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Hi, Flaviu! Glad to see your work here (that I know very well). Nice and clean, as ususal!

Nice work, Alex! It thrive ...

Amano are very strong and rezistent. Same CAE and SAE. These may be added before RCS or others. Still, if there are not frequent changes of water, it is not recommended before 3 weeks.

Hi! Very nice tank! ... and very close to a trim, maybe not the first one but an elaborated one. I like particulary the positioning of Alternanthera. It will grow more but can be kept low. I would suggest to remove stem plants from the right side and fill the left corner with its. There may be...

I have Amano together with RCS, Red Sakura, Black Cristal, Red Cristal, Red Rilli, Black Rilli, not to mention Atyopsis and Cambarellus, in 4 tanks, from 20 to 400 litters. Never seen such scene. Amano is, indeed, a hunter. He is eating almost everything and will eat for sure all death animals...

Hi! Looks absolutely great! I know how difficult is to keep such path ... clean! And an amaizing absence of the "bad' algae. Congratulation. By the way, when you will gonna fill it with water?:)

Yes, I mean mold but I also find this : "a fungus that produces a superficial growth on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter". Sorry for confusion!

Sorry, I am not english man so maybe sometime I make mistakes or confusion in terms. By multiplication I mean to put the plants in a dry system on substrate, right like in aquarium but without water, and reproduce there a greenhouse effect that aloud plants to thrive. There, because of high...

Hi! Between Eheim and JBL I would choose Eheim. But, in the end, what is more important is not the power of the pump but the volume of the space for biological filtration as far as the best filtration is made not when the flow of the water is very high but when the retention time of the water...

Hi, Mat! If I count well, there are two weeks from when you filled the tank with water. This means level of NO2 is normal and might even rise more due to much dead leaves and more organic waste. Nevertheless, plants have enough nutrients storage to stay without ferts up to 3-4 weeks if CO2 and...

Hi! I cannot give advices but I can share my experience in such project. I use this method for a Wabi Kusa and for multiplication of the plant prior to planting the tank. In all cases I use a complete isolation of the chamber where plants were planted on Tropica soil. Purpose was to get a full...

Looks great! A big plus is that you didn't exagerate with planting (common temptation for many people in such scapes), so nice details can be seen even after plants will grow.

That's the spirit!

What about : Dawn of the Dragons ? Cheers.

Hi! It looks amazing to me! Congratulation! This is an example of beauty by simplicity. Probable, in different competitions, this kind of beauty is lost in the favor of very complicated scapes. I don't wonder why some people, sometimes, prefer a large, complicated blooming bush instead a simple...

Hi! I had same problem with in-vitro plants on gel (Alternanthera, Staurogyne, HC, Flame moss, XMas moss). The recommendation was to keep them in refrigerator. I kept them there for 5 days and after that was no problem. Before planting, keep them half of hour for adapt themself to the water...

Yes, looks very nice. Good luck with the plants!

Never seen such colour to a RCS. It is much close to Red Sakura or Bloody Mary. Very nice!

Looks very, very nice! That is a Red Sakura, right?

Beautiful colors! Very nice!

Hi! #5 looks the best to me. If you add too many rocks ... is like you will not gonna see forest because of the trees!

Day 28: Change up to 30 % of the water. Check the technique (is the pump running, does the switch on/off clock work, is the CO2 running) and rinse the filter sponge (see how). Add the fertilizer; We still recommend ½ a dose. Cut the supporting plants so that they do not shade the other...

OK, let us see the plants! ;)

Wow! This a totaly different thing. I like this very much. But, what about you? Do you like it better? In the end of the day, this is important.

Nice work, Alex! Very nice work! So ... you postpone the trimming!?

Well, as far as I know, the "golden rule" should be applied once in a hardscape, eventualy as a focal point or for "dividing" the attention of an onlooker but aslo to ballance the entire scape. This way you may get also more space for a better distribution of the fish as a vital area. The right...

Amazing! I like very much particulary the way you get in the pics the Rasbora "fleet". Of course, that is coming after beautiful grass, rarely seen at such view in many tanks. Congratulation!

Looks very nice with only one comment : the stone from the center in the back ... that is not a place for it. Instead this, I would move it to the left (tilted to the right) and in the space saved by this I would made a kind of path. Of course, it depend much of the plants you are goind to use...

