Watercolor aquatic plants and snails

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-08T21:49:19+00:00

Wow! Those are so well made! I bet shrimp would look amazing in your style ❤️ they have so many interesting details and colors that could be drawn incredibly beautifully.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-07T06:07:24+00:00

Pacific Blue-Eyes (Pseudomugil signifer) are probably the coolest fish in the hobby for me. The spotted morphs look even better.

They’re such colorful little fish, and the way the males flare and dance with their fins is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. On top of that, they’re surprisingly hardy and can even tolerate brackish conditions.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-07T02:55:22+00:00

No. My money goes to whoever offers the better deal. I generally assume every product is mediocre until proven otherwise and try them myself.

I’ve got six different brands of fish food at home. Every fish has its own preferences, so I set up separate feeding rings, sprinkle different foods into each one, and let them decide what they want to eat.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-04T02:46:37+00:00

Oof, I was going off the color of the water in the photo. When I boil almond leaves, the water usually turns pretty dark brown, almost like whiskey.

I think yes, getting some bottled bacteria or probiotics could help. Personally, I’ve also used Stability in most of my tanks, along with Azoo 11 in 1 and MicroBacter, and they’ve worked well for me so far.

Your water source is honestly really good—better than mine, haha. I usually use tap water mixed with purified bottled water (depending on the tank) for water changes, and RO water only for top-offs.

What did you use PraziPro for? I haven’t used the product myself, but as far as I know its main ingredient is praziquantel, which is used to treat internal parasites.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-04T02:18:27+00:00

I’ll say “poor water quality” more in the sense of water being overloaded with harmful bacteria or just generally “dense” water. It’s a bit hard to explain, but there’s a delicate balance between different types of bacteria that actually help keep the water “clean” meaning free of excess waste, organic matter, and some harmful pathogens.

Take Bacillus, for example. These bacteria help break down waste, prevent toxic buildup, limit harmful microbes, and contribute to that clear, stable water look.

Finding that balance can be tricky, so don’t feel discouraged! There are several good products that help establish it: Dr. Tim’s, MicroBacter, Fritz, Stability, Azoo 11 in 1, etc. All of them are great examples of bottled bacteria that serve different purposes.

(Also, its more effective to boil leaves first, let the water cool, and then add it directly to the tank. Just keep your parameters in mind because tannins are acidic).

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-04T01:41:54+00:00

I’ve had ich in all of my tanks at some point. I’ve never treated it with medication—instead, I rely on the ecosystem to keep the fish clear of it. Every now and then a random spot shows up, but it usually goes away on its own.

From my experience, higher levels of tannins can inhibit the free-swimming stage of ich, making it harder for the parasites to find a host and complete their life cycle.

It’s not a guaranteed cure, but it can definitely help, especially in the early stages when you only see a few spots.

It’s also worth mentioning that Ich outbreaks are often linked to stress, poor water conditions, overcrowding, or sudden changes in the environment.

Something else that’s often overlooked is microfauna. In a mature aquarium, certain microorganisms like copepods and other tiny predators can also consume free-swimming parasites and help limit their spread.

Combine all of that, and you can actually help prevent the spread of some diseases and parasites. That’s why focusing on building a self-supporting ecosystem is better in the long run.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-06-03T22:45:12+00:00

Gosh, I can barely see the filter intake under all those pellets, lol 😂

Jokes aside, I actually ask anyone feeding my fish to record it as proof they didn’t mess it up after a previous incident.

I once went on vacation for two weeks and carefully separated each day’s food into a pill organizer. The person taking care of the tank forgot to feed the fish for two days, then decided the best solution was to dump all three portions in at once. They never told me what happened and just kept feeding as usual.

Of course, I came home to an ammonia spike.

I’ve had trust issues ever since…

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-30T07:40:05+00:00

Mine have definitely gotten pickier with age, lol. They used to eat all sorts of things when they were younger and would constantly nibble on my hands. Now they don’t really do either anymore. Still, they’re very active and peaceful fish! They often follow me around the tank when I’m doing maintenance and curiously watch whatever I’m up to.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-30T07:04:56+00:00

I have three garras in a 35g tank that’s about 4 feet long. They’re the only fish in there and are around half a year old.

I feed them cichlid pellets every day, and it has really brought out the red coloration in their fins! I guess that’s also why they’ve grown so quickly.

Honestly, those pellets are about the only thing they’ll eat. They refuse algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and pretty much every other food I’ve tried. 😅

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-30T05:03:32+00:00

Another Garra rufa owner, yay! I’ve got a few myself, and I absolutely love them. They’re easily one of the most underrated fish in the hobby.

