I have a number of different tanks going right now and most of them are planted ripariums. Ripariums look a lot like paludariums, but unlike those kinds of setups they do not include built-up terrestrial features. The plants are supported instead with hanging and floating planting devices. Here is a shot of a 120-gallon Mexico river biotope riparium.
You can't see them in there, but this tank has groups of two different poecilid species and a goodeid. Here is another setup in a 65 that I had going for a while, but that I have since torn down.
That one included a number of nice flowering plants.
Thus far I have mainly kept smaller community-type fish and livebearers in my ripariums, but I am interested in branching out to explore more different stocking options. Here is a brand new setup that I put together with the idea of showcasing a group of Synodontis lucipinnis catfish.
My other ripariums only have water filled to about 1/3 full, but this 50-gallon tank has ~35 gallons of water in it, so there is more space for fish: the other setups have emphasized the plant growth more as the main subject of the display.
Certain kinds of cichlids (e.g., rams, Apistogramma) are already popular choices for planted tanks, but many others are generally considered to be too boisterous and destructive to keep with plants. However, riparium planting might get around some of the problems associated with keeping large active fish and plants together. This list summarizes some of the ideas that come to mind for this idea of keeping cichlids with riparium plants.
Points #3 and #4 are also affects of regular submersed aquarium plants, but as the other points suggest, with certain kinds of fish it is probably a lot easier to keep riparium plants than more traditional plant choices.
Well, this post has run long so I will wrap it up. I would be interested to hear others' thoughts on this idea.
You can't see them in there, but this tank has groups of two different poecilid species and a goodeid. Here is another setup in a 65 that I had going for a while, but that I have since torn down.
That one included a number of nice flowering plants.
Thus far I have mainly kept smaller community-type fish and livebearers in my ripariums, but I am interested in branching out to explore more different stocking options. Here is a brand new setup that I put together with the idea of showcasing a group of Synodontis lucipinnis catfish.
My other ripariums only have water filled to about 1/3 full, but this 50-gallon tank has ~35 gallons of water in it, so there is more space for fish: the other setups have emphasized the plant growth more as the main subject of the display.
Certain kinds of cichlids (e.g., rams, Apistogramma) are already popular choices for planted tanks, but many others are generally considered to be too boisterous and destructive to keep with plants. However, riparium planting might get around some of the problems associated with keeping large active fish and plants together. This list summarizes some of the ideas that come to mind for this idea of keeping cichlids with riparium plants.
- plants mainly out of reach of fish and protected in planters
- CO2 injection, important for keeping plants in high-light, densely planted tanks, is not required because emersed riparium plants get their necessary carbon dioxide from the air
- excellent biological filtration, including removal of nitrates and potential decreased demand for water changes
- plant removal of toxins (e.g., heavy metals, endocrine-affecting chemicals) that can affect fish health and reproduction
Points #3 and #4 are also affects of regular submersed aquarium plants, but as the other points suggest, with certain kinds of fish it is probably a lot easier to keep riparium plants than more traditional plant choices.
Well, this post has run long so I will wrap it up. I would be interested to hear others' thoughts on this idea.
