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Riparium Supply
Planted Ripariums: An Overview
By: HYDROPHTE, 22 August 2009
Ripariums are planted aquarium system that emulate habitats found along the edges of lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. This zone features marginal plants, which are rooted in the saturated soil at the edge of the water, but hold their leaves up in the air. Many marginal plant species have showy flowers and attractive foliage. Since they provide abundant food and cover from predators, marginal areas in nature are preferred habitats for many fishes.
Planted Riparium Design
Ripariums have the following design features:
- The aquarium is filled to about 1/3 of total depth.
- Emergent aquatic plants grow in much of the aerial portion of the display and cover much of rear 2/3 ofthe water’s surface.
- The underwater area is decorated with fully aquatic, bright green plants and light colored sands and gravels, which brighten that part of the layout.
- Aquarium fishes complete the display.
Planted Riparium Setup
Aquarium & life support: most common aquarium sizes function well for riparium displays. However, very small tanks are less suitable. The best models for ripariums are at least 16” tall and 24” wide. Most of the other items used in traditional planted aquaria (heaters, filters, lighting, substrate) function well in ripariums. Unlike many other kinds of planted aquaria, ripariums do not require carbon dioxide injection: the plants get their CO2 from the air, where it is abundant.
Riparium Supply
Riparium Supply manufactures two kinds of plant support devices. The Hanging Planter (1) is attached to the rear pane of aquarium glass and holds planter gravel and plant roots. The Trellis Raft (2) floats on the water’s surface in front of the Hanging Planter and supports sprawling and vining stem plants rooted in the planter cup as they grow forward into the riparium composition midground. Several variations of the raft design accommodate the varying sizes and growth habits of different kinds of marginal plants.
The planting accessories are formed from foams and plastics, but they quickly become obscured and hidden by the growing plant leaves, stems and roots.
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