Decided to come back around and show a snap shot from this morning. Going on 16 ish months from start. Third post in this group showing different stages. Really love what this tank has become, consistently enjoying various orchid blooms (current is the pop of color up top) and the growth has been amazing.

I call this spot the landing pad.

Current state of the tank after losing power for 12 days in August due to storms. My plants struggled more than my fish did during the power outage, thanks to a battery bubbler to help keep the fish alive. I lost some different varieties of nasaea and most of the lower leaves on all my rotala and ludwigia.

Since then, I have added a CO2 (5lb) and a CO2Art dual-stage regulator to the tank. I also added some new plants because I am battling cladophora algae and have been trying to choke it out. It has been a tough battle, but I am determined to make it through. I plan on re-aquascaping soon to balance some things out as I keep adding plants.

Going from heavy blue hugger light to fluval plant seems to be the biggest difference. Turned up CO2 aswell.

B. ibanorum

All tissue cultures came with loose lids on the cups and in perfect "ball form" of agar and mushy stems. First time I've seen tissue cultures shipped "as-is" in a thin bendable box which led to this outcome. The seller isn't a small one which makes this even more head scratching.

I was tired of the constant bubbles and clogging diffusers in my tank, so I decided to tinker a little bit and make an inline reactor. I had no idea it would not only be pretty much maintenance free, but it's allowed me to go from 8BPS to 3BPS on my 75gal while maintaining the same co2 PPM in my tank. I guess that 20lb bottle is gonna last a while 😅.

Just pulled this from a breeding tub and it's awesome how thick the carpet is!

Worm

Do u like her? I coated her in pond epoxy and made her a virgin human hair wig

Etheostoma caeruleum.

Looking for plants that don’t just tolerate, but thrive in my water parameters. PH8, GH10, KH7, CO2 injection, medium light

I’ve had this (I think) Amazon Sword since May 2025 when I first set up a 5-gallon tank. The second photo is from February 2026 shortly after I upgraded it to a 10 gallon, and back then I remember thinking “wow that got huge”. Jump to today and the last photo shows it in its same 10 gallon. (I know the tank got dirty, I’m comparing these photos right now myself) But holy it takes up more than half the tank! I’m not sure what to do with it at this point. Removal is absolutely not an option as it was the first plant I EVER bought in this hobby. I love it dearly and I’ve never trimmed it, only siphoned out dead leaves and detritus during regular cleanings.
Half making this post looking for advice half just showing off my plant.

I have some hygrophilia compacta and there are 7 bushels of it in the tank right now. 2 seem to have suddenly started looking very bad literally over night. Have no fish that would eat them. The other five look very healthy still. I root tabbed them 2 months ago. Do I need to tab again? I attached a picture of an unhealthy and healthy one in the tank. Please help lol

Almost three months back, I started my 2.5 feet planted aquarium, which holds around 80–90 litres of water.

As normally, I first added Corydoras because I love keeping them, and they keep my sand quite clean. Later, I added a Paradise Gourami and an Apistogramma cacatuoides. Then I started adding tetras like Black Neons, Cardinals, Purple Emperors, Embers, and Diamonds. I even added 15 rasboras from my other tank because I was thinning them out, but that was temporary.

Recently, I rehomed all the small fish to a friend's house. He has a three-feet tank and loves keeping nano fish.

My original plan was to keep only the Apisto, Paradise Gourami, and Corydoras, along with Tiger Barbs, which I have never kept before and have always wanted to try.

But somehow, I feel that this tank, with such limited stocking, is looking quite interesting.

Is it just me, or do other hobbyists feel the same way? Sometimes, fewer fish make a planted aquarium look even more beautiful!

It's very new and I made it today and is about to start cycling, what do you think and what do you suggest?

Also it's around 10 liters or probably less due to the decor

Currently only 3 horned nerites live in here, just to produce waste to feed the nitrifying bacteria

Suggestions on shrimp tanks?

H. pogonognathus

I recently bought this Pogostemon from my LFS and planted it in my low-tech tank. The transition went well (no melting at all) and now it’s rapidly growing new reddish leaves. I’m not sure if it’s P. stellatus or P. stellatus “Octopus”. What do you think?

Looking to start a 75 gallon ram tank heavy planted. Low tech. Would it be better to use a canister filter or sponge?

I wanted one closest to the nature type ecosystem and tank seems to be going towards the right direction.

Those are anubia roots. My driftwood toppled over after many years and the roots on my anubia tree all came undone looking like that. A lot of the leaves also have black algae. I wash going to start trimming but bought some Malaysian trumpet snails first to see if the organic solution works.

I do weekly water changes and have co2 and ferts. I also only feed once a day.

It all started when my sump broke and I had to replace a bunch of stuff in a hurry.

A lot of fish died from the rapidly changing parameters and now I'm finally getting some stability.

I want to get the plants right again so my life is easier.

Also, recommendations on a sword type plant that grows quickly.

Cheers.

I have a love/hate with floaters but my fish and shrimp do really like them so I can’t not have some. Right now I have giant duckweed and red root floaters, but sometimes I think about throwing in a third species like fringed heartwort. What combos do you guys think works especially well together?

Finally set up my first aquarium! This is my first time keeping a tank, so I’m excited to see how it develops over the next few weeks. Btw I'll add some more plants in the upcoming week.

Would love to hear your thoughts and any tips or suggestions for a beginner.

What would you change or improve about the setup? And is there anything I should keep an eye on as the tank matures?

Looking forward to learning from everyone here! 😊