Nice list! Take care with Urticularia. It is very difficult to fix it on substrat. Maybe you should attache it on a kind of sieve, like those used for Coral Moss. And ... good luck!

I am using Tropica's 90 days app right now in a 45 litters tank. Don't know what to say. I've followed all steps very accurate. I am in the Day 23 and NO2 is 0,2!!! Indeed, no algae problem and the animals are OK but still ...

OK! Having such amount of HC, a dry start could be a good solution.

HI! It looks ... amazing! 30 days from now ...

Yes, even more in the back, together with small root from the front. But it depends what planting area you have in mind. If you are planing to have grass in the front then more space there could help. In such hardscape I see much moss and Bucephalandras, maybe some Anubias Petite and Pinto. And...

Hi! It looks great already! If there is something to comment about, the rock from the left side can be that. Too big for that place. I think its place is somewhere behind the root from same side. Plant list could be useful for other comments!

I am sorry but my assertion about CO2 used during night is correct. Very short and simple speaking about this ... There are two kind of reactions that generate, in the end, organic matter : photochemical and non-photochemical. During light time, photochemical reactions use CO2 for...

Not only Anubias is exposed to GSA contamination. I also have same problem with Legenandra, another slow growing plant. I've tryed many possible solutions with relatively good results. Finaly, one was the best : Spiral Horn, one for 10 litters of water. So, as for many cases, natural way is the...

"Columbo", full seazons. Then after, "Cosmos - A personal Voyage". And, of course, old british series : "Great Expectations", "David Copperfield", "Nicholas Nickleby", "Jane Eyre" a.s.o. But, I am probable too old ...

OK, I've got it. As far as I understood, you can program the selenoid due to a programmable socket. Try this : start it one hour befor light. Then keep it one hour working, one hour stop, one hour working, one hour stop ... up to one hour before light is off. Then after, one hour working, two...

Looks very good! ... to answer to title question. When such an evolution take place in such a short time, the problem is how to keep it going well. Triming is most difficult, having such different plants, but also is the way to keep it in good direction, I guess...

Looks like you need to do a restart! In such situation, just do the oposits and everything will go well. :happy:

Day 21: Change up to 30 % of the water. After 3 weeks, it is enough to change the water once per week, provided you see no signs of algae problems. Check the technique (is the pump running, does the switch on/off clock work, is the CO2 running). It is now time to increase the light period to...

Day 50. Still have some algae but algae eaters are doing a great job. Parameters are : NO2 = 0; NO3 = 10-15; pH = 7.0; GH = 6. Continuous addition of CO2 at aprox. 200 bb/min. Fertilization : Masterline I+II, Ferropol, kalium-Potasium and Tropica Universal, in partial doses. I give a first trim...

Maybe you should consider keeping continous addition of CO2 at a level that provide a constant pH (depending of the tank content needs, for instance 6.8 or 7.0) instead having so large differences. Animals and plants suffer all the time when parameters, no matter what, have large variations in...

Hi! Eheim 4+ P 350 is OK. You have there 5 litters for filter medium and a wise distribution of the space so you may use different medium. If you add a prefilter, will work perfect.

Autotrophic bacteria support a certain range of pH and use CO2 also as a source for self organic substances synthesis. If O2 is there, no problem will occur up to a serious drop of it. Besides this, flow rate of the water don't aloud a saturation of the internal filter convention hall with...

Very nice, Bogdan. And a beautiful flower. I am hardly waiting to see mine.

Yes, looks like the method is OK. Anyway, I am thinking for next one to apply a early separate cycling of the filter together with a dry start and then after Tropica method.

Day 17: Change up to 30 % of the water. If you are able to see thread algae (long, thin threads), this is best removed with a rough woodstick (flowerstick), which is lead through the thread algae while rotating the stick (see examples of filamentous algae here). Add e.g. more algae eaters...

Day 14: Change up to 30 % of the water. Check the technique (is the pump running, does the switch on/off clock work, is the CO2 running). You might cut your supporting plants to prevent them from shading the other plants (see more about trimming here). Done.

Very nice scape, Ken! It start to become mature. Only from an artistic point of view, I would free the fron side from the plants (relocate them, maybe under the root, on the left-back side).

