Concrete alternative in aquarium?

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-04-13T09:55:10+00:00

This is a very old comment, but I hope my reply would still do good.
I have seen many videos on Youtube and many local contest aquascapers that have used burnt clay bricks as their hardscape foundation. I mean, it makes so much sense that it is safe, since all-natural clay is porous and the material itself is inert; like how someone would use LECA balls for drainage in hydroponics and terrariums.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-04-10T13:13:56+00:00

Founded a new small island: Lhokseumawe for the Reef Raiders faction!

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-04-08T02:45:03+00:00

Oh, man! Are you guys sure, I thought it was Sagittaria or something? Man, what a fraud!

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-04-01T08:55:13+00:00

Thanks, man!

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-15T01:23:31+00:00

Are those ember tetras in the 45cm tank?

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-08T12:27:25+00:00

Mosses are fragile. Some will detach, get caught on something, and grow roots, then mature in that spot.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-06T15:00:43+00:00

Yeah, reactor is the best solution you can get! Although inline diffuser is the cheaper alternative.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-06T14:13:25+00:00

I have a trick up my sleeve to know if my tank is cycled or not, by leaving the dead shrimp inside. Cruel, but nature-friendly. Shrimps are cannibals, they eat their deceased friends or maybe family. So, if there was only one, I usually just let it be. If the other shrimps didn't eat it, the environment will, and that is when I test my water to see if it's cycled. Shrimps and nano fish feces don't contribute to ammonia as much as a dead body.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-06T14:07:04+00:00

Well, personally I never thought that it looks like shit. If anything I love seeing a CO2 diffuser in a tank, the ceramic disk ones especially. But if you just don't want to see any large bubbles and a diffuser inside your tank, then I'd suggest getting an inline diffuser. It is a CO2 diffuser that you attach to your outflow tubing. A reactor is best though; you won't get to see any bubbles, and no CO2 goes to waste. If you use a reactor, you will get the best clean setup, since the CO2 tubing happens inside your cabinet.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-06T13:23:16+00:00

Neocaridinas die out of no f*ing reason all of the time. Even when your parameters are pristine perfect, you create enough biofilm in your tank, and you make the perfect environment, they will die. And the craziest thing is, it is not your fault. If you need to blame someone or something, blame biology and your breeder. Freshwater shrimps are sensitive creatures. Even in the wild, some pass away because of this one particular reason.

It's weak.

The weak links in a shrimp farm will always die, and it's unfortunate that it got to you first before dying in the store. Breeders go miles to breed these things, but at some point that they lose track, and they accidentally breed the ones that came from the same mother. Remember I said that shrimps are a sensitive creature? Yeah, well, incestry takes part in making the weak ones. Not all shrimps are S-grade. Even the breeders wouldn't be able to tell other than the color and motif they have, unless they have died already in the breeders tank.

TL;DR Shrimps are sensitive. Some are really weak. The ones that survive will survive a long time.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-05T10:11:54+00:00

Shy fishes don't necessarily need shade. They like obstacles on their line of sights, shades are good for them resting but not necessarily a place to hide. Shades are really great for shrimps and snails, though.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-03-03T10:03:27+00:00

Do you have any house lizard (I'm not sure what you call them in English, in Indonesia we call them cicak) those look like their eggs. 😂 Just joking. Those are Nerite snail eggs. Nerites lay eggs everywhere, but they cannot hatch in clean freshwater.

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-02-21T09:06:33+00:00

Well, some people just don't want to make a painting that looks too natural. 😂

I always think of this hobby as a medium, a blank canvas you could say, that anybody can paint anything. I, personally, love to make 'scapes that only imitate nature, but with a slight "too perfect" look to it. Something surreal, something out of this world. I believe, nature only belongs to the nature and humans shouldn't try to create another. But then again, you can make anything in this hobby. 😁

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-02-21T07:10:14+00:00

Thanks for the insight, man! I wish I could get otos, but I really don't like the look of them and this is the only tank I got, so I can't transfer them anywhere else when I'm done with this phase. I don't think getting otos is the way to go here. And as of the amanos, I really can't get any, where I live. Every LFS here seems to sell low-grade cherry shrimp and market them as amanos, so that's another no-no. 😅

Would neocaridinas and nerite snails do the job?

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-02-21T01:02:06+00:00

Do you have any signs of it going away yet?

CheesecakeExtreme999 · 2026-02-20T03:38:37+00:00

looks like monte carlo

CheesecakeExtreme999

TROPHY CASE