I've been wanting to set up a riparium since I first saw them here on TPT, and after one half-hearted attempt with a shower caddy and a peace lily I decided to do it the "right" way. A couple weeks ago I bought the Mr. Aqua 11.4 gallon tank then began talking with hydrophyte. He quickly came up with a combination of supplies and plants for me and answered my questions. My package arrived in the mail today so I got the actual riparium part of my riparium set up.
Eqipment
Mr Aqua 11.4 gallon tank
Up Aqua in tank filter (basically works like a sponge filter, the only reason I got it was because the sponge filters the store had were huge)
Archaea 25w heater (may be too small in the winter, but it's what I stuck in there for now)
Hardscape
Black sand
River rocks from a landscape supply store
Driftwood
Flora
Ruellia 'Katie'
Asclepias Mexican Milkweed
Phalaris 'Strawberries & Cream'
Pennywort
Pilea alluminum plant
Anubias nana
Java fern 'trident'
Blyxa japonica
Fauna
HMPK Betta
Ramshorns
Initial setup:
Brooder lamps with 23 watt cfl bulbs for lighting. I think I'll switch them out at some point for a T5HO or a Ray 2 using the same hanger:
Goodies from Riparium Supply:
Planted and ready to go in the tank (bonus points if you spy Rocky sleeping in the background):
Planters and rafts in place:
FTS:
There's some definite wilting, especially the Asclepias. I'm assuming that's normal from the shipping, planting, and lights. They should perk up soon though, everything was definitely healthy.
I added a couple little stems of pennywort to the rafts, but it wasn't emersed growth so it probably won't make it. If it doesn't I'll snip a little h. japan from my wabi kusa and use that.
Hmm, what else. Oh, I planted a few stems of blyxa, but I don't think I like it. Or at the very least I need to add something else as well. Something taller.