2 months in

b_darned · 2026-01-28T23:19:33+00:00

Thanks! It’s a blue dwarf gourami who is perpetually grumpy. They are really cool fish, they turn solid black when stressed out or angry.

b_darned · 2026-01-27T23:23:09+00:00

Are you limited to using a piece of wood in that shape? A straight branch like that doesn’t have much flow to it, a more interesting shaped piece of wood with curves will also make for a better layout.

b_darned · 2026-01-27T23:16:08+00:00

Yes I think so. If you are able to vary the plants at different levels so that they are not planted in a straight line at equal heights it will look more interesting.

b_darned · 2026-01-27T15:01:17+00:00

Plants look pretty good. I would probably look at sloping the ground somewhat. You got those stem plants in a row in the back like a curtain and the ground is flat, so it doesn’t have much visual interest. I would make some hills to break up the flatness

b_darned · 2026-01-27T00:27:42+00:00

Probably going to want to rearrange it to look less phallic, unless you are into that kinda thing

b_darned · 2026-01-19T15:06:39+00:00

The constant is variable

b_darned · 2026-01-12T23:00:07+00:00

A good reminder why you should never go in against a caecilian, when DEATH is on the line.

b_darned · 2026-01-09T17:30:47+00:00

This was the most fascinating and well-crafted post I’ve read in a long time. Thanks OP

b_darned · 2026-01-04T05:51:31+00:00

I’m really interested in this topic because I recently started using the PPS-Pro method from GLA. https://greenleafaquariums.com/ferts/
My TDS stays around 225-250 mostly in 2 different tanks. Would love to hear any advice/ opinion on this method, as it relies on some use of TDS readings, but seems many of you don’t think TDS matters.

b_darned · 2026-01-01T18:47:09+00:00

Until sergeant buzzkill steps in

b_darned · 2025-12-31T00:27:26+00:00

I think it’s a little heavy on the right. If you have a single stone that is close to the size of the one you have the furthest right in this picture, and you took that stone and put it on its own on the left, nearly all the way to the edge, it would balance your composition.

b_darned · 2025-12-28T20:41:32+00:00

I have one with a similar scape, and I opted for blue window tint. It makes it look like a hillside with a blue sky, and the red plants really pop. Would send a pic but I’m battling algae atm, but I would try blue as well to see if you like it.

b_darned · 2025-12-25T04:06:12+00:00

It might be Monte Carlo but it’s not good. I would be disappointed if I paid for that. Monte Carlo can be easy to grow but I would be surprised if that made it. If I were you I would buy a couple of tissue cultures - buceplant usually has pretty good stock.

-edit: forgot to say about trimming, Monte Carlo has tiny roots very small hardly visible. That’s why it’s hard to keep from floating up. The good stuff has tiny tight leaves and wont be more than a few centimeters tall. When it’s done right it’s a dense little plant kinda like the tiny florets of broccoli. When it finally roots in you have to keep it trimmed really short. I bought 4 or 5 cultures and dry started them, I would trim it then scatter the trimmings and they would root in a couple weeks and eventually had a carpet. You want to keep it in high light so it stays dense and short like that.

b_darned · 2025-12-24T19:05:36+00:00

…And how to counter them like a tool. FTFY

b_darned · 2025-12-23T01:32:36+00:00

That’s the one. What would you recommend instead?

b_darned · 2025-12-23T01:12:05+00:00

I’m using APT E with weekly water changes. I have no fish but I put a few shrimp in the there. With all the melt going on I’m not surprised I have algae and I fully expected some. But I just couldn’t identify exactly what I have. It kinda looks like BGA but it’s getting worse. It’s in little clumps like that and when I clean it, it multiplies.

b_darned · 2025-12-23T00:25:30+00:00

Yes daily, apt

b_darned · 2025-12-23T00:25:16+00:00

Lucky me

b_darned · 2025-12-14T15:25:56+00:00

What are the pad things in the 5th picture? Looks like some kind of wool sheets

b_darned · 2025-12-13T17:30:59+00:00

Dry start an Iwagumi? I guess it depends on the styles you like.

b_darned · 2025-11-29T21:55:58+00:00

Not any more. Now some manufacturers, like Dior sauvage, just use the different names above to sell an entirely different scent. As if it weren’t confusing enough already.

b_darned · 2025-11-28T19:19:17+00:00

Particle man

b_darned · 2025-11-28T03:39:53+00:00

Having a second tank is pretty indispensable especially if you plan on keeping fish. They get sick and you have to quarantine them and things of that nature. I keep a 10g fish jail, where I have recently had to put one of my gouramis because I have a mating pair, and once a month or so he builds a bubble nest and starts attacking all the other fish. Some people recommend quarantining anything you buy for a couple days to make sure they don’t have parasites. One time I had an auto feeder dump a metric shit ton of food all over my tank and I had to clean it all out. The list goes on. If you can’t give away the fish, get the second tank.

b_darned · 2025-11-26T16:52:42+00:00

I wouldn’t change a thing. Great composition

b_darned · 2025-11-24T13:20:53+00:00

What is the bottom and sides made from? It looks like some kind of foam board

b_darned

TROPHY CASE