I had same problem with an Aquatic Nature diffuser. Not only it becomes dirty but there was a green thin layer on its surface that looks like algae. I put it in vinegar for a few hours. It was much clean after but the green layer was there. You will not believe from where I've got help : Physa...

Something like this but not very heavy because will push it down.

Looks very well. The advantage to have no grass : Cory with no problems! Before adding the shrimps, put in the floating part of the skimmer a sieve, otherwise there will be a nice meeting place for shrimps. I found once 8 Amano there!

Thank you and thank you! It will take some time. This month I will visit some people that are doing great work with aquarium taylor made so I hope to have all in one piece up to January. I will post the pics, step by step, of course.

Yes, I believe she think like "the bigger, the better". :D

Hi! It is a long time since I am thinking to built a Paludarium. After many projects and drawings, I have decided to built one that should look like this (at least at the upper floor) : Inspiration comes from this : So, the plan looks like this : - basic tank, 100/30/60 with independent...

Day 10: Change up to 30 % of the water. It is now time to put algae-eating fish into the aquarium. The fish will eat other algae than the shrimps and snails, and in this way you will ensure an efficient prevention of algae problems (see list of algae-eaters here). If the water is green and...

My beloved Physa ! Nice pics, like usual from you!

And some new pics. I've added fish (blue neon, greed neon, Amber, CAE, SAE). CAE and SAE are doing a great job. Unfortunately, in less than 6 months need to be relocated but, for the time being, they will stay and clean everything.

So, you want to have a cycling without plants? And how you will put the plants after? I also suggest to remove the roots from the center, its cover the path from the background. First set-up looks better, in my opinion.

Why this is not looking better? Just because is not like you wanted from the very begining. It looks, maybe not better, but very nice. Instead a "Hanging Rock" you've got a "Running up the hill".

Hi! It looks just great. It need time ( and patience from your side) to reveal its value, after the moss on the trees will thrive. I have something like this in a tank and the grow is very slow. The path amont the trees is a very nice view. When moos will grow, a certain shadow over the path...

And the cat!

Figo! With no comments!

Need time to see if there is something living and with good chances to thrive. Roots mean nothing without leaves. Give it some time and we will see.

In my opinion, looking to the video, that flow of the water is not OK. HC need a flow but not a storm. The roots of HC are very fragile, same the leaves. HC need to grow as a small, low bush, genereting a kind of runners on the substrate and developing roots where runners touch the ground. HC is...

Day 7: Change up to 50 % of the water. Check the technique (is the pump running, does the switch on/off clock work, is the CO2 running). Remove any old or damaged leaves. Dead plant material may increase algae growth. Done! I am preparing 2 SAE that will be next change, in day 10. A few...

As I said, all were moved in new tank and I had no problem so far, after over 30 days. Supposed to put some pics then but, with all problems I had with the tank, I simply forgot to take pics :(

Check this project I made. All plants are now in my " What Dreams May Come" and all are doing well. Yes, is a kind of dry start. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/a-reversed-wabi-kusa.50201/

As it looks now (as much I can see in the pics) I am very pessimistic that you will save anything from it.

I kept HC without flow, emersed, in plastic casseroles, for many weeks before I planted it in aquarium ... and it looks very well and growing. Sometimes, brown colour of a plant after was planted may show it was kept at very low temperature.

Checked with first pics of "Arch Valey". Didn't look well from the very first days!

Hi Gabriel, In only 6 days HC never melt like that. My opinion is that HC comes already affected. Was it "in vitro"? Cheers!

Just find the local supplier is thinking to get it out from their offer! Too many complaints!

OK Bolota, I understood your point. But my problem is just the oposit : when I try to increase the no. of bb. the regulator jump out from the place and, of course, gas is released with high presure in the diffuser. Up to 4-5 bb/min is OK. Then after the adjusment become very difficult without...

You will not believe how right you were! I try to fix it back to to 8-10 bb/min because, over the night, decreased to 4-5. The regulator has become very, acting like a spring pushed it out and the gas exploded in the diffuser! I manage to push it back but now it stays at 6-7 bb/min. Looks like...

Hi! It looks great! Suggest me a sleeping volcano on a small island. If you will manage to keep grass low and dense, rocks will keep its value. Good luck with this project!

Hi! In my opinion, no reason to change in that way you mentioned. Looks nice and there are too many plants to remove if you decide to make the change. Cheers!

