Very low tech Riparium

PaulG · 12-13-2011, 09:30 PM

A 29G no tech Riparium. The inspiration comes from BigTom and Hydrophyte, owner of RipariumSupply, so a big thanks to them for starters!

I wanted to try something new, I wanted it to be cheap and at least fairly self sustaining. I don't mind the occasional feed or adding of ferts but I'd like to keep water changes to a minimum. I suffer from ME and I find them difficult on anything other than really small tanks. Plus I wanted the challenge of going El Natural.

Rocks, gravel and soil in. Around 1 inch of each.

Planters in.

A few plants to start.

Moved the peace Lilly...

Magnolia leaves from the garden still waiting to sink. All the plants are terrarium cuttings so I'm hoping they adjust to the lower humidity.

Any questions feel free to ask!

EntoCraig · 12-13-2011, 09:33 PM

My magnolia leaves dissolved in one week! My Indian almond leaves and oak leaves are going on a year now with minimal breakdown...

Simple, but great looking tank! I have wanted to do a rip for some time now, but I have no more tank space in my lab...

Did I miss the size of this tank?

PaulG · 12-13-2011, 09:38 PM

Oh well, they were free! Plenty of oaks nearby too.

Yep it's 29 Gallons. I forget whether that's US or UK!

EntoCraig · 12-13-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulG

Oh well, they were free! Plenty of oaks nearby too.

Yep it's 29 Gallons. I forget whether that's US or UK!

Either way you are off to a great start and it looks great! I use the mag leaves to keep my black water tank black!

PaulG · 12-13-2011, 09:58 PM

Thanks!

I'm not after a black water look, but I'm not too bothered either way.

PaulG · 12-13-2011, 10:03 PM

Just realised there's a Riparium section. Sorry mods.

psalm18.2 · 12-13-2011, 11:29 PM

Off to a nice start.

PaulG · 12-14-2011, 02:56 PM

Thankyou. Still undecided on fauna. Any ideas?

PaulG · 12-14-2011, 05:48 PM

Lighthood added. Two x 24W T5, may need lowering.

Ignore the cable just checking the temps, 18c/64f. Will probably need to purchase a heater.

PaulG · 12-22-2011, 09:19 PM

PaulG · 12-31-2011, 04:10 PM

So unbelievably happy, impressed and surprised with this tank. I'm waiting for something to go wrong!

Overview:

Images from left to right:

Riparium section from left to right:

Philodendron scandens (big broad leaves)

Asclepias curassavica (tall plant)

Rotala rotindifolia

Ludwigia repens

Hygrophilia polysperma

Cyperus isolucladus (tall plant, may stems)

Hydrocotyl vulgaris (little round leaves, also floating bare rooted)

Vesicularia dubyana (java moss, tucked in there somewhere)

Fittonia albivenis (red leaves)

Spathiphyllum sp. (peace lilly, not sure which species)

Pilea cardieri (back right, white and green leaves)

Ludwigia natans

Pellonia repens (climbing out of the tank far right

Aquatic section:

Sagittaria subulata

Vesicularia dubyana

Bacopa Sp.

Cryptocoryne moehimannii

Cryptocoryne Sp.

Bacopa amplexicaulis

Hygrophilai polysperma

Ignore the silicone will be covered in plant growth. A few more species to add, looking for other Pilea species and possibly some hairgrass.

TickleMyElmo · 12-31-2011, 06:30 PM

Looking good! Looks very natural! Welcome to the riparium club by the way

I have one as well, its in my signature V

PaulG · 01-12-2012, 04:40 PM

EntoCraig · 01-12-2012, 07:28 PM

Looks Great! Im really liking the plants. I have some of them in my Dart Frog Vivarium.

PaulG · 01-12-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EntoCraig

Looks Great! Im really liking the plants. I have some of them in my Dart Frog Vivarium.

That's where I stole mine from! Sold a few cuttings, then used some in here. The money I made from sales I used for the other plants.

12-13-2011, 09:30 PM	#1
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Very low tech Riparium A 29G no tech Riparium. The inspiration comes from BigTom and Hydrophyte, owner of RipariumSupply, so a big thanks to them for starters! I wanted to try something new, I wanted it to be cheap and at least fairly self sustaining. I don't mind the occasional feed or adding of ferts but I'd like to keep water changes to a minimum. I suffer from ME and I find them difficult on anything other than really small tanks. Plus I wanted the challenge of going El Natural. Rocks, gravel and soil in. Around 1 inch of each. Planters in. A few plants to start. Moved the peace Lilly... Magnolia leaves from the garden still waiting to sink. All the plants are terrarium cuttings so I'm hoping they adjust to the lower humidity. Any questions feel free to ask!

12-13-2011, 11:29 PM	#7
psalm18.2 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NH Posts: 1,004	Off to a nice start. __________________ Multiple planted tanks 1.75g to 55g.

12-31-2011, 06:30 PM	#12
TickleMyElmo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 803	Looking good! Looks very natural! Welcome to the riparium club by the way I have one as well, its in my signature V __________________ Cool Pics, Bro ~ ADA 60P Riparium ~ Nikon Pimp #001

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12-13-2011, 09:33 PM	#2
EntoCraig Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 1,946	My magnolia leaves dissolved in one week! My Indian almond leaves and oak leaves are going on a year now with minimal breakdown... Simple, but great looking tank! I have wanted to do a rip for some time now, but I have no more tank space in my lab... Did I miss the size of this tank?

12-13-2011, 09:38 PM	#3
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Oh well, they were free! Plenty of oaks nearby too. Yep it's 29 Gallons. I forget whether that's US or UK!

12-13-2011, 09:58 PM	#5
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Thanks! I'm not after a black water look, but I'm not too bothered either way.

12-13-2011, 10:03 PM	#6
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Just realised there's a Riparium section. Sorry mods.

12-14-2011, 02:56 PM	#8
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Thankyou. Still undecided on fauna. Any ideas?

12-14-2011, 05:48 PM	#9
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Lighthood added. Two x 24W T5, may need lowering. Ignore the cable just checking the temps, 18c/64f. Will probably need to purchase a heater.

12-22-2011, 09:19 PM	#10
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335

12-31-2011, 04:10 PM	#11
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	So unbelievably happy, impressed and surprised with this tank. I'm waiting for something to go wrong! Overview: Images from left to right: Riparium section from left to right: Philodendron scandens (big broad leaves) Asclepias curassavica (tall plant) Rotala rotindifolia Ludwigia repens Hygrophilia polysperma Cyperus isolucladus (tall plant, may stems) Hydrocotyl vulgaris (little round leaves, also floating bare rooted) Vesicularia dubyana (java moss, tucked in there somewhere) Fittonia albivenis (red leaves) Spathiphyllum sp. (peace lilly, not sure which species) Pilea cardieri (back right, white and green leaves) Ludwigia natans Pellonia repens (climbing out of the tank far right Aquatic section: Sagittaria subulata Vesicularia dubyana Bacopa Sp. Cryptocoryne moehimannii Cryptocoryne Sp. Bacopa amplexicaulis Hygrophilai polysperma Ignore the silicone will be covered in plant growth. A few more species to add, looking for other Pilea species and possibly some hairgrass.

01-12-2012, 04:40 PM	#13
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335

01-12-2012, 07:28 PM	#14
EntoCraig Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 1,946	Looks Great! Im really liking the plants. I have some of them in my Dart Frog Vivarium.