Newts Setup

I've been running different projects in my self-feeding sustainable aquarium gardens for the past couple years to get ready for newts.

Figuring out a sustainable food chain of critters and fish in one enclosure to sustain newts is one of the most crucial steps I think I got through.

By the end of 2021 I got stable cultures of Grindal worms, Springtails and Isopods to feed my fish and more.

On June 21st, 2022 I started experiments in this hanging garden paludarium shown in a previous video.

On July 5th, my family gifted me with this spacious 29 gallon tank with cover!

I suppose it does not mean to stop me from extensively talking to my family about newts :)

Now I have to disassemble a bunch of remaining small tanks to make space for this tank on the shelf.

This standard 29 gallon tank fits nicely on the shelf next to the window away from direct sunlight.

Wash the tank clean and fill it up with water.

Let it sit overnight to check for integrity of the tank.

And in the meantime I assemble the top cover.

The perfectly fit cover is a crucial component of my paludarium setup.

It should reduce water evaporation and prevent critters from escaping out of the enclosure.

The aquarium and the cover made by the same brand should fit perfectly.

Unfortunately, this cover is about one centimeter narrower than the aquarium...

I have to fix it somehow and then will show the fix in a separate video.

Let's use a couple disposed milk crates to make a base for the land part of the paludarium.

Cut front sides of the crates to make the crates fit into the tank.

I also cut holes in the top and in the sides of the crates for easy access when I need it.

This way I can reach through the holes to the bottom without pulling the crate out of the water.

Put the crates in the tank.

I put the crates away from each other to make room for a ramp.

The cut off sides of the crates go on top of the crates to serve as a removable base to grow mosses, plants, etc.

I cut a piece out of the crate to use it as a ramp.

And I made the ramp a bit wide in the top part.

Force the ramp between the crates.

Here you can see it all fully assembled.

The whole structure is very sturdy.

The bases can be instantaneously moved in and out.

I often find driftwood, seashells and interesting rocks on the seashore. 

Now it is time to pull it out of the storage.

Flat rocks make great feeding spots - I will explain it in future videos.

Driftwood...this one is just great for newts to hide.

So, let's put this flat brick in the middle on the front to make a feeding spot.

I put all flat and large rocks first.

There are many uses for flat rocks in aquariums.

Here I add different colored gravel.

I don't have time to cure this wood - perhaps it was already cured by years in the ocean.

Let's anchor it between the crates and see how it will do in water.

Put the bases on the top of crates and fill up the tank with water to the level.

I keep the water slightly below the base level.

Let water sit overnight for chlorine to evaporate.

The next day I went on a trip to Staten Island looking for newts. 

I picked some aquatic plants from a pond.

There should be some critters on the plants as well.

I found some great looking mosses to try in my new paludarium.

I don't bother to identify them - may try it later.

Put the aquatic plants in the tank.

I found one interesting critter on this plant - will show it in a different video.

Now, let's place land mosses on top of the bases.

This time I do not wash mosses - I hope to see what critters are trapped in them.

This moss looks similar to the moss I've been growing underwater.

Now let's put the wooden pieces to make bridges between bases.

Cover the rest of the bases with moss.

I am going to transfer everything from the old 3 liter jar aquarium garden into the new paludarium.

First, let's move the land plants growing with roots in water.

Simply insert roots of the plant between pieces of moss through the holes in the base.

This couple of years old Periwinkle did not bloom since the first year I put it in the aquarium.

But the plant looks great.

I wonder how all my land plants would do in the high humidity of this paludarium.

Time will reveal it all.

I also moved aquatic plants from the old aquarium into this tank.

Snails, scuds and other critters usually come along with plants.

I am going to add more critters later anyway.

For now I let the tank sit as it is.

July 15th.

It's been 10 days since I got this aquarium.

Here you can see a cloud-like build up around the driftwood.

It could be a spike of bacteria growing - a common thing to happen in new aquariums in the first weeks.

I added a couple more Ramshorn snails.

I always add some type of snail in all my aquariums before letting fish in.

A couple days later, I noticed a cloud spread around plants on the bottom.

I decided to remove the driftwood and pump the cloud out as best as I could.

The bad smell is the first sign indicating coming troubles.

The rusty flat rocks raise some doubts about how suitable they are for fish and plants.

I decided to replace them to be safe.

And I remove similar looking gravel as well.

