Aquascape Tutorial: HUGE XL Paludarium / Vivarium Flooded Rainforest Build (How To: Step By Step)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Aquascape Tutorial: HUGE XL Paludarium / Vivarium Flooded Rainforest Build (How To: Step By Step)
So this has taken me about 2 weeks to put together but I'm now really happy to bring you the full build. Once everything has matured a bit more I will be adding in the amphibians as well :D
Big thank you to Exo Terra for providing us with this paludarium and the other 2 still left to build
Timestamps:
1:37 - Background build
7:10 - Lighting
8:49 - Terrestrial plants
10:54 - Water section begins
16:31 - Filtration
19:45 - Aquatic plants
22:36 - Adding fish
25:12 - Finished result
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LINKS (all amazon affiliate links)
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All my plants are from Tropica: www.tropica.com
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Items i use regularly:
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Opti White Nano Tank & Light: amzn.to/2pwuy3h
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Gooseneck Clip on lamp (similar as product is now discontinued)
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Amazon. com amzn.to/2IlwLVA
Mini Water Pump:
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So this has taken me about 2 weeks to put together but I'm now really happy to bring you the full build. Once everything has matured a bit more I will be adding in the amphibians as well :D
Big thank you to Exo Terra for providing us with this paludarium and the other 2 still left to build
Timestamps:
1:37 Background build
7:10 Lighting
8:49 Terrestrial plants
10:54 Water section begins
16:31 Filtration
19:45 Aquatic plants
22:36 Adding fish
25:12 Finished result
MD Fish Tanks don’t forget to make time stamps for all your children’s appearances. The stars of the channel
Another amazing video. Thanks mate🎩👊
This is feckin’ gorgeous. Great work. 😍 I’m in love.
MD please add some moss it will look amazing
Above ground
Looking forward to seeing the update :)
For a first attempt at a vivarium that's astounding
thanks very much...planning the next one already lol.
@@MDFishTanks I'm gonna guess this one's for red eyed tree frogs 😄 checkout serpadesigns TH-cam channel if you haven't already (you probably have)
Craig Smart I knew he was gonna add frogs
@@craigsmart1986 gold dust day gecko would be amazing I don't really see a lot of people keeping them recently
Hey MD, I think you could add some leaf litter to the “water part” of the paludarium, I think it will look even more natural!
I agree adding leaves with elevate the water section and make it look more natural
yeah nice Idea ethan.
@@MDFishTanks And also some on the substrate to make the two come together :)
If you wanted to keep the water clear you could cover any leaves in clear sealant to prevent tannins from being released into it.. bit fiddly but you gets the best look imo
@@RealFishkeeping101 tannins are actually good for the fish. I'd leave it.
First off.. I have to say it...the doodles... They are growing... Beautiful children MD...❤️🤗
This really gave you an opportunity to show off your creativity... And WOW!. THE BACKGROUND TURNED OUT AMAZING!! The terrestrial plants look so soooo good!!! Every step of the build was easy to understand!
I think maximum excitement wasn't just for you! I know I've been excited to see this and boy did you bring it! This is going to be so much fun to watch as this matures! It looks very natural!! It was so exciting to see your imagination amd hard work bring us this beautiful build!! The endlers were a perfect addition!! It is so cool!!! Absolute 🔥👍
Thank you so much for sharing this with us! ❤️🐟🌿🌱💯
Little baby Avrum is fighting hard.. day by day... We're waiting on MRI and EEG results... One incredible thing that happened is they allowed my daughter to hold him for the FIRST time last night... She needed that so much!!! And so did he!! He is a little miracle I really hope he wakes up soon.. thank you so much for asking and continued prayers for the little fella.. we need a miracle... And I really feel like one is being performed right now!!🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️ Much love MD from my family to yours!!!
Hi mary. So pleased to hear that. I hope everything continues going well.
I’m so glad you made a proper paludarium, and didn’t just use only the old background and a couple plants!
Not only are you awesome and talented, your family makes a WONDERFUL addition to your filming! Love to see them involved. GREAT BUILD!!
This entire hobby would come to a screeching halt, world-wide, without expanding foam.
Or silicon or aquarium glue
They can use rope or cable tie too tho
Absolutely,I use that and a product called tec 7.
I’m doing research on these, and was just thinking that
Ive never used expanding foam... but I want to 😏
I usually like the video at the end, but that cute little baby made me like right away. Nice escape too!
I absolutely love what you do and the “ART” you create. I don’t consider you to be an aquarist, but rather an Artist.
MD you’re easily my favourite fishtuber.
You have such a beautiful family MD. Nice to see Mrs.MD's cameo appearance. Love it when the boys make an appearance too. Hope the inhabitants are tree frogs, they're so pretty.
