Riparium setup with Synodontis petricola

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I redid the planting in here last night. Now it looks a lot better, but it will take a while for the plants to grow in.

6-iii-11-tank-i-b1.jpg


The underwater area is just a wild jungle, but I like the way it looks. There are a few pretty cool riparium plants in the abovewater part. I should write again soon with a list of selections.
 
Wow, this is just an amazing thread with lots of good ideas. It's inspired me to try something like this, but where do you get the planters for it? I've never seen them before.
 
OK, now I think I really do have a pretty good concept for rescaping this setup!

I am going to remove all of the underwater plants and set up the underwater area with the best hardscape that I can put together. Then I am going to also put some time into getting really good specimens that will make an awesome fish display. I am inclined to use some sort of New World cichlid, but I will need to ponder this some more. I could introduce some kind of cichlid that otherwise wouldn't get a long with plants, but will do well with this setup because the plants will all be the emersed riparium plants.

I am going to remove all of the livebearers that are in there now. I might leave the Synodontis lucipinnis catfish because I do like them a lot.

What do you all think of this idea? Here is a shot from a little while ago. The tank looks about the same now and without any real theme but some nice plants.

6-iii-11-tank-i-b1.jpg


I need to think about a new theme for the riparium plants. I am drawn to the idea of grassy plants combined with other stuff, but I want to try something other than Acorus gramineus. A. gramineus is an awesome riparium plant, but I have already used it a few times and it would be good to try to figure out how to grow other grassy selections.

Well that's my idea anyway. Now I need to go hunt for rocks and also think more about fish. Some Gymnogeophagus would be cool. There are lots of other possibilities too of course.
 
Here is a quick picture update.

12-iv-11-tank-i-m.jpg


I removed all of the underwater plants and added some big limestone boulders. I realize that I need to work on scaping the stones some more, but I wanted to get them in there for an idea. I like the way that the Poecilia are the same color as the rocks.

I also switched the riparium plants around some. I am going to shoot for a background filled mainly with those Spathiphyllum, and with that Colocasia fallax as a centerpiece.
 
The Limia melanogaster and the Thorichthys elliotii arrived today in the post with 100% survival. I scooped the Poecilia chica out of the tank and introduced the new fish and they look great!

The Thoricthys have some growing up to do. They are only ~1" long or so.

I will try to get pictures tonight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom