Hey everyone,
I currently have two Ikea Milsbo cabinets connected side by side. Right now, I’m using them as plant cabinets with lights and a humidifier.
My plan is to transform it into something more like a paludarium:
• An aquarium that takes up about 2/3 of the cabinet’s width (kept fairly low in height).
• Next to it, a land section where a small waterfall flows down into the tank.
• The back wall would be decorated with rock texture, moss, and around 5–6 Alocasia plants. I’d like to have them placed in small pots that are built into the back wall so they can be swapped out if needed.
• From the aquarium, I’d love to let some pothos grow up the back wall for a more natural look.
• The aquarium would only house Medaka (Japanese rice fish) and some snails, mainly as a backup population for my outdoor pond and to help maintain the stock.
Do you think this is a realistic build for a Milsbo setup?
Are there any major issues I should be aware of from the start (humidity, condensation on the glass, structural problems, etc.)? Anybody here who already used a cabinet for a paludarium?
Are my current lamps enough or would I need to switch them? I currently have 6 Sunlight Flex 10.
I’d really appreciate any advice or feedback before I dive into this project!
Added some pictures of my current setup to get an idea.
(I lost nearly all of my alocasias you can see due to a spider mite infestation, so I need to restart anyway… 😭)
by Blckfox-art
6 Comments
Man I hate spider mites!!!
I think converting one of those into a paludarium is probably more work than it’s worth to be honest.
r/ikeagreenhouseclub should have everything you could want to know
I’m not familiar with Milsbo, but you could compare and see if it’s similar to Rudsta which is good for paludarium projects since it already comes with perfectly fitting tempered glass shelves which can be used for water proofing. Also it’s made of steel so it supports the weight.
[SerpaDesighn actually made a video about this. It’s actually doable.](https://youtu.be/tLyAkciDi90?si=VJjrRuKtibhMrPNW)
Look up serpa design on YouTube bud. He builds something very similar and is quite knowledgeable.
A lot of hard work (especially water sealing) but definitely doable.
https://imgur.com/a/aysa4Dk