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I have spent some time to look back all my tanks and posts. It’s quite a journey in such years. And I will always enjoy every minute visiting new places and people in distant countries.

Let’s talk about water flow and filtration there are two flows, one on top and one at the bottom. There is a comb shaped intake (circle) and very thin bottom intake. Filter Water flow from pump and from intake Max water level when pump operates

In the previous post I showed you the result of my work with LFS Aqua Minh Long*. The whole setup is yet complete. There are some final tunings for overflow and tank stand in coming weeks. Let’s start looking back at the point where the project started. I had been keeping angelfish, and later...

I still do enjoy forum Tim, the best place to share, not like social media which is just for show case.

This is my newest aquarium for congo. A 881L tank for 21 Congo tetra and 20+ corydoras. https://youtu.be/xTIuQ5NRB_I

It is me again. I was super busy last year and did not have time for the hobby. Things are settled now, so I could spend few hours in the week for it. I dismantled the old tank, removed all plants and substrate. Then I added new base layer of rich dyi soil, covered it with pumice and ADA...

I hope you all have had such a joyful holiday. So do I. Today I find out kribensis eggs hatched. It explained why I didn’t see the female was around as usual during feeding time. Here is lovely couple, and their fry https://youtu.be/BZfT6NcYPMc

Merry Christmas everyone [emoji320][emoji319]

This is Limnophila sp vietnam I planted two weeks ago. It looks similar to limnophila aromaticoides but leaves are shorter, around 1.5mm. It also crawls like limnophila helferi. In an ideal environment, this plant can easily forms dense and thick bush.

Couple of months ago during city lockdown I had some algae outbreaks, green and brown diatoms, but then successfully managed to get the tank under control. The only plant couldn’t survive after one week blackout that time was hygrophila pinnatifida. The rest has been going back strong and...

Aloha, it’s been awhile. Tank still looks great though it’s reaching 2 years old. https://youtu.be/zS5IuEUM4Gw

Ah hoy, it’s been awhile. This pandemic is really a pain. Feel lucky I have something to enjoy after stressful days https://youtu.be/dOPcydM4rbY

I did a major trimming two weeks ago and replanted top stems. Last week I did another reshaping background plants. And here how it looks https://youtu.be/TC_hpIwJFcc

Moss pot has been developing nicely. And my method seems work well. Last week I ordered a custom build. It’s 60cm long, 30cm deep, 10cm front high and 15cm back high. The build arrived on Friday. Applying same method of creating small one, I collect mosses around my house. Good thing is it...

Looks like a type of disease to me. Have you tried to use active charcoal for detox? I personally use green gain and phyton-gyt to prevent plant disease and stress. They are good products and worth the investment.

Yes, it’s growing. However, it’s so slow. Some patches looks so much better than other.

I take several pictures of moss scape today. If it’s successful at this scale, I might scape a larger one which is inspired by Japanese moss garden.

Vietnam has just raised to next restriction level for whole country in next 15 days starting tomorrow. This is not a lockdown but it is aiming to flatten the curve by adding more restrictions on public gathering, religious practices and public transportation. Businesses are still allowed to run...

Might use rotala, hygrophila pinnatifida, weeping moss, crypt, hydrocottoyle tripartila.

Just cut your hairgrass close to substrate. This will promote new growth but it will stay low. If you don’t want it to spread out to much, you can keep constantly trimming unwanted new growth which is outside designated area.

Short video of the hardscape

It’s advisable everyone staying inside. Spent whole week working remotely, and took precious time visiting lfs today and fixing wip scape. Below are pictures of final hardscape.

Below are two plant species in my 60cm. Persicaria sp Sao Paulo

Thanks. I will look into it next maintenance. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

No, that’s not aqua lock. If I twist that part and release the hoses, all water from my tank will spill over to the floor. By placing Eheim aqua locks it’s easier for me to quick release the hoses and bring my filter to bathroom for cleaning without spilling water to the floor.

That’s bad news everywhere. Stay calm and protect your first and next people around. I know it’s uncomfortable wearing mask whenever you’re going out. Well but this pandemic can’t stop me from treating myself this tool And got new Eriocaulon. We call it Eriocaulon Lung Xanh. Lung Xanh is...

I live in Hanoi. You should not be worried. Just make sure you keep yourself healthy, and check with Vietnam consulate office or embassy for guidance. As of now Vietnam has temporarily suspended all EU visitors from 8 countries including France. I hope we will soon be able to lift the ban.

My version does not have aqua lock. It’s filtosmart 200.