I am better off with the gravel from my old aquariums - tested for safety by time.

For now only a bunch of black round rocks remain questionable for safety.

Put back aquatic plants.

Basically, I reset the aquarium before getting any fish into it.

The land part remains the same.

July 20th.

I added more snails and scuds.

My fish feed on young scuds.

And chances are that Newts eat scuds too.

So, it's important to give scuds time to establish well in the paludarium before adding fish and Newts.

Also, I want fish to start breeding in this tank before adding Newts.

Newts may eat fish as well.

July 26th.

All seems to be fine in this paludarium.

So, let's add a breeding family of Endlers.

I like my Blue Star Endlers!

2 adult males with one big mom and a couple more young fish.

I've been getting great results breeding Endlers in 3 liter aquarium gardens.

So, they should be fine in this much larger tank.

August 9th.

It's been about a month since the initial setup.

High humidity prompted mold growth on the wooden piece.

I have to remove the wood before mold spreads around any further.

I have some Isopods and Springtails already on the land.

But they don't feed on mold.

They feed on the same waste that molds feed on.

So, the big population of Springtails and Isopods can prevent mold from growing.

Well, I am going to add more critters later.

Meantime, I decided to remove the milk crates out of the tank...for two reasons.

First of all it makes the paludarium too dark, depriving plants of light.

And the crates create way too many hidden spots, which is good, but it makes observations difficult.

Here you can see the difference.

So now, I hang the land bases on hangers...well, in a similar way I did it in the hanging garden paludarium.

I will explain how I made the hangers in a separate video.

Though, I am sure you already got the idea :)

Here is a close up view.

Now I can see the fish and everything in the tank clearly.

Okay, let's remove the second milk crate.

The time will show if this design needs any further improvements.

For now I am quite satisfied with it.

This flat rock makes a nice bridge between the bases and it will serve as a feeding ground for Isopods.

Oh yes! That is the clear view I was talking about.

I think to add more caves...and preserve as much open space as possible at the same time.

Newts may need that space to swim.

And there is yet an issue with the cover that I need to address.

 Water evaporates fast through this gape.

August 22nd.

I deploy another bunch of Springtails on the moss in the paludarium.

Springtails are great jumpers, especially when they get scared.

Many of them landed in the water right away to the great enjoyment of my fish.

But some Springtails will survive and breed on the moss as they do in much smaller containers.

And Springtails feed on waste of other animals and critters - like poop of Isopods in this setup.

Yes, I am making this paludarium as sustainable and self-feeding as all my aquarium gardens are.

September 13th.

I picked some nice looking moss in the park.

I've been growing this type of moss underwater for years.

This moss should grow very well in the high humidity of my paludarium.

Let's wash the moss as clean as possible.

I don't want any dirt to get into my aquarium with fish already.

Some of the moss I put in the old vertical hanging garden paludarium.

Well, this paludarium is just a couple months older :) but I already published a video about it.

And the rest of the moss goes into the new, horizontal paludarium.

I want to replace patches of some not so good looking mosses.

Not all mosses and plants flourish in high humidity.

It takes time to find the most suitable for each particular setting.

I've been adding 5-10 Isopods into this paludarium every week for the past month or so.

Also, I feed them with bark and potatoes as you can see here.

I replace all spoiled food - to prevent mold from growing.

The flat rock (that is where I put the bark and slices of potato) serves really well as the feeding spot.

Most of the waste produced by Isopods stays on the rock - making it easy for me to clean it.

I've been preparing my paludarium for Red-spotted newts.

My long quest to find Red-spotted newts ended happily on September 19th.

Finding and transporting these newts was a great enjoyable adventure I shared in previous videos.

You may want to watch them!

And now all 3 beautiful adult newts go into this paludarium.

I have to admit that I've been hoping to get younger newts in the Eft stage of development.

Younger - generally are better at adapting to a new environment. 

Well, I already know where to look for Efts the next Spring.

As "b ks" put in a comment on my previous video: I knewt you were going to do this.

I love that :)

Anyway, Efts or aquatic - it's all new for me.

You may notice that I put newts with all the water and some plants from the stream where I found newts.

It comes with all the bacteria and such that these newts are accustomed to.

It's a little thing that I hope would make newts feel a little more comfy.

I've been counting on newts feeding on small fish, isopods and worms that I culture.

We will see how it goes - I'll keep you updated.

Have fun and happy Newts :)