Cichlids in Planted Ripariums

[hydrophyte]

I've had some diggers and plant abusers in a couple tanks. They seem to ignore exposed roots in favor of foliage. I honestly think you'll be just fine. With the suspended planters and well aerated water, the worst you'll suffer is light root pruning (Which may not be an awful thing depending on how your plant responds, it'll cut down on the time you spend keeping the root mass trimmed).

Yep these are good points. Ripariums seem to be a real good option for keeping plants with cichlids and enjoying the benefits of plants (cover, filtration, beauty) while avoiding the extra demands and trouble that you can have with full aquatic plantings (CO2 injection, algae, nutrient deficiencies, fish abuse).

 

[Cybercyde]

Yep these are good points. Ripariums seem to be a real good option for keeping plants with cichlids and enjoying the benefits of plants (cover, filtration, beauty) while avoiding the extra demands and trouble that you can have with full aquatic plantings (CO2 injection, algae, nutrient deficiencies, fish abuse).

Agreed. So long as the plants can deal with nipping, you are firmly into the win-win category.

I know the rams seem a bit overplayed, but they feel perfect for the setup.

Personally, I'd consider a setup with corys and several tetras. I know it's likely commonplace, but their personality has been winning me over lately. Laser corys, black neons, rasbora hetoromorphas, would mix quite well.

If you need a lower temp variety, the over done white clouds, danios, etc would be fantastic with that much room to play. Considering the quality of literally everything you've posted, I'd expect breeding colonies as more of an afterthought. You'd likely be overrun with quality fish.

Celestial Pearl Danios are a long time favorite of mine, they'd love a riparium. Leaving some ground cover plants would yield successful spawns, and frankly, they're always in demand.

Considering the last 10 or so examples you've posted, I'd almost go for a challenge. Use the cuttings from your successful tanks and establish your next riparium with a notorious species. Having a gorgeous tank full of plant destroyers with cover worthy plants above would be quite a feat. ^_^

 

[hydrophyte]

Agreed. So long as the plants can deal with nipping, you are firmly into the win-win category.

I know the rams seem a bit overplayed, but they feel perfect for the setup.

Personally, I'd consider a setup with corys and several tetras. I know it's likely commonplace, but their personality has been winning me over lately. Laser corys, black neons, rasbora hetoromorphas, would mix quite well.

If you need a lower temp variety, the over done white clouds, danios, etc would be fantastic with that much room to play. Considering the quality of literally everything you've posted, I'd expect breeding colonies as more of an afterthought. You'd likely be overrun with quality fish.

Celestial Pearl Danios are a long time favorite of mine, they'd love a riparium. Leaving some ground cover plants would yield successful spawns, and frankly, they're always in demand.

Considering the last 10 or so examples you've posted, I'd almost go for a challenge. Use the cuttings from your successful tanks and establish your next riparium with a notorious species. Having a gorgeous tank full of plant destroyers with cover worthy plants above would be quite a feat. ^_^

Yep I definitely wan to do more setups with cichlids. Like you say cories are such great aquarium fish and I am pondering a riparium in a larger tank (maybe a 75) with a good-sized group of cories and some largish and flashy cichlid.

Before I was trying to always use underwater plants in my riparium setups, but anymore I prefer to just use some attractive gravel and get a few real nice rocks and combine that with a fish display and a the riparium plants.

Tonight I was working on the brackish mangrove setup some more and I got a few more pictures.

I have pondered using orang chromides in this setup. Has anybody had any experience with orange chromides?

 

[hydrophyte]

Here is a quick photo update for the brackish riparium setup with the manzanita stumps that I plan to use.

The two biggest stumps are still absorbing water, so I had to use a couple of rocks to hold them down in the meantime. I will rearrange them some more to find a good scape. I have had these pieces of driftwood around for a while and I wondered when I would ever be able to use them.

 

[hydrophyte]

I am writing a series of blog articles with more detail about my mangrove riparium for the AquaBotanic.com blog. I am going to have some pretty cool plants and fish in this setup.

Follow this link to read the first entry...

Mangrove Riparium Journal - Article #1 of 4

 

[vfrstephen]

I am amazed how good these ripariums look i would love to set one up in the future.

 

[hydrophyte]

Hey thanks vfrstephen. Ripariums are pretty easy to set up. They are less complicated than regular planted tanks in a lot of ways.

 

[JK47]

Hydrophyte, PM the details on where I can buy the planter boxes please? I LOVE the hybrid ripariums I have going right now and would like to take them to the proper side of the fence. Your tanks and photopgraphy is looking great as usual!

 

[hydrophyte]

Hey Justin you bet I'll send a PM.

 

[Cybercyde]

I'm sure they're out there hydro, but make with the updates. ^_^

I just went through a lfs with 20+ species of cories, and matching plecos... The urge to try new species is growing. ie - walking through a shop and randomly seeing a 6" vampire pleco, gold nugget, etc, back to back.

Curious to see the mangrove tank mature.