40 gallon Riparium.

[shrimpo]

I just got a 40 gallon breeder tank: All glass/black trim.
Substrate: active flora mixed with sand.
Plants: java moss, Christmas moss, java fern,water sprite, dwarf grass, sword...
Lighting: i will either buy a 36'' fixture or try a DIY.
Filtration: elite power head and whisper 10 intank filter.
Heater: 50 watt submersable.
this is going to be dwarf inverts tank( shrimp, snails, crayfish).
I have 2 drift woods (about 12''x5'')and rocks(4'' to 6''), any suggestion on how to arrange them?

[Craigthor]

How about some pictures of the hardscape and tank, without seeing them giving you suggestions is impossible.

[nemosreef]

Is the 50 watt heater going to be enough? It really just does not sound like it eill be big enough.

[shrimpo]

Originally Posted by Craigthor

How about some pictures of the hardscape and tank, without seeing them giving you suggestions is impossible.

The water is so cloudy right now, i only have a picture of the empty tank and stand..i am about to post it now.

[shrimpo]

Originally Posted by nemosreef

Is the 50 watt heater going to be enough? It really just does not sound like it eill be big enough.

I will not fill the tank all the way up.

[shrimpo]

The flat TV stand is now for holding the aquarium & light, it seems to be sturdy though and it perfectly fit.

[hydrophyte]

Gosh that TV stand was a perfect fit.

How high can you raise up that light? If you can get it up a bit you could get some especially nice plants going in there.

[nemosreef]

It's like it was made for the tank.

[Hoppy]

Before you fill the tank be sure to consider the back of the tank. A riparium looks best when the back is black, in my opinion, and that can be done by painting the back, or using a black window film on it. If you only cover the portion of the back that goes up to the water line, that is the ultimate for looking good. This is much easier if done before the tank is full of water, substrate, plants, etc.

What bracket is that at the back? It looks very promising for a light support bracket.

[shrimpo]

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Gosh that TV stand was a perfect fit.

How high can you raise up that light? If you can get it up a bit you could get some especially nice plants going in there.

That's the max hight for holding a flat TV. if i get i light weight light, i can raise it more by using 2 blolts only to hold the metal bracket instead of 4 bolts thats holding it right now.

[shrimpo]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

Before you fill the tank be sure to consider the back of the tank. A riparium looks best when the back is black, in my opinion, and that can be done by painting the back, or using a black window film on it. If you only cover the portion of the back that goes up to the water line, that is the ultimate for looking good. This is much easier if done before the tank is full of water, substrate, plants, etc.

What bracket is that at the back? It looks very promising for a light support bracket.

I will use the same black background that i used for the 55 gallon riparium.
The bracket came with the stand for holding flat TV..brows walmart TV stands to get more info.
the other thing i like about this stand is the small shelves on both sides, in addition to the large shelves in the front.

[hydrophyte]

Do you have an idea yet of what kind of lighting you might use? If you opt for moderate-bright light you can get some nice carpeting emersed stems going in there. Stems growing like that and combined with grassy stuff like Cyperus is my favorite kind of riparium planting and that is what I had going in my 50.



A 40 breeder would also be a good shape for that kind of thing.

[AoxomoxoA]

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Do you have an idea yet of what kind of lighting you might use? If you opt for moderate-bright light you can get some nice carpeting emersed stems going in there. Stems growing like that and combined with grassy stuff like Cyperus is my favorite kind of riparium planting and that is what I had going in my 50.



A 40 breeder would also be a good shape for that kind of thing.

Wow that's beautiful! Tell me what the star looking grass stems is now please. I'm officially letting all my tanks grow out as of right today with all you guys' riparium posts/threads.

[shrimpo]

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Do you have an idea yet of what kind of lighting you might use?

I want to get from mid to high light, if i have enough time i am going to use a DIY with 6 screw in light bulbs.

[Craigthor]

Originally Posted by dirtyhermit

Wow that's beautiful! Tell me what the star looking grass stems is now please. I'm officially letting all my tanks grow out as of right today with all you guys' riparium posts/threads.

That would be a Cyperus Gammineaus(sp?)

Originally Posted by shrimpo

I want to get from mid to high light, if i have enough time i am going to use a DIY with 6 screw in light bulbs.

Have yo ufigure out how much your DIY will cost compared to getting the Hydrofarm T5HO fixture that is pretty cheap?