If it seems to complicated, expensive, or you just don’t want that, then you can always buy a piece of glass at home depot(have the exact measurements) and some aquarium glue and glue the glass to the midway of the tank to divide it
I am assuming you want fresh water fish, and semi-aquatic creatures as well. I have never tried this, but I thought about ti for a moment and this is what I came up with.
Put your filter on the opposite end of the tank as land, as far away as possible. You were probably doing that though haha. Get a piece of glass, which you will glue into the tank at an angle to create a slope. Use aquarium safe glue and cover one side of the glass with a layer of it. Take some gravel(I don’t know if sand would work or not) and organize the gravel into the sealant to cover the entire side of the glass. When you glue in the glass, I recommend putting the top end in the middle of the glass and having the lower end slope into the water half of the tank like a rocky shore. Fill the land side, under the glass and all, with gravel until you hit about 2 inches from the top. Fill that area with sand. The end.
I have never done this, and have no idea if it will actually work.It’s just an idea.
If you want me to draw it out so it’s easier to picture, I am willing. You may also be able to create that slope without glass and put sand at the top out of out the water. Not sure.
That or you could simply divide the tank with a piece of glass that is straight instead of slanted.
Rather than a divider, I would put in a shelf.
|—————-|
|— . . . . . —|
|_________|
1/2 fill the tank with water, and put gravel and potted plants on the shelf areas for your dry land.
Ian