Jake's 20g Riparium! (56K, I think!)

JakeJ · 11-03-2009, 03:57 AM

Yep, I am starting a riparium! After looking at Hydrophyte's, Hoppy's and Sewingalot's, I just could'nt resist!

I still have alot to learn, so please bear with me! I don't have any riparium plants, but I will abtain some after new years! I am trying to recreate the fish's natural home, a centeral american river\stream.

Tank Spec's

Lighting: 15 watt flourecent tube, but I am upgrading to a Sun blaze T5HO flourecent strip light.
Filteration: Tetra Whisperer 30i internal filter. May switch to power head.
Subtrate: Normal aquarium gravel, but I may add something else, like Flourite or PFS.
Tank: A 20g high that I used in the herrendous "JakeJ's 20g high Convict journal." Ugh!

Fauna: Breeding pair of Convict Cichlids.

Flora: Java moss, untill I get riparium plants. I may also get sometype of grass.

I plan on putting lots of emersed plants in the center of the back glass pane, in between two large, partly submersed rocks. Nothing is final! All comments and suggestions are welcome!

Tank as of 11\2\09

JakeJ · 11-03-2009, 03:58 AM

REALLY sorry about the bad pics!

**Hoppy** · 11-03-2009, 05:24 AM

Congratulations for taking the plunge into ripariums! You will very likely never regret it.

A few suggestions: If that heater is a standard one it will work fine turned on its side down near the bottom of the tank. And, I think I wouldn't use that filter - more filtration than you need for a riparium, in my opinion. Perhaps a smaller one, again turned on its side, or a powerhead with a sponge on the inlet would work better.

Just on general principles, I would never put a TV under an aquarium, because of possible water leaks. Could you wall mount the TV? I did that once with a bigger one, and it worked great.

hydrophyte · 11-03-2009, 06:16 AM

Another option for the heater and filter would be to hang them on one of the side panels. They will be less prominent there and also free up more real estate along the rear panel for plants.

JakeJ · 11-03-2009, 01:18 PM

I know I have to ditch the filter, but It works for right now. As for the heater, I hand'nt thought of that! I'll try it tonight. The TV, I plan to move to another shelf. once I get the extention cord.

Now, it does'nt look good with out plants. So, could I get the plants, and then the light?
Thanks,
Jake

hydrophyte · 11-03-2009, 03:45 PM

Plants would probably alright for a few days with just ambient room light, but you would want to get the fixture soon.

JakeJ · 11-03-2009, 04:17 PM

If I had my old flourecent tube over the tank, could the plants survive for longer?

**Hoppy** · 11-03-2009, 04:31 PM

You could try something like this:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post932414
Even one of these clamp-on lights, with a 26 watt bulb could keep the plants going for a few weeks.

hydrophyte · 11-03-2009, 05:12 PM

Any little bit of light that you could give them while you wait to get the brighter fixture would be OK. The plants that I was going to send in your box are low/moderate light varieties.

demonbreedr16 · 11-03-2009, 07:13 PM

Cool! Good luck...one of these days, my riparium will be started...but for now, I'm just going to order the starting supplies & plants and just have the plants in a sunny window.

JakeJ · 11-03-2009, 09:17 PM

Thanks Kenny, I need all the luck I can get!

The fish are getting their color back and swimming together again. Its probably pretty stressfull having half your living space gone, and every thing rearranged!
Regards,
Jake

JakeJ · 11-04-2009, 04:39 PM

I moved the TV last night, but other than that no progress. All I need now is some cash.

Thanks for looking,
Jake

JakeJ · 11-04-2009, 06:48 PM

I just found out that I will be gone on vacation for about two and a half weeks, during christmass break. I will have someone watching the dog\tank, but since the person watching them has no planted aquarium knowledge, I am going to leave the tank "un-planted" untill I get back. Just to be safe!

I rearranged everthing, (like you guys suggested,) putting the filter on the right glass panel, submersing the heater sidways, and adding some more rockwork. My plan (not like you havent heard it a million times!) is to get the T5 light, then wait to get the planters from Riparium Supply and plants untill after I get back. Does that sound right? Also, how can I releave some of my fish's stress, without useing chemicals? A little black-out and more hiding places maybe?

Regards,
Jake

Ariel301 · 11-04-2009, 06:57 PM

What kind of fish are they?

JakeJ · 11-04-2009, 07:00 PM

The tanks inhabitants are a breeding pair of Convict's. I know that is a little over crouded, but I am giving it a shot!