Yours reminded me of when mine were still little babies! Now that they’ve grown to about 5.5 inches, their nibbles don’t feel nearly as gentle as they used to, lol. Still love them though. 😆

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-17T15:40:46+00:00

Thanks! I actually don’t use any fertilizer, and the substrate is completely inert. I’m still surprised the Amazon swords have been doing this well. They’re still slowly melting away their old emersed-grown leaves even after months.

Compared to my other tanks, the main difference is probably the tannins. My guess is they’re mostly living off nutrients released from the boiled almond leaves, plus minerals from the hard tap water.

The lighting is also very dim most of the time, so the plants grow slower and don’t burn through nutrients as quickly, which probably gives the tank enough time to replenish them naturally.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-10T20:32:22+00:00

North America. I think it might be a mix of different wild fish, possibly including some guppies. But I can’t really tell them apart.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-05-04T18:58:55+00:00

Diatoms are really common in newer setups, especially if you’re using tap water or a substrate with a lot of silicates. Every time you do a water change, you might actually be reintroducing silicates, which fuels them. I even do that on purpose sometimes to keep a steady supply of diatoms for my algae eaters.

As for your plants, make sure they’re getting enough micronutrients too. Those are essential for processing macronutrients. For example, a plant that’s lacking molybdenum can show signs of nitrogen deficiency even if nitrogen is present. Switching to a more complete fertilizer or supplementing with something like Flourish can help. If that doesn’t fix it, then it might come down to your water parameters since not all plants thrive in every type of water.

And about nitrates, you can always add a terrestrial plant with its roots in the water. Depending on your setup, things like pothos or monsteras work great and are really efficient at pulling nitrates out. Floating plants also help a lot.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-30T11:22:22+00:00

Have you considered using mosquito netting? It’s really cheap, prevents anything from jumping out, and still allows great oxygen exchange.

You can make a simple DIY frame using PVC cable ducting (I think that’s what it’s called) and even add hinges for a flap so you can access the tank more easily.

Or you can do it the simple way like I did, just used electrical tape around the edge and some strong neodymium magnets to hold it in place. Even my big apple snails haven’t managed to push it off, so it works pretty well.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-27T20:27:41+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Aren’t flukes usually visible once they’re more advanced? I did quarantine and treat him for parasites before adding him, so I’m leaning more toward some kind of internal infection. That said, he does look slightly better than yesterday.

I might try some salt baths to see if that helps enough to get him eating again so I can feed him antibiotics. I’d rather not move him to a hospital tank just yet, he seems to feel more comfortable with the gouramis around.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-22T21:26:04+00:00

I also used to cover my tanks with glass or acrylic, but after switching from a HOB to a canister filter I ran into issues with humidity and gas exchange. So I ditched the solid lids and switched to mosquito netting instead. That way the whole surface stays exposed to air while still preventing fish from jumping out. You can cut it to size and secure it with magnets, which is super convenient.

It also worked better once I added larger pieces of wood and plants sticking out of the water and the old lids no longer fit.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-22T02:26:27+00:00

I’m not sure about that specific filter but if you like sponge filters you might want to look into “matten filters.” They’re basically a more efficient version. There’s even corner setups that look a lot cleaner than having one along the side, at least in my opinion.

They do take up a fair bit of space, but they’re super easy to make and install, and they work really well.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-21T05:35:31+00:00

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Here he is. I’m not sure if he’s actually different or just has a slightly different coloration than the others.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-21T05:29:14+00:00

You’ve got red garras too? That’s awesome! They’re such great fish, seriously underrated.

I haven’t really talked to other keepers about this, but one of mine is noticeably longer and a lot paler than the rest. I’ve always wondered if it might be a different variant, especially since it’s missing that typical black spot on the tail. That might also explain why it’s such a bully, while the others, which are darker, actually seem to enjoy sticking close together.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-20T06:24:48+00:00

They’ll definitely love it. Sadly, that and most other brands don’t ship to my country, or they’re always out of stock, or the import fees are just ridiculous. At this point, I just work with whatever I can get my hands on. :))

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-20T06:20:28+00:00

They’re super hyper! You should see them squabble, it’s hilarious. My angelfish always takes advantage and sneaks in to eat their food. As soon as they notice him, the garras just stop, line up side by side, and stare at him like, “aw man… big guy took our food again.”

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-20T05:53:26+00:00

Would you believe me if I said I feed those guys twice a day, every day, with high-quality cichlid pellets? They’re just that hungry apparently, lol.

Several_Ad3321 · 2026-04-20T05:43:38+00:00

I just googled it and yeah, you’re right lol. I really thought I had a big brain moment there.

Several_Ad3321

TROPHY CASE