[IanPete]

Hello. Working on my first build and I have a 30x12x24 enclosure. I am hoping to have a drip wall into a small “pond” in the bottom for a tiger salamander. I don’t want to have to worry about the water getting murky and having to do water changes all the time. I am planning on drilling bulk heads in the back and have a small canister filter for keeping the water moving and clear. Looking at a fluval 107. Wondering if this size filter will be able to pump water roughly 2.5-3 feet back into the tank or if I should size up? Would I be able to install a T in the output line to have it feed the drip wall or should I just run the output straight to the drip wall?

also planning on installing a misting system and wondering how to install a drain in the back to maintain a steady water level without manually having to pull out water. Maybe it’ll just be easier to do it that way?

any help or feedback is definitely appreciated. I know I am starting off fairly complex but fairly confident I can get it done. Just want to make sure it’s possible before I start drilling.

 

[solidsnake]

Welcome! I don’t think there are many dedicated salamander keepers here, but the community is loaded with members that have general knowledge of just about any life form.

One of the most powerful tools this board has besides its helpful members is the “search community” function located at the top of the page.

Try searching “drip wall, sump, paludarium, water feature, pond, etc”. I just did it and found some threads that will likely help you out.

Most members here don’t have water features or drip walls either since they’re considered contraindicated in proper poison dart frog husbandry.

However, there are a few of us plant-only, paludarium folks that enjoy running water, ponds and drip walls in our vivs who can help if you still have questions after you check out the search function.

 

[Harpspiel]

What has worked for me is a sump, where the overflow drains into the sump and there’s a pump that has enough head height to reach the top of the drip wall. You could use an HOB filter with that, or a canister if you want. I don’t know enough about canisters to comment on their power or potential head height.

 

[solidsnake]

^^ 100%

I use the sump method mentioned above.

I too have tinkered with canister filters for my paludarium builds, but the sump system is hands down the most effective and easily operated in my opinion.

It will likely take more time, money, effort and engineering upfront, but it is certainly worth it in the long run.

 

[Aphanius]

If you are looking to put together a paludarium I'd suggest a different species than a tiger salamander, they are primarily fossorial and only enter the water during breeding season. A better choice would be some of the plethodontid species like the spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyrictus) or red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber). They specialize in seepage habitats like you are trying to create in your setup. Most of the plethodontids (and tiger salamanders!) you see for sale are wild caught, but Indoor Ecosystems sells captive bred spring salamanders. There are also a bunch of newt species that would do well in such a setup too.

 

[fredk]

Having uses sumps canister filters and HOB filters on various aquaria, I would go with a sump if you have space. They are so much easier to maintain and it allows you to use a drain to set the water level for your pond.

 

[ibpigeonmaster]

Sump method is the way to go on that one however. I'm dying to know what you guys use for substrate/ false bottoms? This includes op because if your water is "murky" or rather tea colored because of leaching through your substrate it's going to be a pervasive issue even with a polishing filter or something. I've been looking for an answer to the question for a while. I always wind up with a really dark water in my pauladariums due to leaching from my substrates? Unless you do something to separate water in the "pond" from water under your soil portions. I've kinda accepted wacky PH and water parameters as a reality of pauladarium builds that are going to have plants and actual soil in them. (I would love further feedback on this from others)

 

[BryophyteOPhile]

Welcome! I don’t think there are many dedicated salamander keepers here, but the community is loaded with members that have general knowledge of just about any life form.

One of the most powerful tools this board has besides its helpful members is the “search community” function located at the top of the page.

Try searching “drip wall, sump, paludarium, water feature, pond, etc”. I just did it and found some threads that will likely help you out.

Most members here don’t have water features or drip walls either since they’re considered contraindicated in proper poison dart frog husbandry.

However, there are a few of us plant-only, paludarium folks that enjoy running water, ponds and drip walls in our vivs who can help if you still have questions after you check out the search function.

You can consider me one of them