# Dripping Moss Jungle Cliff Peninsula Paludarium

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXiFGMTtUyk
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/fXiFGMTtUyk
Generated: 2025-11-15T13:35:00.501+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The creator successfully builds a complex paludarium featuring a tall, moss-covered jungle cliff hardscape with integrated water features, using Ohko Dragon Stone, repurposed aquarium parts, expanded PVC board for internal structures, and various moisture-loving plants, culminating in a thriving, aesthetically pleasing ecosystem.

**Key Points:**
- The project involves creating a tall, peninsula-style paludarium (24x24x24" / 60 Gallon / 227 Liter) designed to mimic a jungle cliff landscape.
- The hardscape is constructed primarily from Ohko Dragon Stone, secured using aquarium-safe epoxy stick and expanded waterfall foam to create arches and crevices.
- Internal plumbing for the waterfall effect is hidden using corrugated black tubing secured with zip-ties and drilled holes in the rock structure.
- The creator fabricated internal support structures and waterfall guides from 1/4" expanded PVC board, which were later hidden by the hardscape and moss.
- The structure is covered with rehydrated Sphagnum Moss and various moisture-loving plants like Peacock Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata), Creeping Charlie (Pilea nummulariifolia), Anubias nana 'Petite', and Cryptanthus nubicola.
- The final setup includes an established lower aquatic section populated with Cherry Shrimp and Ember Tetras, showcasing the successful integration of the submerged and emergent environments.
- The creator notes encountering a 'creative lull' due to the challenge of hiding the tubing, but the final result is deemed a success, though some plants like Fittonia wilted initially.

![Screenshot at 04:06: The creator demonstrates the placement of custom-made white PVC filter housing tubes inside the empty glass tank, which will serve as hidden structural support and guide the waterfall flow.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-04-06.png)

**Context:** This video documents the detailed, multi-stage construction of a large, vertical paludarium, intended to create a miniature jungle cliff landscape with integrated water features (a waterfall). The creator utilizes materials like Ohko Dragon Stone, various types of moss, specialized aquatic plants, and custom-made PVC components to build the structure, which transitions from a submerged area to a damp, moss-covered emergent zone.

## Detailed Analysis

The creator documents the complex process of building a tall, vertical paludarium designed as a jungle cliff peninsula, using a 24x24x24" (60 Gallon) tank. The initial steps involved preparing the hardscape, cleaning Ohko Dragon Stone pieces (00:08), and constructing internal supports from 1/4" expanded PVC board to ensure structural integrity and mask the waterfall plumbing (02:44, 03:08). The hardscape was assembled using aquarium-safe epoxy stick and waterfall expanding foam to create an archway effect (05:37, 06:09). Corrugated black tubing was threaded through holes drilled in the rock to manage the waterfall flow (08:34). The entire structure was then covered with geotextile fabric and rehydrated Sphagnum Moss to provide a growing medium for terrestrial plants (09:27, 09:49). Various plants were added, including Peacock Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) (11:44), Creeping Charlie (Pilea nummulariifolia) (12:26), Anubias nana 'Petite' (13:31), and Cryptanthus nubicola (13:59). The lower aquatic section was established with light-colored sand, small accent stones, and submerged plants like *Lomariopsis lineata* (13:51, 17:09). Once the structure was complete and filled with water, small aquatic life like Cherry Shrimp and Ember Tetras were introduced (06:16, 16:15). The final result showcases a lush, thriving ecosystem, though the creator notes initial challenges like plant acclimation and the aesthetic difficulty of hiding all mechanical components.

### Aquarium Dimensions & Preparation

- Tank dimensions are 24x24x24" (60 Gallons/227 Liters)
- The old aquarium was decommissioned by cutting the silicone seals (00:43)
- Glass panels were cut to a new, shorter height (01:32).

### Hardscape Construction

- Ohko Dragon Stone was used for the vertical cliff look (05:15)
- Internal support structures were fabricated from 1/4" Expanded PVC Board to hide plumbing and support weight (03:09, 04:05)
- Waterfall plumbing was hidden using black corrugated tubing secured with zip-ties and drilled holes (08:28).

### Water Feature & Substrate

- Black waterfall expanding foam was used to secure rocks and direct water flow (06:08)
- The base layer utilized pre-rinsed light-colored sand, spread over an egg crate light diffuser to distribute weight (09:22, 12:42).

### Planting the Upper Section

- The structure was covered with rehydrated Sphagnum Moss over geotextile fabric (09:30, 09:49)
- Plants added included Peacock Spikemoss (Selaginella uncinata) and Creeping Charlie (Pilea nummulariifolia) (11:44, 12:26)
- Cryptanthus nubicola was added, despite its tendency to wilt temporarily (13:58).

### Aquatic Section Detailing

- Anubias nana 'Petite' and assorted Cryptocoryne were planted in the sand substrate (13:32, 13:51)
- Small accent rocks were placed in the foreground to enhance scale (13:13).

### Final Inhabitants & Result

- Cherry Shrimp and Ember Tetras were introduced after the water cycle began (16:16, 16:35)
- The final result shows a mature, thriving paludarium, though the creator mentions a 'creative lull' during the process (10:01).

![Screenshot at 00:01: Holding up pieces of Ohko Dragon Stone before construction begins.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-00-01.png)
![Screenshot at 00:29: Display of the 24x24x24" \(60 Gallon\) aquarium dimensions being confirmed.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-00-29.png)
![Screenshot at 01:10: The creator uses a glass cutter and guide to reduce the height of a glass panel for the new setup.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-01-10.png)
![Screenshot at 03:34: Demonstrating the creation of intake/outtake holes in the white PVC board pieces using a hole saw.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-03-34.png)
![Screenshot at 06:05: Applying black waterfall expanding foam to fill gaps between the Ohko Dragon Stones.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-06-05.png)
![Screenshot at 09:41: Drilling holes through the corrugated tubing to create a sprinkler/soaker hose effect for the upper section.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-09-41.png)
![Screenshot at 13:13: Placing small accent pieces of Dragon Stone into the white sand substrate to create depth in the lower section.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-13-13.png)
![Screenshot at 15:57: A wide shot showing the completed hardscape and planted upper section with water filling the lower half.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-15-57.png)
![Screenshot at 16:15: The finished paludarium setup after plants have been added, showing the contrast between the wet jungle top and the dry/submerged bottom.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-16-15.png)
![Screenshot at 18:01: Final look at the fully planted and stocked paludarium, showing Ember Tetras swimming near the foreground rocks.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/fXiFGMTtUyk/00-18-01.png)