55 Gallon Crypts Riparium

[sewingalot]

Hydrophyte, can we get some more pictures of your crypts? I love this setup.

The Lagenandra meeboldii 'pink' is amazing: http://kryptokoryne.aquaticscape.com...eeboldii-pink/

Do you have any experience with it?

[hydrophyte]

oh thanks again. i hope to add some more new updates pretty soon. i haven't seen any more new blooms, but the plants have been growing.

i have one plant that i suspected to be a Lagenandra erosa, but i think it might just be a C. spirales. i do want to get some Lagenandra sometime.

i just got a few more new crypts, plants that i got in exchange with gmcccreedy . he sent me some really nice stems too. i shot some quick pictures and put together a blog post http://hydrophytesblog.com/?p=719 Glenn included a crypt that is apparently a wendtii variety. it is very different with subtle white mottled variegation on the tops of the leaves.

[gmccreedy]

That Crypt is certainly one of my favorites. Glad it all arrived well.

[hydrophyte]

thanks again for sending that stuff. it all has such pretty colors. my plants look more dull than yours. you must have them more well-nourished than i do.

i went back over to APC and found that reference with the questions about the identity of that "Hemigraphis traian". Cavan Allen had done some sleuthing. it looks as though it is certainly not a Hemigraphis, and not even an Acanthaceae, rather it seems to be a Hyptis, "bushmint", in Family Lamiaceae.

here is the APC thread http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...-flower-2.html

here is the shot of the plant that Glenn sent to me...

[hydrophyte]

i finally installed the shelf into this stand. i think that it will look nice when i get the whole thing all set up.



it will be good to hook up the Filstar too. i currently just have an airstone in there for water circulation, and an impressive layer of mulm on the floor of the tank. the loaches really like to root around in the mulm--what do they find in there?--but i will be happy when the tank looks cleaner.

[gmccreedy]

Thanks for the reference for the Lamiaceae. Cute little filter you got there.

[hydrophyte]

well thanks gain for sending those plants. they are growing. have you ever gotten that one to bloom?

[oldpunk78]

i finally installed the shelf into this stand. i think that it will look nice when i get the whole thing all set up.

sorry man, i just gotta ask...

why green? (why not black?)

[hydrophyte]

Originally Posted by oldpunk78

sorry man, i just gotta ask...

why green? (why not black?)

because green looks better?

the choice of paint color is ultimately subjective, but i did apply some design principles here. by using that green, i accentuate the green foliage in the tank. the same visual effect is used in framing pictures, where a hue in the frame or matte can draw out and emphasize colors in the photograph or painting.

i would not have liked black, and it would not have worked in this room. the green makes a much better contrast with the warm orange cedar color of the rest of the stand.

[gmccreedy]

I think the green goes with the contemporary feel of the stant style, and certainly the style of scaping.

You got my vote.

[sewingalot]

Just checked out the blog. Those are some nice stems! Very healthy looking. The Alternanthera reineckii var. rosaefolia is amazing. I want some now. I also really like that crypt, the lines are beautiful. By the way, I think the green works well, too.

[hydrophyte]

thanks so much. that Altenranthera is gorwing like mad for me and retaining its nice color, although one of the other stems petered out. i should post an update for those plants. that crypt with the white variegation is also going strong and maintaning its unique coloration.

i have more new updates for the crypts riparium too. i have been out of town for the past week, but i hope to put together some new updates soon.

[lauraleellbp]

I must say, you have some of the most fascinating and informative threads! I've just read through several (IDK why I'd never found them before?) and I love the way you think "out of the box."

You've also got me wanting to set up a riparium now... *sigh* I need a fishroom...

[hydrophyte]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

Just checked out the blog. Those are some nice stems! Very healthy looking. The Alternanthera reineckii var. rosaefolia is amazing. I want some now. I also really like that crypt, the lines are beautiful. By the way, I think the green works well, too.

i should point out again, that is what those stems looked like when i pulled them from the box that Glenn sent. he is doing something right with his emersed setup, because the colors of those plants were beautiful. i wish that i could get stems to grow with such vigor in my ripariums. i do really well with rosette plants, like crypts and swords, and certain other plants, but most stems don't perform so well.

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

I must say, you have some of the most fascinating and informative threads! I've just read through several (IDK why I'd never found them before?) and I love the way you think "out of the box."

You've also got me wanting to set up a riparium now... *sigh* I need a fishroom...

thanks very much. i wish that i were more competent and had a better idea of what i am doing. i really do hope to pull together an update for this tank. i was working on the above water part the other day--i switched and moved a few plants--and it's looking good right now. it all cleaned up real well with the addition of that canister filter and the fish love the swift current along the front of the tank. i have found with those hyperactive barbs and loaches that this is an entertaining fish display.

i just need to work on tidying the underwater part and i'll be ready to shoot some more pictures.

[hydrophyte]

I was tidying up this tank again too and got a few quick shots. The plants have grown in some more...



I am going to add a few more plants and also wait for everything to straighten out again, then shoot some more pictures. I will get better color and contrast with new shots.