[Sarlindescent]

Has anyone tried a dual lighting system on a riparium? What I mean by this is an overhead light for the emersed plants and a low profile LED for the aquarium plants (ex: Current USA satellite plus). I am thinking that if it is low profile, and the tank is pretty much filled to the top, you could hide the tank light.

 

[theatermusic87]

Yes I have a setup like that exactly, my eventual goal is actually to train some of the plants to grow over the tank light, or at least around it to obscure it even more. Check my signature for the thread

 

[hydrophyte]

For ripariums I like to use low-tech plants (crypts, anubias, etc.) that don't need a lot of light for the underwater area. I think that a second light hung up like you describe will obstruct the view of the riparium plants and detract from the whole layout, but it will help for plants that need more light. What kind of tank are you using?

 

[Sarlindescent]

Thanks for the replies. The tank will be a 20L. I will have RCS and CPDs in the tank. Still trying to figure this all out, but overall I am thinking some of those suction cup holders most likely replaced with magnets. The some DIY foam floats in the front and back. Possibly a 2x4 behind the tank with some lattice. This would allow me to tie up some of the plants on the back. Last thought was building a hinged curved skeleton frame top that would drape over the top of the light. This would allow plants to cover the whole top, but still provide access to the tank and light, as well as, good O2 exchange.

 

[AquaAurora]

I was going to do something like like (lighs above for riparium adn leds for aquatic plants), but ended up changing my mind about cutting and combining two tanks to do that. For a while my 55g riparium had low light crypts and anubias, as well as dwarf lily in it. Had no issue with the dual bulb t5 light being 30-36" above them. Once the riparium plats got so big that I had to raise the lights to 24+ above the top of the tank I removed aquatic plants. At that time I have wood that was coming up out of the water, making the option for a led light on the top of the tank impossible.