wet

I'm posting for aquascaping advice and because I really like the tank... I'd like to know what you think. It has been around a little over three months and this is about to be my first significant full tank trim. It gets direct natural sunlight along with CF lighting. I use pressurized CO2 and EI with daily dosing. Filtration is an Eheim with only filter floss (plants as biofilters).



That fog is done with a humidifier and reduction fittings, plus the flex tube from one of my old projects. It runs on and off from right before to right after the photo period. I never manually mist.



Here's an old series of pics I like.




Here's some submerged plant pics.

Rotala Mexicana 'Goias' -- Thanks WofenCrazyName!




Rotala mini type 2 -- thanks RoyDeki!! -- and HM.






The emergent stuff is purple bamboo from BSmith's original very healthy 3. These pics from the top (and some below and above) are with no tank lights, only sunlight. Now that I am way past growout I'll lower bamboo blinds. The Petite started off as one of Bert's ball sized clumps.









There are Paradise fish, Kuhlii loaches, Cory hasborus, Otos, Sparkling Gourami, a Bristlenose Plec, and a CPD in there. I used to have Dario dario / Scarlett badis but lost them while neglecting a heating problem.














Fear my green spot



Initial planting of R. 'Goias' and the female plec.

Her in this morning's sun.



For some reason I cannot grow HC.

wet

And above water.

All I know this as is as a Mexican Orchid (my first orchid). It has lost many leaves and has been in the tank since inception. But it stays alive and the remaining growth is healthy.


The grassy stuff is L. brasiliensis / "Microsword"

The back is really a fabric pond planter thingy with rocks and the wood to maintain shape.







L. aromatica




Tilandsia sp.






I'm thinking of going open foreground since I fail with HC. Or maybe just spread the Goias around. Thanks.

dj2606

awesomely fantastic setup my friend. after looking through all those pictures I thought that I had actually seen this setup in person.

Now for business. How long have you been working on this incredible tank?
What are the specs?

Riona

Holy bundle of amazing! Your paludarium is incredible!

csaxe21

Incredible!

starsunmoon

wow !! awesome !!! so where is this back ground pond thingy >? I was trying to see it in the pics, cant . I also have that same humidifier so WOOT ! thanxs for the idea ! i will now use it in my design. I still need a tank, lol so no where near ready yet . but I love getting all these ideas! I cant wait . and the 40 long is a perfect size I think too . I hope to find one . I also love your fish, there are a few I will use. as well as plants . I did nto know the aromatica would grow out of water that way !! the roots are huge ! very nice. you have a great set up there, and that window is awesome too , perfect sunlight, and has to be awesome to atare at inside the home, I swear a few of those pics, looked just like a stroll in the woods. with the morning sun on the wood, just ......WOW ~~ great job !

dawntwister

Check out craigslist.org for a tank. Some sell everything together, that is including the stand.

cs_gardener

What a great paludarium! I like the jungle effect and the way the plants just naturally grow out of the water. Your fish look so happy in there too.

mellowvision

I agree, I'm really enjoying the photos in this thread. I've been gearing up for something about the same size... I just find myself wanting more height above the waterline.

I'd love to see more photos of the waterline and above, especially from the back... that area looks so swampy and nice!

nickman

very cool! love that drift wood and the pics of the sparkling gouramis lurking in the plants just below the surface. very much like what i imagine them doing in the wild. what type of substrate are you using? also, is that a cryptocoryne growing emersed? sure looks like it.
killer job. love it!

-nick