It’s not a good news since in a few hours we have discovered two new cases with positive virus. But again the situation is still under control. Everyone is suggested to stay inside, and avoid crowd... So I spent most of my Saturday morning trimming 60cm and maintaining 160cm. And do a...

Thanks buddy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Time to think of trimming background plants. However I am quite hesitate to do it. Another plant will be arriving in a week or so. This eurio has long thin leaves. It will be great complement to tank’s greenish hence more colour balance.

Got new light and new plants. 60cm is growing nicely, foreground plants are taking shape. Crepidomanes auriculatum Potamogeton dentatus (central Vietnam)

It’s slow but I got this trick from seller to promote growth. This is also applicable for buce. Tie or glue the plant to a pad/rock, in my case it’s glued to iron pad. Bury the pad into substrate deep enough, let its rhizome stay close to the bottom, and wait for results.

Almost break my back trimming foreground today. And please excuse for cloudy water after maintenance. Although Oase makes cool filter but I am not sure why they don’t have something for locking and quick releasing filter hoses. So annoyed and I decided to install its competitor’s aqua...

Jacky Chun was kind enough sharing me few stems of Rotala Florida, when he’s back from Singapore for holiday late January this year. This plant once was very popular in local hobbyists, but with all suddens, had gone, and no one talked about it anymore. I planted three stems on my tank, and...

I contacted seller and he told me it is mini boyan.

It’s rotala wallichii. This is it transforming to submerged growth.

Constantly trim your scrypt. It will stay low.

It’s been two months now since the day I scaped it. And I just love the wild look my tank is developing to. Added some anubias species, and moved them around the find the best spots. I also removed lots of rotala rotundifia red as they were tooking over tank impression. It’s too...

It is Aridarum, very slow grower. I got one in my tank, and it’s been over one year now.

Ah I just forgot to mention it does not like strong water flow. Grow it where it has slow or moderate water flow. This will help the fern spreading and prevent BBA

This is one of most easiest plants I’ve ever been growing. It requires only cool water from 22 to 26oC. This plant can grow well in low tech tank but slightly slower than co2 injected environment. Like other epiphytic plants you can grow them either tying or gluing on wood or rock. I do...

Last week I trimmed my tank, increased photoperiod to 12 hours daily. I also use few drops of Ada green gain to reduce plant stress and disease after trimming. Below are pictures of my tank as of today Short tank video update

They are rotala rotundifolia red, orange, and wallichii

Next to river themed tank Pearling plant Short video

Happy New Year everyone. It’s time for a new scape, a no serious one. I bought two bags of Ada Amazonia version 2, one bag of powersand type S advanced. First attempt, then destroyed it Second and final scape. Filled up, and cycled, and planted after one week. I do like observing...

Come visit Bach Khoa Aqua. Better dm before going there. https://www.facebook.com/bachkhoaaqua/

Take your chance chatting with Duong Le or Nam Dinh. They are running this studio. Lets meet up if you have spare time there then [emoji16]

Living in Hanoi. There is a place for hobbyists near West Lake. Visit it if you have chance Visit talented Vietnamese aquascapers from D.N.A studio...

Which part of the country you’re staying? Central, up North or down South? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

These folks don't really spend too much time to advertise their works like other professional aquascapers. I would say they prefer to work and meet directly in person rather communicate online. Below are some of their works. Hardscape Matured aquarium Simplicity

I am not writing too much in this thread. But trust me they are among most talented Vietnamese aquascapers. Also in this visit I am again seeing the root of nature and Zen from their works. Take a chance to go there if you are planning to visit this country. You won’t be disappointed. Their...

Yes, that’s on the plan. In the meantime enjoy below full tank shot

Below is cinematic version

Crypt has melted its old leaves and settled on the new tank. Despite the low nutrition and no co2 injection this plant has developed so well. I would say I am successfully mimic its natural habitat. Minh Long contacted me last week, asked for permission to come by and take photos of my tank...

Another topic update. Check out my latest visit here

Aloha, it’s time for another adventure in Singapore. Come back after two years, have witnessed the high ranking achievement in international contests of local hobbyists , as well as the appointment with Jacky for another tour, so excited I land on this country This is also my family vacation...

Just got a chance to involve in this project Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It’s indeed stem plant. I once grew it long time ago in my house ‘s front garden when I was a small kid. Make sure you give them enough water after you cut and plant. Do not flood it because its base will rot and die before rooting Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It is stem plant. Just cut it into small pots and plant them. Frankly let’s wait for the your test growing it submerged but seeing them change leaves colour is not a good sign imho [emoji3] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hm, i am not sure why they described them can grow submerged. These plants can grow near paddy fields where soil is softer e.g mud. You are right on the point that their roots can be submerged but their leaves will melt if being forced to grow submerged. We ofter serve Vietnamese coriander...

