It all started with a 55 gallon bow front aquarium. It was a used system that came with everything needed to function correctly. The filtration system was a simple over flow set up that channeled water into an under tank sump, where the water was filtered and then pumped back out into the the aquarium. I wanted to design something that would eventually work as an aquaponics set up allowing the sump filtered water to run thru the terrarium media and back out into the aquarium tank.

**I go further into detail about how I constructed the paludarium here: Paludarium DIY

I mapped out all of the things I wanted to be able to do to the vivarium from a joystick and in LCD monitor:

• Continuously monitor humidity, as well as air and water temperature
• Control things like a fan, basking light, rain irrigation system and toggle through various day/night settings using LED’s
• Enable Bluetooth compatibility for remote “app” control with any mobile device

**I go further into detail about how I set up the Arduino here: Paludarium Controller

I broke this bit of the project into two easy to develop parts. The LEDs would supply the needed lighting to the plants and act as the “sky”… The All-In-One reptile lamp would supply the day time heating and necessary UVB/UVA light while simultaneously acting as the sun!

**I go further into detail about how I set up the paludarium lights here: Paludarium Lights

Working through different types of mini sub-woofers and amplifiers, I was finally able to make the perfect set up that easily coded into the Mega 2560 board.

As the day progresses, the sounds within the environment change. From distant birds singing in the morning, to random howling or chirping crickets to compliment the synthetic starry night.. You can’t truly portray a stormy afternoon without the introduction of rolling thunder and random crackling when lightning strikes!

**I go further into detail about how to add nature sounds to a paludarium with Arduino here: Nature Sounds Paludarium

I wanted to build it with an app maker that offered an easy learning curve.

The main functionality would be the exact same as the main hub on the paludarium with the additional ability to set up a schedule so the tank could cycle through various settings on its own. I think later updates to this app will come with features like:

• Remote feature accessing from anywhere in the world.
• Data logging for compared statistics
• Monitoring water parameters like ammonia levels and PH

**I go further into detail about the remote controlled paludarium app here. Paludarium Mobile App

I strategically add plants and wood that would perfectly thrive in this humid environment and use lava rocks my choice of grow media.

more about plants for the paludarium here: https://bantam.earth/plants-scaping-a-paludarium/

Now that the paludarium is cycled and running autonomously.. I can add life! I started with the clean up crew and worked my way to the main attraction.

Springtails, Isopods and shrimp are the micro inhabitants that work to keep the tank clean.. Fiddler crabs do a pretty good job in the terrarium too and actually enjoy being above water more than I first imagined. Catfish help out with the cleaning as well down under.

more about paludarium animals here: https://bantam.earth/choosing-paludarium-animals/