Your opinion about layout of 2nd Terrarium

[Paul Mc]

So, I have a 12x12x18 terrarium and I've been playing a bit today with the eggcrate. I want multiple levels and will be installing 20 inch driplines so they can drip all over the aquarium in essence. So here's the two versions I have thus far and I will explain a bit more later.

After having completed a water test to ensure it was properly sealed, I added my egg crate cut to the size of the bottom. I will be using either PVC connectors or piping to hold the bottom up once I determine how deep I want the water pool beneath it all to be. The pump system I'm looking at supposedly needs at least 2.5 inches to work and I think the most I can afford is 2 inches at the moment.



So, question #1: Is there a pump out there that would work in 2 inches of water and that would only put out enough pressure for a trickling water feature with 3 - 20 inch drip lines? As the enclosure is small, I fear that having too heavy of a working pump would splatter water everywhere.

Here is the original layout I was playing with but felt it was too symetrical, especially if I intended on a water feature.


So I cut it a bit to get the following.


Question #2: What's your thought on this build?

I'm kind of envisioning putting a big piece of madora wood/limb towards the back on the second tier between the other two elevated pieces.

I'm thinking I'd like to see the water feature start higher up where the highest tier is at currently, come down and around the front of the highest tier, to drop off where I made the endention on the second from the bottom tier. I have not cut a hole for the water to fall into on the bottom tier yet as I don't know if the water feature will actually work in this size yet. It would probably only be a small hole filled with small rocks, and I would use a sealer to seal those same small rocks all the way down some sort of tubing for the waterfall.

Question #3: Do you guys see anything wrong with this set up, or have any experienced thoughts to share with me?

[lund0682]

Question 1:
I don't have any experience with small pumps, so I can't suggest anything there. What's the problem with the 2.5 inch one, again? Is it a size issue?

Question 2:
I like the second look better. The first one has too many right angles for my taste. I like the broken-down and irregular lines in the second configuration. It seems more natural. What will you cover the egg crate with?

Question 3:
No experienced thoughts to offer - sorry! But it looks like it's coming together nicely! I like your arrangement so far and it looks like you're taking your time and doing things right, so that's good. Keep posting pictures so we can watch your progress!

[Paul Mc]

Yeah, the pump is a size issue. The most water I think I can get in there so there is room above the eggcrate for substrate and plantings would be about 2 inches. I guess I could always construct an underground system that would never be seen to accomodate a bigger sized pump though the issue would be how to get in and change out the water once in a while. I'll have to work on that one.

I will cover the eggcrate with either landscape meshing or the stuff used in screen doors. It depends upon what I use as substrate. If I use pea gravel, then it will be door screening and if I only use sphag then it will be landscape meshing. But I have no idea what to use nor the pros and cons of either yet.