A few of my planted ripariums

[hydrophyte]

Hi again,

I am a new member and I have posted just a couple of messages. I do not keep frogs, but I have been keeping busy with a kind of display that is similar in some ways to a vivarium--planted ripariums, which are aquariums filled part of the way with water, with air space above for the emergent growth of plants. Unlike paludariums and vivariums, ripariums don't have any real land area--the above-water part is rendered just with plant foliage--so they are not suitable for keeping darts or other herps. They are instead meant for the enjoyment of fish and the emergent growth of marginal aquatic plants.

I have some pictures from a few of my tanks.

20 Gallon with Cheap & Easy Plants



This tank required just a little effort to plan and set up. I used readily available houseplant and pond plant varieties for the aerial portion, and a few low-tech aquarium plants for the underwater area. I hope that it will be low maintenance.

55 Gallon Riparium Featuring Cryptocoryne



Cryptocoryne plants (also known as "crypts") are among the most popular of aquarium plants. This Riparium has some larger-statured species/varieties growing as emergents, as well as a few fully-immersed crypt plants. Fish include Botia loaches and Puntius barbs.

65 Gallon South America Biotope Riparium



This one is a rather loose "biotope". It contains some representative South American plants, such as Echinodorus swords, as well as others used primarily for their form and appearance, such as the Acorus sweetflag and creeping jenny (Lysimacchia).

[R1ch13]

Brilliant mate...

I really love these, When i was really into my high tech planted aquariums, i always had rotala, Hygros etc growing right out of the water and they looked great.

Most of the really enthusiastic scapers simply just cut them back miles before they emerge out of the water, which is a great shame...

Im glad this idea has come about, its really great.

Welldone man, the first one is still my favourite

Richie

[hydrophyte]

Richie,

Thanks so much. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I hope that this theme is not too far afield for dendroboard.com. These systems do borrow do share certain technologies and plants in common with dart frog vivs, and this community seems to appreciate botanical science and plant diversity, which are other angles of these planted ripariums.

This idea was also inspired by that kind of display that you mention with aquarium plants growing up past the water's surface. I find it fascinating to observe the plants' responses to different conditions.

Regards,

[mongo77]

Beautiful tanks!! I don't think peope will mind you posting them here. Most peope here like to see other peope tanks for inspiration. Besides you'll never know what might interest you untill you're exposed to it. Once again, it appears you have a true artistic talent.

[raimeiken]

Aren't these called Paludariums?

[doncoyote]

Originally Posted by raimeiken

Aren't these called Paludariums?

If I may jump in... I think Hydrophyte is trying to draw a distiction betw what he's doing:

I have a concept that I have been working on for a few years, planted ripariums. I have heard my model systems compared to dart frog vivariums many times, but they are different in that they do not have dedicated terrestrial areas. The above-water areas are rendered instead with plant foliage: the plants being supported with hanging and floating planter devices. Ripariums would make poor habitats for most reptiles and amphibians, in fact, being more appropriate for keeping fish and other fully aquatic animals.

and what we think of when we hear paludarium.

[hydrophyte]

thanks again very much. i have a lot of fun planting these. i think that the most compelling aspect about ripariums is that one can grow plants that haven't really been kept in aquariums before. another feature is that the emersed forms of popular aquarium plants--many such plants can grow either fully immersed, or up into the air--can also be grown successfully and planted in an aesthetically pleasing aquascape. i am especially fond of plants in genus Cryptocoryne

here is a C. undulata, a really handsome plant, in a riparium planter.

[/IMG]

crypts have really great flowers. blooming is one of the main objectives of hobbyists who grow them. this is a C. wendtii flower.

[R1ch13]

That is a beautiful specimen my friend..

My favourite Crypt of all time has to be the good ol' bog standard Cryptocoryne Wendetii "Green"

I just think its an amazing aquarium plant, when i was stripping down one of my lower tech aquariums a year or so ago, i pulled out a couple of these plants and the roots were spread all over the tank, was insane.

Richie

[hydrophyte]

Yes crypts really are great. My experience is that many seem to develop a lot of root relative to leaves. Perhaps this is why many readily "melt" with changes in conditions, such as aquarium water chemistry. They might find it advantageous to just draw nutrients back into their extensive root systems with environmental changes, then sprout again when conditions have settled.

Crypts have great flowers too. This one might be the flashiest of all, Cryptocoryne ciliats.



Another great feature is that, with a few tricks, crypts are easy, low-maintenance plants for growing both above and below water.

[Julio]

its like a pitcher crossed with a lilly