Help needed before taking the decision of buying/building a terrarium/vivarium

[DelawareJim]

Wow! It's looking great so far. Hope you've posted them on Flickr. I'm looking forward to seeing bigger pictures.

If you find the lights are too bright and too hot, you might need to put a couple on a seperate timer for a mid-day burst. You'll get the light benefit without over heating the top.

As a fellow lover of aquatic plants, I vote for Cryptocoryne! Like orchids, you can never have too many Crypts! I can even hook you up with people in Europe to get some rarer species.

Are you using an Eheim to filter/circulate the water? I think I recognize the green tubing.

Cheers.
Jim

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Wow! It's looking great so far. Hope you've posted them on Flickr. I'm looking forward to seeing bigger pictures.

If you find the lights are too bright and too hot, you might need to put a couple on a seperate timer for a mid-day burst. You'll get the light benefit without over heating the top.

As a fellow lover of aquatic plants, I vote for Cryptocoryne! Like orchids, you can never have too many Crypts! I can even hook you up with people in Europe to get some rarer species.

Are you using an Eheim to filter/circulate the water? I think I recognize the green tubing.

Cheers.
Jim

Indeed, Eheim Prof 2224 actually, Crypts are some of them I like... you can have them half under water half aerial...

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

actually, Crypts are some of them I like... you can have them half under water half aerial...

Yes, they're great plants. I grow most of mine emersed now although I still aquascape with them mostly.

I had the good fortune of attending the European Cryptocoryne Society meeting last year in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. Had a great time meeting fellow Crypt enthusiasts from Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, and wow did I have a lot of plants to bring back!

Cheers.
Jim

[camille1585]

Yeah, Cryptocorynes are a good idea! I love the ones that have a red leaf underside. I used to have tons in my tank years ago, but they got invasive and I pulled them all up and planted more. But they never have time to grow, the big catfish destroys everything. My tank will be nearly plantless until the stupid fish dies, in a decade or so. Maybe I'll try Java ferns, apparently that fish doesn't destroy those as much.

Or anubias would look nice, the flowers are excellent! Mine bloom underwater, but sometimes a spike makes it to the surface. They are hardy plants, slow growers though, and love to be mounted on driftwood.

I'm getting really excited about your pond design!!

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Yeah, Cryptocorynes are a good idea! I love the ones that have a red leaf underside. I used to have tons in my tank years ago, but they got invasive and I pulled them all up and planted more. But they never have time to grow, the big catfish destroys everything. My tank will be nearly plantless until the stupid fish dies, in a decade or so.

Why waiting so long? Catfish are delicious deep fried with lemon juice... or as Fish & Chips