Paludariums are setups which contain both dry land and water. With the addition of dry land, a whole new array of plant colors and textures are available to the hobbyist to create their aqua(land?)scapes. For example, there are many bog plants with white markings on the leaves such as Dieffenbachia sp. Furthermore, many of our aquarium plants can also live happily in their emersed states crawling onto dry land. The options are endles.
Although there are not very many good examples, here are some excellent paludariums in Japan:
I believe one of the hardest portions of aquascaping the paludarium is trying to bridge the gap between the dry land and the water column. Usually, the top portions of the layout are lush and verdant with bromeliads, ferns, and philodendrons. However, the water portion's aquascape is usually pretty bland.
This is what Eric Cheng has to say:
The following is my advice / useful information about paludariums:
1. Too much lighting harms the whole aqua plant, even just part of the plant stretched above the water level.
2. No CO2 is required if there is enough (water) current within the tank.
3. Choose the right plants which can be grown into the soil and water for setting paludarium tank.
4. Small fishes are needed for the food-chain reaction.
5. Choose the type of plants which are no required too much light for growing.
Here is Eric Cheng's stellar example of a paludarium (I definitely see the Amano influence in the wood arrangement):
A lot of terrestrial plants we could not grow in aquariums are very suitable for paludariums. Also, many house plants also make excellent paludarium plants for the terrestrial portions:
On land:
Saintpaulia ionantha (african violets)
Dieffenbachia sp. (dumbcane)
Tillandsia sp. and Cryptanthus sp. (bromeliads and air plants)
Calathea sp.
Fittonia argyronanta (polka dot plant, nerve plant)
...even orchids.
On land, but with roots in water:
Pilea cadierel (aluminum plant)
Acorus gramineus var. pusillus (Japanese fan)
Syngonium podophyllum (arrowheads)
Ophiopogon japonicus (mondo grass)
Chamaedorea elegans (Neanthebella palm)
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Selaginella wildenowii (peacock fern)
Hemigraphis repanda (dragon flame)
Hemigraphis colorata (purple waffle)
Dracaena deremensis (corn plant, lucky bamboo)
In the water:
Our aquarium plants
Carlos