Bearded dragons. Not bad either now
My tanks have always been so simple. This is my first time building somethibg like this, MD, I’m following your video from the start. I’m almost complete. My whole family is astounded with how it looks, I know they were thinking that I could never make something like this. You gave me all the confidence, thank you
Amazing build!!! My 4 y/o daughter has a obsession with the frogs in the back yard to the point of us setting up a tank for her to put them in (the things we do for our kids)… but the hubs really wants to do something like this for her. Beautiful!
first time i've seen anyone use the existing background for texture and dont just foam the whole thing, looks great :)
coming here in 2023 as reccomended! perfect. You and Matt need to do another one of these in the new studio.
Your videos and builds are always really positve and joyful and easy to follow. That baby girl's smile though.💜💜💜
Incredible! SO GOOD to see someone from the UK doing videos like this! I'm in the middle of my first ever hard-scape for my vivarium for my tree frogs and this is such amazing inspiration! Big up from KENT!
The pots on the background were really smart!
This is one of the most beautiful things I've seen 😍
I'm just going to say it... a crocodile fern would have been perfect in this build! If you ever need to replace any of the plants in it or if you do another tank you should consider it. It's a broader leaf fern and the pattern of the leaves looks like well a crocodile skin. Love you videos! Thanks for another great one :)
Amazing, this is exactly what I did with my background. Cork, foam, silicone, then I did use the coco fibre. Awesome results and an inspiration!
Same as that bud. That exo-terra is the job.
This looks absolutely amazing right now 😍 just imagine how beautiful this will look when everything is grown settled and mature
Simply one word...."Awesome"
That looks so beautiful! You are so underrated as an aquascaper ♥️
That is the most BEAUTIFUL thing I've ever seen!
Your little baby is so CUTE!
You inspire so many of us! This is one sick build. Keep up the awesome work mate!
So glad u did this video. This is exact build i have been planning for weeks.
Gonna pull the trigger soon as the tank alone is like 350. Planning on putting in an emerald tree boa, fish, and turtles.
Thanks so much ur the man.
I just finished a project with this exoterra, it is a class bit of kit.
Stunning! I'm hoping to put something like this together with my big kids (8,6) this school year so we can raise tadpoles and learn about that lifecycle. Our neighborhood lake is full of California Tree Frogs/Pacific Chorus Frogs. Have to do more research but lovely inspiration! Have a fantastic weekend!
Great one MD! Now I want this!
haha. Do it!
@@MDFishTanks well if MD said so...
Been looking forward to this video ever since I see it in the back ground lol
I've been wanting to give this ago myself for ages but always put it off but now watching this I'm wanting to do it
yeah its fun to do and very different
@@MDFishTanks but it's all worth it in the end
md! cmon! the babies! let them stay. we luv seeing them. :)
Yes finaly is this video uploated! I'm very curious about the animal what is going into the palduarium!!! I love your channel and keep going with the great work you do!😃
Great job MD! You'll need a mister for those plants and to help keep your water level right. Looks amazing!!!
A joy to watch you create your masterpieces❗️
Wauw!
You totally blow my mind!!
You have outdone yourself MD!
It's so beautiful and what a lot of details you've created!
I love your paludarium / flooded rainforest / fishtank build! :-) :-) :-)
Off the chart mate. I love it.
Great build and your kids are adorable!
Thnx for the Video.
You are not a paludarium specialist. But I still support your work, that's passion
Maybe you might want to drill some holes into the plant cups so water isn't just sitting in there so you'll have some drainage
Amazing job MD, love the selection of plants.
4:30 my heart! Oh my god that was so cute. The SperaDesign influence is strong with this one. It looks great! When I tried it with my hermitcrab terrarium I was too dumb and left the shiny expansion foam layer on while adding the silicone, safe to say that it didn't work. Ripping the shiny layer off of 160x50 and 2x 60x50cm (all 3 sides) was not fun, and in the end I covered it in tile adhesive instead of silicone (since I simply wouldn't have had enough for that), gives it a nice rock look, so I can recommend giving that a try in another terrarium if you want to achieve that type of look!
"They like to stick on leaves!" so might be geckos, maybe Lygodactylus williamsi? A very small gecko variety with a turquoise color and active during the day, really lovely if you can get your hands on some! Though they wouldn't like that high humidity as much that you have planned. So I'd guess some lovely tiny frogs, which would obviously love the water part (even if it's not dendrobates but other frogs). God now I am excited for this!
You’ve been watching Tanner and his amazing designs. Looks fabulous
Make another one now that you have more room !! So beautiful. Love from Canada❤
Love love love this. Just amazing.
U so creative in making the changes u want. Love your video's. 🇿🇦
Okay this is insane, when I set up my dart frog tank last year I was so happy and proud of it and then I see MD's first attempt at a terrarium and I'm like..... I need to redo mine...
(If by chance this is for darts put something in the water for them to get out of they do fall in because they actually don't really like water, they can't actually swim)
Hahahah that first they were completely aquatic and now cant swim
Lmao that’s funny
Great Job my dude!! Looks really really good!! Should grow in very nicely! Some nice small vines like Marcgravia will really help fill in the spots in between the main plants!
