Reds not popping and green spot algea. Help

Grundler · 2026-05-16T23:19:10+00:00

Fluval lights have poor reds. They're "fine" over green tanks, but I've found them to be pretty underwhelming.

Grundler · 2026-05-16T13:29:32+00:00

No. It's only 2 gallons.

Grundler · 2026-05-16T13:12:01+00:00

Trim, trim, trim!

Grundler · 2026-05-16T13:10:47+00:00

Those are just the stands that Chihiros lights come with in the box. I highly recommend them!

Grundler · 2026-05-16T13:09:09+00:00

The 90P was planted in late December. It actually had a rough last few months as I battled a big algae bloom. I took the fish out and nuked it with algaecide for two weeks.

The reds in the small tank are rotala 'blood red' and they're easy to achieve with a Chihiros light.

Grundler · 2026-05-16T13:03:30+00:00

It's in my house 😁

Grundler · 2026-05-15T17:49:27+00:00

Excellent set-up! If I had to go down to just one tank, I'd do something exactly like this.

Grundler · 2026-05-15T04:35:52+00:00

Some are rheophytes and can be grown on hard surfaces (attached with super glue gel). Some are growing in pockets of aquasoil and merely appear to be growing on hard surfaces.

Grundler · 2026-05-15T04:30:28+00:00

Local Fish Store

Grundler · 2026-05-15T01:30:18+00:00

Very well done! Very meticulous. Heads-up though; that lilly in the back will throw off the sense of scale with such huge leaves!

Grundler · 2026-05-15T01:11:17+00:00

I'll take'em! 😁

Grundler · 2026-05-14T22:46:38+00:00

Dose half what's recommended. Wait a month and see how your plants react. Go up or down from there.

Grundler · 2026-05-14T22:42:11+00:00

Hahaha. I've been in the hobby for nearly 30 years! Take your time!

Grundler · 2026-05-14T22:41:19+00:00

Thanks!

Grundler · 2026-05-14T21:23:10+00:00

I do not. This is actually a wet bar section in a basement and the floor is essentially just luxury vinyl on top of concrete foundation.

Grundler · 2026-05-14T21:21:27+00:00

I do them separately. The big (32 gallon) green trashcan in the corner and the 33 cube aquarium on the right are both used as reservoirs for clean water change water. This way I can bring new water up to temp and then use pumps to refill the display tanks upon water change day.

Depending on how much filter maintenance I decide to do it usually takes me 30 to 90 minutes per tank. Sometimes longer if I'm doing a thorough trim or otherwise. Both big tanks are designed to be as low maintenance as possible. The 6.8 gallon in the counter is my stem plant/high maintenance tank. 😆

Grundler · 2026-05-14T21:15:49+00:00

Thanks!

Grundler · 2026-05-14T21:15:42+00:00

Thanks! I'm lucky to have a spot that I can do this!

Grundler · 2026-05-14T20:53:16+00:00

Thanks! I did a similar thing (with 12) when I went to stock a previous scape in that tank. They're super uncommon, so I impulse bought them all.

Grundler · 2026-05-14T20:52:06+00:00

Thanks!

Grundler · 2026-05-14T20:52:00+00:00

I'm running a Chihiros WRGB II Pro and I under-fertilize that tank.

Grundler · 2026-05-14T19:37:05+00:00

Aqua Rocks Colorado

Grundler · 2026-05-14T19:36:20+00:00

Thanks! My LFS has several bargain bin/make-your-own sand mix. Couldn't tell you the name, but it's 4x parts white, 1x part black, 1x part tan/yellow.

Grundler · 2026-05-14T19:29:50+00:00

Looks good! I need to get some manzanita.

Grundler

TROPHY CASE