I have had this tank sitting empty for almost a year, but I want to set it up again.
A couple of years ago I had a nice planting in here that featured baby panda bamboo (Pogonatherum crinitum). This plant proved to be an excellent choice as nano riparium background foliage, if a bit challenging to grow. It is one of the few riparium plants that I have tried that I would characterize as "high light". You really do have to shine pretty bright light on it or it will grow thin and spindly.
I might use baby panda bamboo for this new planting, or I might opt for something new. I have been testing out a few other new riparium selections and I have some good possibilities.
Here is an old shot showing the tank when I first set it up two years ago. I am going to work on putting it back together today. I also intend to paint the wall a dark purple as a better background color. Plants do not look very good against that dull tan.
Thanks so much Paul. What kinds of aquarium projects do you have going right now?
I need to ponder plant choice for this little setup some more. I might opt for the baby panda bamboo again, or I might opt for this other interesting grass, Pleioblastus fortunei.
Baby panda bamboo (P. crinitum) is a grass, but it is not a true bamboo. P. fortunei is a true bamboo, and a grass as well of course.
Here's an old picture of that planting from a couple of years ago. The riparium foliage is dominated by Pilea grandifolia, the Pogonatherum crinitum and a single Laguncularia racemosa white mangrove tree.
This plant, Lysimachia congestiflora 'Outback Sunset', is one that I only tested out recently as a riparium plant. I like it a lot and I intend to use it in here.
Here it is with water. I am filling this tank to only about 2 1/2" from the top. This improves the proportions for the whole riparium layout--making the water portion a bit more broad and shallow--and it also might help to keep fish inside this rimless tank.
Here it is with the new planting. I am trying to get as much color as I can from this layout. The plants look a bit disheveled, but they will perk up with a week or two to start growing in.
A gorgeous riparium in making.
Sub'd. Eager to see what you do about the underwater flora and fauna.
Something off topic- I always want to keep PDFs. But could never understand how to make an enclosure for them. Can you give me the link to some thread or article where I can get to know that.
Thanks! For the underwater planting I intend to use two or three easy low tech crypts. I am pondering a small group of fancy platies with colors to mirror the riparium plants.
For information and advice about dart frogs I recommend joining dendroboard.com.
I think that I will add maybe a half-dozen of the gold white cloud mountain minnows with maybe three of the green lantern platies. I did not purchase the fish yet because I plan to return tomorrow after researching some of the other species that they had in the store.
I think these fish will look good with the riparium plants that I have in there.
Thanks very much. Yes I hope that it will shape up as the plants grow in some more.
That stone is old highly-weathered bricks that I found in the river. It would otherwise be very colorful and gawdy to use in a layout, but I think that it works well with this combination of fish and plants.
Here is another angle shot...
And here's a better view of the riparium foliage...
it looks awesome, the bright plants and deep backgrounds make the tank look as if it kinda goes on indefinitely.. like, when you look into the side panel of a large tank and get that other perspective kinda thing going on..
I think that I figured out a pretty good lighting solution for this setup. It is difficult to find a fixture to light up the 18" width of this tank.
This is a pair of trouble lamp reflectors that I put together with a dual-socket ceiling fixture. It attached real secure to the metal shelf bracket with the threaded knob at the top of the socket assembly.
I will install two 16w 6500K daylight CFL bulbs and this should provide a real nice light for growing these plants. I also intend to cut the hooks at the top of each reflector off because they will just catch on my shirt sleeve. I just need to go to the hardware store to get a couple more items and then I can put this together and hang it up.
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