Planted Aquarium
A major influence on my design and construction of the turtle vivarium had been recent exposure to the world of planted aquariums. I found the complexity and beauty of these tanks to be quite appealing, and wanted to try and incorporate as much of it as possible into my design for the turtle vivarium. A large active reptile isn't conducive to keeping delicate aquatic plants of course, and while I enjoy the turtle vivarium project immensely, it still left me thinking about planted aquarium. Eventually I decided to dive in and start another tank.

I chose a 29 gallon tank that fit well into the foyer of our apartment and was able to reuse an aquarium stand from the previous turtle tank. The tank has progressed well as I have gleaned more knowledge about aquatic plants and their needs from books and the internet. Throughout the year I've had the tank, I have frequently removed and introduced plant species, but have resisted the impulse to scrap the entire layout and start from scratch. While I could certainly achieve a much more exciting tank design at this point with a years worth of experience to draw on, I find that watching the gradual evolution of the tank to be the most enjoyable aspect. The monthly photos I keep on this site is an attempt at summarizing that; you can see the good and the bad, as well as how the plants have grown in and changed the nature of the tank.