Did you take any decision regarding plants? ... or living beings?

Day 3: Change up to 50 % of the water (see guidance in water change). Put shrimps and snails into the aquarium to prevent algae problems. We recommend 1 Amano shrimp per 5 litres of water in the start-up period. You might also add e.g. posthorn snails and other shrimps that also eat algae (see...

Hi! Did you apply any ferts? Have you considered a possible deficiency in manganese?

To understand what kind of algae are eaten by different species, check their mouthpiece. Snails and Oto are adapted for flat surfaces. This goes well with GSA and brown dusty algae. Shrimps have small pliers that bring to the mouthpiece particles and small hair algae. SAE have a kind of rostrum...

If we consider the table from Tropica, at 5 bb/min. should go over 4 months. I put it at 10 bb/min. and will keep it there for two weeks then get down to 5 bb/min. as it is recommended for the kind of plants I have there. So it cost between 6 and 3 euro/month. But the table indications are...

I keep it working all time long, 10 bb/min. I know that is the weak point of the device so, after I fix it at 10, it will stay there. Anyway, I have 1 year guarantee so I will change it very fast if it works not properly. Light is 20 w led lamp. Program is from 12.00 to 18.00.

Hi! That algae are the right food for SAE. The problem with SAE is they grow and then will make a lot of trouble in the tank after they finish their job. But can be used temporary, together with Oto and Amano, in this case, with nice results.

If your ideea is to have a kind of path in the mid, that will come as a prolongation of the canion ... then the background is esential! I would do so. With water in the tank, it will look totaly different.

Hi Paulo! This is looking great! Background is veri nice too! I will close follow your project, as looks to be a succesfull one. Very good job so far. Maybe you will consider a lot of moss on the roots, then after Anubias and Bucephalandra. Just a suggestion ... Nevertheless, it will be very...

By comparison, "What Dreams May Come" is done in a very clasical way. Of course, al usual problems were or still are there (algae, cloudy water, ...) but the water is chemicaly stable now, after 30 days, and all fauna looks OK. Fish will come after day 45.

Hi! If you check the "Journals" section you will find my topic called "Worship of the Stones". Is just a reset of an old nano. Despite my (so far) experience and all we can read and follow as clasical way, for this project I decided to apply, in all details, Tropica 90 days schedule, as a...

Thank you! Yes, first day is always the best one!

Hi! Some time ago I have started a nano, reacting to a chalange of my godson that have an old nano and some Aquael filters. The tank was looking like this : Unfortunately, the glass of the nano tank has degraded and become not very nice. In the mean time, there was a disscusion on a local...

I had many types of neon fishes but never had problems with them. You may use a cover made by glass, with 4-6 plastic clips like those are coming with Dennerle nano tanks. I guess is not difficult to find a supplier for a taylor made glass cover. This kind of cover is elegant and aloud you to...

Hi Gabriel! Very nice! The root in the shape of an arcade looks great! There is a nice place for shrimps and neon fish.

Hi, Nick! You probable know, should be very carefully with UG. Roots are very short and plant is not very well fixed in substrate. Dry start is perfect but pay attention when you will add water and to the water flow. I have lost it completely because of this.

Cleaning the filter medium mean, from my point of view, to eliminate the mechanical deposits from the particles of medium. So, simple using a bucket with water from the tank in which filter medium is pushed a few times should be enough (if medium are in a basket). Else, you may use another way...

Day 30. Oto comes and now are doing a great job : brown algae almost disappeared. Together with Spiral and Amano, I hope very soon they will finish all. Light still at 6 hours per day (I will increase at 8 with 2 hours dark in the mid), CO2 at 200 bb/min and ferts are added per week. A few...

"I have some adjustments in my mind for the moment for this weekend." OK but please don't touch Anubias ! :(

I suggest to check an Eheim eXperience 350. Should be enough for 180 litters having almost 5 litters available for material. And is only 34 cm high. I have both JBL and Eheim running now and I have to give a +1 to Eheim.

Thank you, me too ... ;)

Hi, Stefan! Nice tank. I like very much the Anubias island. Be aware about Boraras, they are very, very shy and fearful. Therefore, they need many shelters in the plant zone. But, being sole kind of fish could be more active and not so shy. You may consider also Ember Tetra.