65 tall South America biotope riparium

andyjs said:
So all of your rimless tanks inspired me. I can't fully set it up yet, but I just checked my 20 XH to see how hard it would be to remove the rim to do one of these setups. Well, the tank is pretty old, so I got most of it off with my bare hands and got most of the silicone off the rim with a razorblade. It left a very thin layer of basically residue from the silicone on the glass. Any tips for getting this off? Any solvents? or just lots of scraping with the razorblade?

I've a got a great idea for a little African stream tank with lots of anubias, some dwarf frogs and tetras, but I don't have a place for even another small tank right now...we'll see in a few months though
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That's a good way to get a rimless tank. I have found no better way to remove silicone than just lots of careful scraping with a razor. There's a thread over on TPT describing a riparium in a 15 XH, and he also removed the top rim:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/vivarium-terrarium/90239-15h-riparium-my-first.html

I wouldn't suggest a rimless tank for a riparium with emersed Anubias. Those are much better kept in a tank with a glass canopy, so that the air will retain high relative humidity. That is what I did for my 55.
 
Here is a quick pre-trim shot from tonight.

This shot post-processed a little bit with a montage to brighten underwater area

16-viii-09-tank-i-s.jpg


The plants have grown in well since the last rearrangement. I just need to snip a few stems before shooting a more serious picture.

The Echinodous cordifolius is still growing and blooming like wild. Here is a shot of a flower emerging from between a pair of plantlets on the flower stalk.

16-viii-09-echinodorus-cordifolius-i-s.jpg
 
Thanks!

Here's a picture with a couple of my favorite plants in this display, Echinodorus 'Tropica Marble Queen' and Oplismenus grass.

16-viii-09-oplismenus-i-m.jpg


I really enjoy the white variegation of these together.
 
Wow. This tank is really progressing beautifully. That oplismenus looks incredible. Do you find the alocasias going dormant to be a problem with these setups? I've noticed you use them quite a bit.
 
Inka4040 said:
Wow. This tank is really progressing beautifully. That oplismenus looks incredible. Do you find the alocasias going dormant to be a problem with these setups? I've noticed you use them quite a bit.
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Thanks a bunch. That one there to the right of center is actually Colocasia fallax. It does go dormant for a few months in the winter, but it's pretty easy to manage. I just pull it out and place in a cool, moist spot until it starts to begin growth again.

There are a few other dwarf taros, including some Alocasia Xanthosoma, that apparently do not require dormancies. I have an Alocasia amazonica that is doing real well in another tank and I understand that as long as you keep that one warm it will not go dormant.

I really like that Oplismenus. It creates a perfect effect.
 
I have a couple of snapshots that I wanted to post quick to show the Colocasia fallax dwarf taro that I have in here. This is such a cool plant. Here's a view down the length of the tank:

scratch-colocasia-i.jpg


This picture was taken with flash. The C. fallax has a beautiful velvety sheen, which shows up better in pictures with flash.

And here's another picture:

scratch-colocasia-ii.jpg
 
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