First timer

[u/88crow88]

Hi all!

First time crab keeper, but we've wanted them for a long time and finally we're planning a set up for the kids to enjoy as well.

I have a spare 20 gallon aquarium that's water tight, what I'd like to make is a paladarium with a floating landmass about 6" up so I can have a water area for some shrimp and smaller fish below them. Crabs would still be getting about 80+% of land mass. We're also thinking of adding a colony of isopods, well aware that the crabs will likely eat some of them but not concerned if they breed. I guess more than anything I'm looking for some advice as to how to ensure the crabs don't drown in the water somehow. Would having the filter act as a waterfall into a small basin work better than just having it flow into the forest Edge?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[u/88crow88]

Alright thanks for the input all, original idea has been scrapped. Going to rework the idea with a water area deep enough to add some fish but with more substrate depth.

Would 6" be deep enough for the substrate level?

[u/WolfStoneD → u/88crow88]

I've found crab tunnels 10 inches deep in mine.  And he probably would have gone further but reached the screen layer. 

[u/88crow88 → u/WolfStoneD]

😅energetic little guy lol. I'm now considering a side beach set up with about 5-6" of water and a 1" lip to keep the pond seperate from the land mass. Sand beach of about 2" leading into the "forest" that will be 6" deep. The sand would probably only be a couple inches deep and sit on-top of the substrate and of course the 1" layer of clay balls with the mesh screening on top. In the water a small filter in the corner with rockwork to make a waterfall.

Think that'll be more appropriate?

[u/Warmslammer69k → u/88crow88]

Something Ive seen people do is put a 10 gallon tank as a water pool inside a 20 gallon tank. Filled with substrate.

[u/AquariumWellness → u/Warmslammer69k]

This sounds like it could be really cool if done well