Quick video: Mr. Aqua 11.4G Riparium - Take 2

[hydrophyte]

Mr. Aqua 11.4G Riparium - Take 2

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.

[PaulG]

Yes! Always love your tanks, this should be great

[hydrophyte]

Originally Posted by PaulG

Yes! Always love your tanks, this should be great

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.

[hydrophyte]

Here's the foliage on the baby panda bamboo. I actually have both the all-green species P. crinitum and the white-variegated "variegatum".

[hydrophyte]

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.

[hydrophyte]

The wall is now officially purple.

I can start setting this thing up today.

[hydrophyte]

Here's the tank in place...



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.

[sayurasem]

Nice!

[hydrophyte]

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.

[hydrophyte]

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.

[hydrophyte]

Here's this planting again with plants ID'd.

Again, the planting looks pretty crummy right now, but it will perk up as the plants start to grow in.

• A. Ruellia brittoniana 'Katie'
• B. Musa acuminata 'Super Dwarf Cavendish'
• C. Oplismenus hirtellus 'Variegatus'
• D. Pilea 'Moon Valley
• E. Lysimachia congestiflora 'Outback Sunset'
• F. Pilea grandifolia
• G. Pleioblastus fortunei "Dwarf Whitestripe"
• H. Alternanthera dentata 'Little Ruby'
• I. Marsilea quadrifolia

[sumer]

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.

[hydrophyte]

Originally Posted by sumer

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.

[hydrophyte]

I added substrate, a dark grey gravel, last night.

I'm going shopping this afternoon and I might purchase some fish.

[hydrophyte]

Today I found the perfect fish for this setup!...

Gold White Cloud Mountain Minnow

Green Lantern Platy

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.