[Dane]

I'm thinking of starting a new tank, probably an 18hi, that I was hoping to use to house a pair or trio of rarer thumbnails (for me that means Pumilo, Intermedius or maybe Retics), and I wanted to make it a true paludarium, with the floor being entirely water. The water depth wouldn't be more than a few inches, and covered with aquatic vegetation, so drowning isn't a concern, but what species would be reccomended for this type of arrangement?

 

[Dane]

Do you think it would be sufficient to have a large chunk of cypress wood in the water feature? I wanted to build at least one tank without having to worry about substrate/false bottom etc...

 

[Dane]

Sounds good, I also have some floating aquatic plants I believe one is called Lemna Polyrhiza that literally carpets the surface of the water, so that should help with some living space.

 

[Dane]

That's definitely an idea, I think it would be simpler to just carve out hollows in the great stuff for holding terrestrial plants. I usually then "plumb" the bottom of the indentations with a piece of 1/4" air hose so that moisture doesn't build up.