I have an idea.

[new2salt1]

In the pictures below, you will see my FW Mississippi Map Turtle and his tank.
On top, you will see a basking area that I built so he could use the entire 55 gallon capacity of his tank, while also having a land area that he could run around in.
Im wondering if anyone has applied this to saltwater with different crab species. I have a 30 gallon long, and I am thinking about trying to build an out-of-water beach area. It's not so much that it would have a practical purpose (like my turtle's basking area), but I am thinking of ways to create a environment where land seamlessly meets water.
Any ideas of how this could be accomplished? Im thinking a gradual sandy hill that eventually goes up into the "above tank" area would probably work.
Any ideas on crab species??? Im also considering doing this with saltwater terrapins. I am involved with a program where we raise these little turtles in local schools, and then take them to the bay with the school kids to release them. But right now, the hatchlings just live in a 20 gal cube when my fiance brings them home on the weekend.
ANYWAY, if anyone has constructed something like this, or has any ideas, Im all ears.

 

[new2salt1]

Entire tank:

 

[new2salt1]

Ideally, the one I do for the crabs or saltwater turtles would have a dry beach that spans the entire top of the tank. Here's pics of the saltwater terrapins that I am house-sitting at the moment.

 

[new2salt1]

And some more of the little salt turts!

 

[paintballer768]

Im thinking that if you wanted to do something like this, you might need to have an odd shaped tank. If you have a mound of LS on one side, alot of it would start sloping and youd end up with alot less water capacity than youd like.
Just thinking about this now, you would need a very long tank in order to maintain some of the depth. IMO this would be really cool tank for like land crabs or some other inverts. Mangroves would be tight too. But really expensive.

 

[new2salt1]

Mangroves? Can you buy them? And would I have to supplement with CO2?
This is the stuff Im talking about! I would like more ideas like this. All I need is some good ideas, and I will lay out a plan and do it.
I have an itch to build something

 

[sigmachris]

Could you have an acrylic "L" shaped tank built? Actually have two separate compartments or a wall separating the long side of the "L" for the short side of the "L". Use the short side of the L and fill it with LS or the beach and the long side would be the ocean. If you are having it built you can play with the placement of the plumbing to allow for these 2 levels.
Now after re-reading this you can probably just go with a custom made acrylic straight lined tank with the same compartment idea. One third of the line as beach and the other part ocean.
This is a cool project, please keep us posted.

 

[fish crazy]

i have a few questions for you, were did you get saltwater turtles, and wont they get huge?

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by paintballer768
Im thinking that if you wanted to do something like this, you might need to have an odd shaped tank. If you have a mound of LS on one side, alot of it would start sloping and youd end up with alot less water capacity than youd like.
Just thinking about this now, you would need a very long tank in order to maintain some of the depth. IMO this would be really cool tank for like land crabs or some other inverts. Mangroves would be tight too. But really expensive.
I am with you on these ideas. Im thinking a custom long tank is what I need. Im looking at my 55 gallon right now, and if I could have a tank 48" long, but only 12" high, I could make a really cool beach. I thinking custom tank all the way.
Anyway ever MAKE A TANK???

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by SigmaChris
Could you have an acrylic "L" shaped tank built? Actually have two separate compartments or a wall separating the long side of the "L" for the short side of the "L". Use the short side of the L and fill it with LS or the beach and the long side would be the ocean. If you are having it built you can play with the placement of the plumbing to allow for these 2 levels.
Now after re-reading this you can probably just go with a custom made acrylic straight lined tank with the same compartment idea. One third of the line as beach and the other part ocean.
This is a cool project, please keep us posted.
Where do you find acrylic tanks like these? Just google custom "custom fish tanks?"

 

[sigmachris]

I've never had one made, but I am sure there are a bunch of biz that do this. Don't most tanks over 300 gallons start being custom built? I did a quick google on custom aquarium tank and there were a bunch of potential hits. Keep us posted if you move forward with this project.

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by Fish Crazy
i have a few questions for you, were did you get saltwater turtles, and wont they get huge?
My fiance's school adopts saltwater terrapins for a semester. They raise them, and release them at the end of the year.
We are often entrusted with babysitting the turts because of my love for all things aquatic.
The turts will be back again around Christmas, and I want to have an authentic home for them.
And yes, they can grow to be huge. They will often live in brackish water through adolescent years, and then venture offshore as adults. I know my 2.5" Map Turtle can sometimes cloud the water in 55 gallons, so Im assuming a large sea turtle would be difficult to keep in a typical aquarium. The problem is, with no teeth, many turts use their claws to shred their prey, making EXTRA filtration essential. Plus they require uvB lighting, which enables their shells to absorb calcum. SO yea, they are a handful, and worth every second/dollar. My Map Turtle eats by hand only, and when I wiggle my fingers on the surface of the water, he does the backstroke.
I kid you not.
Amazing animals, and raising the 15salts has been a lot of fun. Its amazing to watch the establishment of heirarchy. The runt ALWAYS eats last no matter how hard he tries. We have to feed him separate sometimes because he gets bullied.
If you are on the East Coast, PM me and I can get you the info.

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by SigmaChris
I've never had one made, but I am sure there are a bunch of biz that do this. Don't most tanks over 300 gallons start being custom built? I did a quick google on custom aquarium tank and there were a bunch of potential hits. Keep us posted if you move forward with this project.
Thats the thing. This is something I would want to do myself.
Im pretty sure there are some shallow/long terrariums outside of the normal fish tank dimensions.
Although, I think I am probably going to do this the way I planned to do it 6 months ago. I thought of getting a sturdy, 6 ft long table. Line the perimeter with 4x4s. Reinforce the legs. And then lay pond liner over the table, fill, and aquascape, plant live plants, and introduce natural prey.
We move in 2 weeks, and once I have my basement, IT'S ON! My fiance is going to kill me!!

 

[fish crazy]

Originally Posted by New2Salt1
Thats the thing. This is something I would want to do myself.
Im pretty sure there are some shallow/long terrariums outside of the normal fish tank dimensions.
Although, I think I am probably going to do this the way I planned to do it 6 months ago. I thought of getting a sturdy, 6 ft long table. Line the perimeter with 4x4s. Reinforce the legs. And then lay pond liner over the table, fill, and aquascape, plant live plants, and introduce natural prey.
We move in 2 weeks, and once I have my basement, IT'S ON! My fiance is going to kill me!!
i wish i was, thanks anyways. hope everything goes well

 

[krazekajin]

I would look into a preformed plastic pond. Many of them have different levels and they would allow for a more natural look.