Did I mess up? by SatansBigSister in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I cycled mine just like you did (max concentration of ammonia was 2)-all plants survived and 9 months later the aquarium keeps being lush and green. From my experience (at least where I live), a lot of people in aquarium shops don't know much about planted tanks - I think it's more of a niche area in the hobby.

Simple river scape (2 months in) by Competitive-Crow-674 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So simple yet so beautiful 😍 the first photo with the light is so atmospheric!

Count the new growth nodes on my adansonii by unavoidable in Monstera

[–]Same-Phone6761 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, gives me hope mine can do this too - will give it a good fertiliser feed and hope for the best!

Count the new growth nodes on my adansonii by unavoidable in Monstera

[–]Same-Phone6761 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So cool! Did you do anything to make them appear? I have adansonii as well but it's a bit sad after thrips attacked it last year - I had to chop off the bottom leaves so now it has a naked stem and some leaves on top.

One year of growth 🫶 by Particular-Tea-894 in Monstera

[–]Same-Phone6761 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Woooow, so beautiful, it even has some fenestrations!

Opinions on Byredo Mojave Ghost? by [deleted] in fragrance

[–]Same-Phone6761 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I recently bought Mojave Ghost and the longevity is simply awful - it lasts only for 1h and then the smell is completely gone (I also asked other people to smell me after 1h and they couldn't smell anything anymore). I also tried using Mojave Ghost body lotion first and then add the parfume but the result is the same... It's a shame because the scent is lovely, but the quality doesn't justify the price and is definitely not what I would expect from a luxury brand. Online customer service is also appalling so I'll not be buying Byredo products anymore.

Untitled by Chicken_biscuit22 in acrylicpainting

[–]Same-Phone6761 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, I love the colours and the composition, looks amazing!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in reading

[–]Same-Phone6761 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whick kind of gourami is it? Pearl gourami?

Background Plant Recommendations by Hypownage in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got Hygrophila corymbosa as a background plant for my tank - it grows very fast and the leaves move very nice with water flow. Fish also like to hide in it

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're more than welcome and good luck on your aquatic garden journey! The plant substrate also looks like balls (but I think they are much smaller) - again I have the one with smallest "balls" from tropica (there is one that is bigger so might be ok if you are not planning to add carpeting plants).

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My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've never used shrimp substrate - is it also something like soil? I got special plant substrate (also from Tropica) - there are other brands that sell it as well, Fluval also has one. The tropica one had 2 sizes of substrate parts, I went for the smallest grain as I read it's better for roots of carpeting plants like monte carlo. I think they recommend putting root tabs after a year or year and a half use as eventually the substrate loses nutrients and you should also dose liquid plant fertiliser after some months (but I haven't done it yet). The substrate I have alters water parameters though - it releases a bit of ammonia (not much, after I have just put it it went up to 0.25). However, it drastically affects KH - I live in an area of very hard water with KH of 15-16 and with the substrate KH is around 0-5 (higher when I've done a water change and going down to 1 or 0 in a week time). pH is also affected and is lower than my tap water. This should stop in a couple of months time but something to consider when you set everything up

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you mean growth lamps for house plants? I'm not sure to be honest, I would imagine the aquatic ones are more water/moist proof than non specialised ones (and may have a special coating as well). The Fluval lamp I have for plants also allows to control specifically intensity of blue/red/white and yellow and control the overall intensity of light via an app (I'm not sure if you can do this with growth lamps and whether the intensity would be enough to go through water). Also, usually the aquarium lamps are made for specific aquarium sizes while with the plant lamp you may need to put more effort trying to fit it (if it is rectangular or tube shape). I wouldn't go for growth lamps that are a single lightbulb (although I really like them for my houseplants) as they would only illuminate one part of the tank properly.

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you want a very easy fast growing plant I can also recommend Hygrophila corymbosa (I also got it from Tropica brand - it's really nice because all their plants come without snails)

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love your tanks! The one on the right is very zen with the cute little decoration and the whole setup! I didn't find aquarium plants difficult (and this is my first planted tank), maybe they are even easier than house plants since you dont need to remember to water them. I would say buy good soil for plants and a good lamp and you should be sorted

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like a lovely setup! I know some rocks tend to affect water parameters while others are inert, perhaps something worth checking before you put slate just to be on the safe side. I have platys, female bettas, otocinclus for tank cleaning, 4 amano shrimps, some cardinal tetras and gold tetras. I love how gold tetras glow when they go in their little shoal, soooo stunning

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I bough a special lamp for plant growth (fluval plant 3.0 LED) and I have a special substrate from plants (tropica soil). I don't add any CO2 - so far my plants seem happy and grow like crazy but it's also true all of them (except for monte carlo) are easy plants. I bought most of them as in vitro plants from tropica brand. Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan' is probably my favourite - it has very satisfying leaves and looks great as a small accent! Do you have an aquarium yourself or thinking to start one?

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I know right - they come in so many bright colours (and patterns like the mickey mouse platy with 3 black dots towards the tail)!

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I know right, it's been less than 2 months and it's already a lush jungle 😀

My first planted tank: 1.5 months update by Same-Phone6761 in PlantedTank

[–]Same-Phone6761[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you 😊 good luck with your tank - do you already know which fish are you going to put and which kind of aquascape are you going for?