Paludariums, ripariums and other water gardens
Published
Between the closed aquarium and the open garden pond lies a whole family of hobbies where water and land meet. They all share an idea: show not only what lives under water, but also the plants and animals at its edge.
Paludarium
A paludarium (from the Latin palus, marsh) is a tank that is part water and part land. The water section may hold small fish or shrimp, while the land part rises above it with soil, roots, moss and plants such as ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Many paludariums are tall and closed, with misting and a fan to keep the air humid, so they can also house frogs, crabs or other small animals that need both land and water. They take the most planning of these styles, because two habitats share one box.
Riparium
A riparium (from riparius, of a riverbank) shows the edge of a stream. Plants grow in planters or floating holders that hang on the inside of the tank, so their roots dangle in the water and their leaves rise into the air above it. The tank is only partly filled, and the underwater part is kept as an ordinary aquarium. A riparium is easier to change than a paludarium — the plants can simply be moved — and the plants' roots soak up nutrients that would otherwise feed algae.
Pondarium
A pondarium is an open, shallow tank lit from above and seen from both the side and the top, with marsh plants rising out of the water. Think of it as a small indoor pond with glass walls.
Wabi-kusa and emersed plants
Wabi-kusa is a Japanese style: a ball of soil covered in plants, set in a shallow glass bowl of water, with the plants growing out of the water rather than under it. It needs no fish at all, just light and humidity. Many aquarium plants can grow both under water and out of it, and look quite different in each form, which is part of the fun.
Tub ponds and garden ponds
A tub pond or container pond is a garden pond in miniature: a barrel, trough or large pot on a balcony or patio, with a few water plants and perhaps some hardy small fish or snails. It is the easiest way to get a pond without digging. A full garden pond is the largest water garden of all, with room for fish such as koi and wildlife that comes on its own.
Choosing one
If you love plants above all, try a riparium or wabi-kusa. If you want animals on both land and water, a paludarium. If you want fish you can watch from above, a pondarium or tub pond. For a comparison with plain aquariums, ponds and aquascapes, see aquarium, pond or aquascape?