...With a small tank like that you could filter/circulate the water with just a simple sponge filter hooked up to an air pump. I prefer to use either canister filters or submersible power filters, but air would work fine too.
Ripariums probably are somewhat easier to tend than traditional planted aquariums. For one thing, you can have a nice bright display with lots of kinds of plants without having to inject carbon dioxide into the water. The emersed plants also stay totally algae-free. However, ripariums do require the same routine maintenance steps as any other aquarium with live fish, such as water changes, glass cleaning and occasional gravel cleaning. I have run into algae problems with my planted ripariums, but these tend to be less problematic because the emersed plants throw some shade on the underwater area and compete with the algae for nutrients.
If you might like to set one up I have extra cuttings and divisions of quite a few good riparium plants. I also have a few extra plants already in pots which I could send along too.
Here is a picture (with bad lighting) of that same 20-gallon form a while ago.
Ripariums probably are somewhat easier to tend than traditional planted aquariums. For one thing, you can have a nice bright display with lots of kinds of plants without having to inject carbon dioxide into the water. The emersed plants also stay totally algae-free. However, ripariums do require the same routine maintenance steps as any other aquarium with live fish, such as water changes, glass cleaning and occasional gravel cleaning. I have run into algae problems with my planted ripariums, but these tend to be less problematic because the emersed plants throw some shade on the underwater area and compete with the algae for nutrients.
If you might like to set one up I have extra cuttings and divisions of quite a few good riparium plants. I also have a few extra plants already in pots which I could send along too.
Here is a picture (with bad lighting) of that same 20-gallon form a while ago.

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