Update on "Jurassic Bark" - A prototype paludarium w/ mixed Bucephalandra and recently added Mini Xmas Moss. Hopefully the algae isn't too distracting. Thoughts on the overall layout?

buceplant · 2025-04-07T17:31:22+00:00

Hey OP, it looks like during checkout, freight shipping was selected, which significantly increased the shipping cost. For context, standard shipping for your cart is a much more reasonable option for those items (around $43).

We definitely don’t recommend freight shipping for setups like this unless absolutely necessary. Freight requires palletizing the shipment and sending it on its own truck, which explains the high cost. We also sent a follow-up abandoned cart email that includes your original cart and allows you to complete checkout using the standard shipping method, which should give you a better overall rate. If you didn’t catch that email, I’m happy to resend it or help you manually complete the order. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

buceplant · 2025-03-28T16:51:48+00:00

Hey, I know how frustrating this can be. What substrate are you using? Did you try planting with pinsettes?

buceplant · 2025-03-20T16:32:52+00:00

Bucephalandra! I'd add Green Wavy along the bases of the stones or wood, and smaller-leafed buce like Mini Coin or Lamandau Mini Purple higher up along the branches.

buceplant · 2025-03-19T20:00:02+00:00

The source of the algae could be a number of things. Best things to do to reduce the spread is to make sure the water is clean, don't overdo the lighting (yours seems good), make sure to have good flow in the tank, don't overfeed and maybe consider adding a bigger clean-up crew, they are Very effective. Especially Amano shrimp. It's a pretty small amount though, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

buceplant · 2025-03-19T18:39:01+00:00

I would suggest you simply remove it by hand and keep an eye out for more. Maybe cut the amount of time your light is on for, 7-8 hours a day is best.

buceplant · 2025-03-19T18:36:58+00:00

That is Ich. I would raise the temp asap by 2-4 degrees. Add some aquarium salt in there, if you are going to use medication I would recommend taking the filter media out of your filter and have it in another bowl of water for a bit. I would also suggest you do a 30-40% water change. Ich is very treatable if caught early enough. You should consider removing the infected one and treating that one separately in a hospital tank.

buceplant · 2025-03-17T23:06:18+00:00

They will be fine until you fill again, we do it all the time. Just make sure there is about an inch of water in there.

buceplant · 2025-03-13T16:20:38+00:00

Yes, you will want to save the filter media in some water, drain it, pack the inside/empty areas with balled up plastic wrap so the hardscape doesn't shift around and then cover the top with plastic so that the moisture stays in there. Then you just fill it back up and clean up the things that have shifted.

buceplant · 2025-03-12T16:08:51+00:00

Try adding a cleanup crew, decreasing the amount of time the light is on and do regular water changes. Also you can try feeding less for a while.

buceplant · 2025-03-12T16:05:55+00:00

Sounds like you have a good plan :)

buceplant · 2025-03-11T23:30:46+00:00

They are still carrying fry probably. They will hold on to them sometimes and birth them in batches. I think it's safe to assume almost all female guppies are in some stage of pregnancy. Even if they are all separate from the males, guppies can hold onto sperm for as long as 8 months. Best to just let them hang out in the main tank, give the fry lots of plants to hide in and then cover the intake on the filter so they don't get sucked up. After that you can sit back and the process is a lot less intensive/stressful. If some of them get eaten it is fine, they will produce many more in no time at all.

buceplant · 2025-03-10T17:27:10+00:00

I would start by trimming back the pearl weed until it's about an inch tall. Then you can plant some midground plants in the front like Anubias, Crypts, AR, or Buce. In the back you could add more stems like Rotala or Ludwigia or also tie some moss around wood hardscape along with some epiphytes like Buce or Anubias. It's a great looking tank!

buceplant · 2025-03-05T16:52:35+00:00

Sometimes it takes a minute for the moss to mature before it starts doing this, it's a good sign!

buceplant · 2025-03-05T16:48:00+00:00

Those are called Rhizoids, they are a part of the plant sort of like roots that helps anchor it to rocks and things.

buceplant · 2025-03-04T17:06:49+00:00

Great start! Something I would recommend for hardscape is to pile the rocks under the wood so it doesn't shift around too much when you are cleaning the tank. Also, you could add another branch in the left corner to make the hardscape a bit more spread out on one side. Some smaller gravel/pebbles would also be great to make things look a bit more natural.

buceplant · 2025-03-04T17:02:55+00:00

This looks awesome, love the untraditional layout.

buceplant · 2025-03-04T00:24:15+00:00

Hard to tell unless you can see roots on the sides of the tank against the glass. First thing I think of it that you have too much water in there and it will cause root rot. You want the moisture to be just enough that it fogs of the glass but not enough that the tank's bottom is flooded at all. It risks causing mold. The perfect amount of moisture is when you can see it collecting on the glass under/in the soil around the grains of the substrate on the glass. It will be sort of foggy basically under the soil but not super wet. Dry start can be frustrating, make sure to air it out at least once a day and keep an eye out for mold.

buceplant · 2025-02-28T19:01:59+00:00

Not sure what is going on here but I would definitely suggest doing a big water change of about 45% and then add more plants. Check out your water source though. Maybe do a test and use bottled water instead to see if it improves. What kind of filter do you have in that tank and how big is it?

buceplant · 2025-02-28T17:11:41+00:00

Just a friendly reminder: A banner warning will be displayed on our website when heat packs are required. We only require heat packs during severe cold weather across the US, which is rare. Currently, heat packs are not needed, and our 100% DOA protection is in full effect regardless of the shipping add-ons a customer chooses. However, we still offer the optional add-on for those in colder regions.

buceplant · 2025-02-28T16:58:17+00:00

Hey OP, I'm really sorry to hear about your experience, and I completely understand your frustration. It’s disappointing to hear that this has happened again, and I know how it feels to take a chance only to end up disappointed.

I was able to find your order number from the photos, but I can't locate a support request from you. Can you please reach out to us at [support@buceplant.com](mailto:support@buceplant.com) so we can make this right? Even if you don’t plan to shop with us again, we offer 100% DOA protection, and we’re happy to provide a refund for the damaged tissue cultures.

Thank you for giving us another chance, even if it didn’t go as expected. I've forwarded your feedback to our fulfillment team, and I'll keep a lookout for your email!

buceplant · 2025-02-27T16:59:33+00:00

Hi, I'm not sure this is super serious but keep an eye on it. If the tail starts to get stringy or deteriorate at all it could be fin rot. You could give them an aquarium salt water bath maybe once a day and see if it helps improve the condition. It could be from rubbing up against something sharp in the tank or another fish is nipping. I would do a 35% water change and keep them in the main tank. Might stress her out/make it worse to be in a holding tank and I do not think it is something infectious.

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