Also, for the bromeliads... the will root much faster and better if you actually cut off all the roots it has currently.... cut them all off so it’s back to bare stolon... and it will root and establish much better
This is amazing ❤Inspiration for my big Exo Terra on the way
Looking great! you should get some climbing plants like ficus pumila or Marcgravia to climb the background wall would look awesome :)
ok thanks, I'll look into it.
Someone's been watching Serpadesign 😂 awesome build mate!
LOVED the setup! Really curious to see what amphibians will go in here. Super excited and eagerly waiting!
Another great video from the man. Love it, Love it, Love it
You're too good with these set ups. You're even better than most of these pro's
Using the original background is a great ideas!
You should get a fogger and misting system for it.
He needs to asap
It will be a different world if he gets one
You paying for it, you bellend? Mm? Thought not. 🖕🏾
Wow that looks awesome especially for a first build 100/10
Looks like a good frog habitat!
this is art.
I like watching your buidls and designs I just like everything you do and I agree 💯 with u on keeping your fish small
This is amazing great first attempt, you are totally gifted wish I had half the skill keep it up love the videos
Still one of my favourite builds. Love it, inspired me to build my own
Looks awesome! Once you get your other livestock you’ll need to get a cleanup crew to control the terrestrial waste. Springtails are great for this and for mould control. You should look up Serpa Design’s video on clean-up crews and springtails for this type of setup! Can’t wait to watch your paludarium grow and mature into a fully functioning ecosystem!
You got a lot of commands there don’t ya chump? Mr unsolicited advice guy, they call you don’t they? 🖕🏾
Awesome enclosure , you gave me some ideas on how I want to do mine.
You could use a drill attachment for the carving of the "shiny stuff" .. either a wire or flap wheel.. Will speed it up alot :)
Packing in the polyurethane foam was really satisfying
Its absolutely stunning!!
Maravillosa ejecución! Gracias por mostrar tu buen hacer!
You definitely need to to an aqascape contest with your children 😂
wont be long and I think they will be more into it.
He would probably be beaten lol
You are an architect MD!
its soooooo nice MD love the look
Your an inspiration, absolutely marvellous, thank you.
Please also guide us how often we have to spray water on the plants you put on background and o outside wood ? And the right way to spray or water them. Thank you sir.
can u make a video on the aquascape made from wat u found in the park or something near u :)
People tend to get a bit funny about taking stuff directly from nature (but they are fine if you get from a shop....which is still taken from nature 🤣)
he did some where he found moss and rocks on the side of a road
Basically he's trying not to encourage it because it might not be legal where u are and some people may go overboard and completely ruin a certain spot in nature
Pressing the like button multiply times (odd number lol). Really enjoy your videos! Your expertise and humour jus make my day:) Thank you thank you thank you!
Great video to understand lot of things which looks difficult to achieve 👍👌✌️Thank you
I’ve been considering doing this with all my exo terra foam backgrounds for a long time I really don’t want to put anything directly on the glass seems it would be more fun this way too.
Hello from Vietnam! It's so beautiful!
Me encantan tus videos, me ayuda mucho para aprender inglés y tus técnica.
Looks awesome! Looking forward to updates
And it's nice seeing your wife helped you out
You nailed it!! That setup is stunning!! 😃🐟🌿🌱💦👍
I appreciate the clean tanks
Archer fish would be awesome in that style tank 👍🏻
Hi MD.. Big fan from India... love your work and dedication...
He is one of the best
This looks amazing but the only thing I would have done differently would be making a subtle waterfall to flow water from the bottom into the roots of the plants. Keep it up!
Wow it looks amazing!! Good job😃😃
I really love your videos!! I see you from Spain!
This would make a great enclosure for some dart frogs for sure. I really want to make something like this for some of my fish and my female corn snake named Bindi (yes after Steve Irwin daughter). Very very cool enclosure!!
Dart frogs can’t swim, the water feature would be dangerous if they fell in
It's like amazing live art!
Great tips ,thanks, love the vids
You always make the most beautiful tanks
thank you
Great work MD that background looks so natural. Would you consider a version of a paludarium with a moss / living wall using a water pump to feed the top ? Love the energy in this video
Stunning enclosure MD🔥👊👍
cheers mate
Wow 👍👍👍❤❤❤❤ Good day to you. Greate job you have done. love from Malaysia. ❤❤❤❤ 😀😘🙂😊😁🙋♀️
WOW!!! AMAZING!
If it’s red eyed tree frogs or glass frogs, that would be so amazing 😻
nice build. you should add a clean up crew (isopods and/or springtails) to the soil in the tank to help take care of the waste of whatever animals you put in the planted section.
I added isoposd to mine but they died out rather fast, don't know why
This is really wicked. Can't wait for theese dart frogs to move in ;)
If you put plants in pots like that next time, you should put holes in the bottom of the pots so that the roots can grow out and cover things. It would look super nice’
Those look like paper cups the roots will soon come out