OT ... Building a "River Ecosystem" in my 75g tank this weekend ...

[mikegronholz]

Decided not to use my 75g tank as an aggressive. The beauty that it would have would be taken away from big time by the shear massiveness of my 90g.
Curious if any of you have built something similar before. I am going to have the front half as a freshwater river with fish and the back half as a river bank full of lizards, tree frogs and other reptiles. I'm planning on a bunch of live plants, bushes, ferns, and the like. Also going to use a sump below and run fresh water up to a sprikler head so I can have it rain on command.
Like before....any thoughts or ideas ?

 

[scotts]

I have always dreamed about doing this. I don't know why I haven't. I envisioned having the water come up at the top end of the land part and flow down to the water,. Little rocks would line the stream and then there would be a sandy beach. Along with some plant at the back for looks.
Is there some way that you could build a plastic tray that would hang from the top of the aquarium? This would give you more room for the fish and you would not be looking at a big pile of dirt.
I actually had a tray built and was going to use welding rod to hang the tray, we moved before I could finish it and then discovered salt water,.
Sorry about the ,. but my daughter ate peaches at the computer while she was using the computer. Now sometimes those keys stick and soemtimes they don't.
Post pictures when you are done.
Scott

 

[justinx]

I have never done it, but i have seen it done before, and it was a very well done tank. I think that you are on the right trach with the sump idea and sprinkler. Also, use plastic lining and rocks to separate the land and the river parts, otherwise you will have a mud ecosystem . Also, i would suggest doinf frogs or other amphibians as opposed to lizards. Lizards can carry diseases that fish may not tolerate. Especially if they share a closed water supply.
Let me know how it turns out!!

 

[robn70]

You could silicon a piece of plexi glass in to seperate the land from the water and silicon some rocks on the waterside of the plexi to hide it. I've seen a few setups like this when i took biology back in high school.

 

[kimkissyfish]

Hi,
I have a;ways wanted to do a project like that.. can someone offer suggestions and info on how this works exactally and what kind of supplies I wuld need?? (maybe a website) Also, If you have PICS as your project progresses, That would be really cool to see...
SOUNDS FUN!!
Thanking you kindly, Kim