11-03-2009, 03:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	Jake's 20g Riparium! (56K, I think!) Yep, I am starting a riparium! After looking at Hydrophyte's, Hoppy's and Sewingalot's, I just could'nt resist! I still have alot to learn, so please bear with me! I don't have any riparium plants, but I will abtain some after new years! I am trying to recreate the fish's natural home, a centeral american river\stream. Tank Spec's Lighting: 15 watt flourecent tube, but I am upgrading to a Sun blaze T5HO flourecent strip light. Filteration: Tetra Whisperer 30i internal filter. May switch to power head. Subtrate: Normal aquarium gravel, but I may add something else, like Flourite or PFS. Tank: A 20g high that I used in the herrendous "JakeJ's 20g high Convict journal." Ugh! Fauna: Breeding pair of Convict Cichlids. Flora: Java moss, untill I get riparium plants. I may also get sometype of grass. I plan on putting lots of emersed plants in the center of the back glass pane, in between two large, partly submersed rocks. Nothing is final! All comments and suggestions are welcome! Tank as of 11\2\09 Attached Thumbnails __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank Last edited by JakeJ; 11-13-2009 at 08:49 PM. Reason: stuff

11-03-2009, 03:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	REALLY sorry about the bad pics! __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-03-2009, 05:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (22/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,690	Congratulations for taking the plunge into ripariums! You will very likely never regret it. A few suggestions: If that heater is a standard one it will work fine turned on its side down near the bottom of the tank. And, I think I wouldn't use that filter - more filtration than you need for a riparium, in my opinion. Perhaps a smaller one, again turned on its side, or a powerhead with a sponge on the inlet would work better. Just on general principles, I would never put a TV under an aquarium, because of possible water leaks. Could you wall mount the TV? I did that once with a bigger one, and it worked great. __________________ Hoppy

11-03-2009, 06:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
hydrophyte Sponsor (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,750	Another option for the heater and filter would be to hang them on one of the side panels. They will be less prominent there and also free up more real estate along the rear panel for plants. __________________ Hydrophyte

11-03-2009, 01:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	I know I have to ditch the filter, but It works for right now. As for the heater, I hand'nt thought of that! I'll try it tonight. The TV, I plan to move to another shelf. once I get the extention cord. Now, it does'nt look good with out plants. So, could I get the plants, and then the light? Thanks, Jake __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-03-2009, 03:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
hydrophyte Sponsor (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,750	Plants would probably alright for a few days with just ambient room light, but you would want to get the fixture soon. __________________ Hydrophyte

11-03-2009, 04:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	If I had my old flourecent tube over the tank, could the plants survive for longer? __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-03-2009, 04:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (22/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,690	You could try something like this: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post932414 Even one of these clamp-on lights, with a 26 watt bulb could keep the plants going for a few weeks. __________________ Hoppy

11-03-2009, 05:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
hydrophyte Sponsor (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,750	Any little bit of light that you could give them while you wait to get the brighter fixture would be OK. The plants that I was going to send in your box are low/moderate light varieties. __________________ Hydrophyte

11-03-2009, 07:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
demonbreedr16 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Arcadia, FL Posts: 497	Cool! Good luck...one of these days, my riparium will be started...but for now, I'm just going to order the starting supplies & plants and just have the plants in a sunny window. __________________ Aquariums: 55gal -> The Dark Depths of Brightness \| 29gal -> "Die Möglichkeit" aka The Eventuality \| 65gH Riparium -> Riparium \| 10gal -> Illusions

11-03-2009, 09:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	Thanks Kenny, I need all the luck I can get! The fish are getting their color back and swimming together again. Its probably pretty stressfull having half your living space gone, and every thing rearranged! Regards, Jake __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-04-2009, 04:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	I moved the TV last night, but other than that no progress. All I need now is some cash. Thanks for looking, Jake __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-04-2009, 06:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	Vacation.... Uh oh! I just found out that I will be gone on vacation for about two and a half weeks, during christmass break. I will have someone watching the dog\tank, but since the person watching them has no planted aquarium knowledge, I am going to leave the tank "un-planted" untill I get back. Just to be safe! I rearranged everthing, (like you guys suggested,) putting the filter on the right glass panel, submersing the heater sidways, and adding some more rockwork. My plan (not like you havent heard it a million times!) is to get the T5 light, then wait to get the planters from Riparium Supply and plants untill after I get back. Does that sound right? Also, how can I releave some of my fish's stress, without useing chemicals? A little black-out and more hiding places maybe? Regards, Jake __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

11-04-2009, 06:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ariel301 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kingman, Arizona Posts: 376	What kind of fish are they?

11-04-2009, 07:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
JakeJ Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wisconsin! Oh Yeah! Posts: 436	The tanks inhabitants are a breeding pair of Convict's. I know that is a little over crouded, but I am giving it a shot! __________________ *Jake* Beginings of a Riparium: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post935761 1g "unplanted" betta tank

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