My 1st Riparium!

[duff]

They have! Not a great shot bit shows the roots coming along nicely. I'm really fighting getting the Mr. Aqua 17g tank (24x12x14). I think the size would be better now that I have this one set up and have the feel for it.

[hydrophyte]

It looks like those Pilea are rooting well.

Yeah that Mr. Aqua would be a good shape/size. If you were to move on that and also keep this one going it could be cool to develop different themes for each one.

[duff]

Yes, It is... and behind that the others are rooting as well. The panda is going strong with keeping its leaves green with just a limited amount of die-off. So... in time it will look fabulous! yes, I suspect that if I go get the other tank, this one will stay

Do you have some plant idea's for a new theme/plants you think might fit the mr aqua tank? I am still new at learning the different plan biotopes but love to research...

[hydrophyte]

I would definitely redommend the baby panda bamboo as a good background plant for smaller tanks. You will want to get it going in probably three different planters so that you can get a nice dense background.

Peace lily is another good one to use in several planters as background. It does throw a lot of shade so it is important to trim leaves if it starts growing too big. It also helps to hang the light fixture up toward the front of the tank so that the light will shine right down into the open foreground.

Here is another configuration that I like a lot too. This is Cyperus in just a couple planters, then several more planters with creeping emersed aquarium stem plants (Hygrophila, Limnophila and Hydrocotyle). The Cyperus doesn't throw much shade so the stem plants can grow in nice and dense.

[hydrophyte]

Any updates on this baby?

[duff]

Hi Hydro! It is going great - I have been taking pictures, now I just need to upload them. I have been fishing my rcs's out of my main tank and throwing them in here - they love it, all the roots to cling on to. they especially love the pools in the waterfall. They climb the wall and hang out in the top pool. I took out the ricca that was in it so its just a few rocks. Its funny to watch them climb up the dry spots to get to the pool and then on into the HOT filter...

The plants are happy (though, the panda is proving to be slow and only one sprig has made it, but its hanging on!). So now it's just a waiting game to let them fill in.

I did order a custom tank for the new project - 24x14x14 with a starfire front, I am so excited to have the extra area! 4-6 weeks and it will be here. I am going to do a waterfall in this one as well but have a few new ideas now that I have seen the current on in action. It will be of similar size but this time I plan to incorporate planters closer to the water fall to hide the sides a bit more in the next one as well as use a canister filter to keep the visual clutter down.

I'll post pictures this week at some point. Thanks for checking in!

Duff

PS - I do love that tank above the plant layout looks amazing - I love the foreground plant (Bacopa?) A must do in the new tank

[hydrophyte]

Hi again Duff, Yep thos all sound like good ideas. And your custon tank shape sounds excellent for a riparium. The fourteen inches of depth front-to-back will be good because it will leave a bit more open water at the front.

Do you have any fish ideas in mind yet? It would be cool to get something unusual.

Yep that Bacopa makes a real nice floating carpet and it's very easy to grow. TO grow it like that I plant it in the hanging planter, then train it to grow across the trellis raft. It will grow bushy and full and cover up the planters if you trim it where it grows past the edges of the trellis rafts.

[hydrophyte]

Any more new updates for this tank? I want to see.

[londonloco]

Me too Me too

[doncityz]

picss!!!

[Lutra]

Yes, pictures, please.

[duff]

I've been mia for a bit but I'll work on getting an update done. I've also come to realize that this tank is a bit too small and had a custom tank built that will have the same concept only bigger (14x14x24) that is in the works. I'm still in love with the water fall - when the water is just at the right level the sound is so peaceful and its fun to watch the shrimp crawl from level to level. I think i have a shot or two of that as well.

[fuzz_16]

wow! inspiring (: beautiful tank and very well thought out and creative. look forward to how it turns out

[duff]

Hi Everyone, Thank you for the kind words! here are a few updated shots:



The Baby Panda - very slow but with Hydro's suggestion I have moved it under a brighter light to see if that helps is along.



Top Shot:


And the shrimp that crawled up the waterfall,





I really going back and fourth on the new riparium as to if I want to add a waterfall to it. Still undecided but I think I have found a good way to better conceal it and allow plants to grow right on it for a natural look. Time will tell...

[fuzz_16]

the waterfall if my favorite part