Speaking of these two, they can’t grow submerged. They are terrestrial plants. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A little update on my 60cm. And here is how I am doing weekly maintenance

Our weather has been so much cooler since early of May. It is pretty strange, but I love it. My favourite view point from staircase And this is 60 before background trimming

My guess yes Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A picture is showing it all we are now. Feel like inferno [emoji28]

It’s typical weather condition every year. Our air will be drier when we are in summer, and we won’t see that mist until next spring [emoji16]

This week our temperature is increasing 5 degrees compared to last week. Humidity is almost 100%. In order to maintain ideal environment I am using a water chiller. The good things I can keep my tank’s temperature to 3 or 4 lower than ambient temperature. The bad thing is

Thanks mate

Weather is changing from spring to summer. Temperature is shifting from average below 20 to 30. Also you are easily seeing the sign of this change by the frequence of light rains. We may experience first summer heat wave by end of this April, and of course, bolbitis is the first one be...

I did my first background trimming to create shape. Also I left a small area for planting Rotala goias, which is super rare and hard to find in local market. I think i am a bit lucky because I received this small share from LFS. The owner shared with me four small plots, and said he wanted me to...

Interesting. How long was it planted in the aquarium? It looks like to me it was adapting from emersed to submerged form based on its leaves.

I would recommend keeping bucephalandra near substrate and don’t bury its rhizome into substrate. You will have more chance of success, if you tight buce with rocks and nurse it under adequate lighting and co2. My experience with tucking or glueing buce into wood often comes with failure. It...

I bought a Red striotala August last year. It was emersed form, and already had flower I sent it to my friend for nursing right before I renovated my house. Come visit my friend’s again and I am now seeing it is flowering Has anyone ever seen a crypt that’s flowering underwater?

I am happy with its progress so far. Less sign of algae and tank is super clean. Only one slight inconvenience is that wood still leeks tannins. Probably it will be gone in next couples of month

It’s has been 01 month, and I am feeling confident enough to introduce fish and shrimp in the tank. I also planted one more species which is Lilaeopsis brasiliensis. Other plants are adapting well and growing nicely. I might have first background trimming in next two week times. Until next...

Not really. Their appearance just to wake tetra’s instinct up [emoji6]

Thank you [emoji4]

Sneaky view

Pleasing time after weekly maintenance

Many have yet to complete but it still looks great Short video I filmed last week. Turn the sound on for more pleasing mood https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu0RkO_Bg6T/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1tdurcq24hhxx Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most of them are doing fine except cardinal tetra. They just have been relocated from my friend’s tank since last Saturday. I am seeing some of them partially lost tail or dorsal fin. Let’s see if this rescue mission successes [emoji1696]

Feeding my fishes with mix of frozen bloodworms and dry food has really paid off.

Well nothing much to say. This is his latest creation of a display paludarium

No worries. He can speak English

Short video I filmed today

Love to play around with new material. Spent sometime this weekend to finish my 60cm. Here is the result Tank size: 60x40x40cm Substrate: two bags of ADA Amazonia, and rich dyi base soil Rock: fossilized wood Wood: Manzanita Plants: Several cryptocoryne, bucephalandra and rotala species...

Yeah, local folk here is doing the same way with cheaper pump model You can check it out here https://www.facebook.com/dalab.vn/ If you want to build your own dyi, i would suggest message him for advice

Hi Keith, Thanks for comments. I really appreciate it. Mimicking nature is my ultimate goal. I definitely would use your hints for my future scape at large scale Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here is its video I filmed today

This is just a concept and tank, in fact, is very small (25x15x8cm). I have no plan for planting it but keep it as reference for my future larger scale project

Hi Keith, thank you

Had some fun tweaking it

I just recently converted one leftover aquarium into a dozo for experimenting new hardscape concept. Check out my video below for the idea

Thanks Dave Watching these fishes under tinted water really means something

Happy weekend folks. This is it before weekly maintenance. I do love the tannic look, more importantly fishes are showing off their natural beauty and behaviour

Thank you Tim. Great suggestion. This is my new video with more relaxing, inspirational music

I am glad you like it. Yes my ultimate goal is to set it up as close as nature. However this it not exactly the famous and popular ADA nature aquarium style. I choose to set it up to be a dark water aquarium