Hydroponic Planted Tank

[Cookie*]

I have a hydroponic wall that drains into my tank. It doesn't sound exactly like what you are looking to do. The ripariums are closer to what you are describing.

That is one of the coolest setups I have seen. Very interesting, I like it a lot. Are all the plants on the wall live plants, or did you fill in with some fake? I really dig the idea, it's a great looking tank.

 

[yikesjason]

They are all live plants. I even have a couple of orchids that seem to be doing well. All of that plant growth really sucks up the nutrients. I have doubled the ferts from normal ei dosing methods.

 

[yikesjason]

Here is my tank journal from plantedtank.net
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/t...9-yikesjasons-150-wide-discus-tank-photo.html

 

[hydrophyte]

The second picture looks really nice, mine will look nothing like that but the concept is right. I wonder how those plants are stabilized, I was thinking egg crate over the top so they don't fall in. I have had a planted filter before and I had the tank positioned by the window with occasional direct sunlight, but that is not an option now.

The plants in that tank are all supported with floating and hanging riparium planters like this configuration right here.

Hydroponics lights work real nice for this kind of open-top riparium setup and they are easy to hang up. You can get real bright illumination with HO T5 strips + reflectors, which will cost just about fifty bucks per set.

 

[Will Hayward]

What is a riparium and how is it different from a paludarium?

 

[valderi123]

very cool tanks.

 

[hydrophyte]

Unlike paludariums ripariums do not have any real terrestrial area. The plants are supported instead with those hanging and floating supports.

Because they do not have land area ripariums are not so good for keeping ampibious animals, such as turtles or frogs, but they are real good for many kinds of fish and there are some excellent plants that grow well in riparium conditions.

 

[Will Hayward]

Ahhh of course! thanks. I think many arboreal frogs would actually do great in a riparium with heavy planting.

 

[yikesjason]

Ahhh of course! thanks. I think many arboreal frogs would actually do great in a riparium with heavy planting.

The problem would probably have more to do with containing them.

 

[hydrophyte]

Seriously, ripariums are great for fish. Since they don't have the built-up land area like a paludarium would you can maintain a much larger relative water volume and plenty of room for your fish. You can fill a riparium setup all the way to the top of the tank and let the plants grow up and out.

A lot of people seem to insist that a riparium needs to have animals in the above water area, but the riparium plants can be plenty engaging on their own. There are a lot of nice flowering plants that grow and bloom well in ripariums.