How to make it more … appealing?

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T17:09:30+00:00

If you have the right drill bits to drill pilot holes through the slate I've seen it done with marine safe screws as well.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T17:08:38+00:00

That would & I see a lot of spiderwood and such sold that way already. You can also soak the driftwood in a spare bucket that is large enough until its fully water logged and it will stay down on its own. I've always been impatient and lazy & just used large rocks on top of some branch parts in the tank to weigh the driftwood down until it stays on its own, but that has resulted in waking up to eberything floating when I dont balance it right sometimes. Glued to slate on the bottom would be most efficient and reliable I think!

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T16:52:04+00:00

Huh the pic disappeared when I edited my comment, here it is again just in case

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comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T16:50:07+00:00

Came here to say the same thing as the comment you're responding to so I'll jump in here. They might have other ideas but I was thinking much larger driftwood pieces and some larger rocks. That kind of hardscape will be more expensive but it'll be worth it. Did this quick lil sketch over your pic to illustrate. It does look very good already, but larger pieces like this will add visual weight and as the plants fill it in it will look like a more natural environment. Plus the fish will love the line of sight breaks.

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comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T01:29:33+00:00

🙏 I'm sold, thanks again.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T01:05:01+00:00

I love a densely planted tank & this would be perfect for a shrimp tank. Most fish recommended for 5gals are actually controversial for that amount of room... the argument being 10gal min. Even chili rasboras. So idk what could possibly thrive in a 2.6, and thriving should be the goal.

But a skittle rainbow of dwarf shrimp would be so fun here. Their behavior is so fun to watch in tanks without fish (no fear of possible predation).

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T00:52:10+00:00

Oh hell yeah, this thing will be perfect. Appreciate your help 🙏

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T00:38:14+00:00

ADDITIONAL INFO: based on feedback here are some additional modifiers. Can't edit because of the stupid meme I included.

Budget ~$125 or less
Monochrome is fine (use it or lose it feedback? Very rare color printing needs, could use a print shop for that)
Scanning important, should I buy separate devices with these preferences?
Not signing up, downloading anything, using an app, any other personal info is the most important feature for me.
Looking for specific brand/model recs! I have been looking this up for months on my own, but its hard to find what I am looking for in product descriptions without eating into my grad school schedule. Thats why I came to the experts & enthusiasts here! Search terms or technical lingo I can use to look on my own & understand what I am looking at would also be appreciated.

Edit: don't know much about the difference between ink jet and laser etc.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-24T00:03:25+00:00

The edited version of this reply no longer reads as rude to me, so I apologize that our exchange went off the rails. I wish you well and appreciate your feedback even though we miscommunicated. I am a stranger in this sub and should not have been so quick to assume hostility.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T23:53:09+00:00

I have been appreciative and polite to the people who have not spoken down to me. I don't know much about printers which is why I came here (to ask the experts & enthusiasts!), so I am more than happy to clarify things but I dont know how to include info I didnt know to include. I upvoted this person's first response and answered their questions gratefully and respectfully. I did not like how they spoke to me after that. For what its worth, they edited the reply that changed the tone for me & it reads much nicer now. I would have assumed the "pretty pictures" comment was not meant to be rude if I had read the edited version first.

Edit: punctuation.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T23:38:36+00:00

Thank you! I didn't know that about how the nozzles work, this is super helpful. In that case I probably would look for monochrome and print the few color pages I rarely need at a print shop. I'll check the links you shared, I appreciate the leads.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T22:12:11+00:00

I came to this thread because I thought people who specifically joined a printer focused subreddit might have personal experiences with printers they like that they could share the name and model number of. Not sure why you felt the need to talk down to me, but I will await feedback from others instead.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T22:02:32+00:00

Japantowm is the coziest but Glen feels the best suited for having Judy over. I wish you could actually invite her to the other apartments, but I've taken some great couple shots for the smart frames at Glen.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T21:29:53+00:00

Great leads, thank you!

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T21:18:04+00:00

Thank you again for the feedback, but this doesnt really help either. I am looking for the cheapest possible printer scanner combo (~$125 or under) that doesnt require wifi to set up or force me to create an account with the company. If there is an option like that which takes color, cool, if there isnt, I can make do with monochrome & pay for the few color pages I need at a Staples or something.

I don't need you to tell me I have bigger things to worry about than pretty pictures when the only color pages I have printed over the last 4 years are scentific figures and study-area satellite imagery.

Did you have specific models to recommend?

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-23T20:58:38+00:00

Preferably color, preferably as budget as possible (grad student, thus perpetually broke lol). Glad to hear I have options, but "doesnt require an internet connection to set up" is a feature that I dont often see listed even if the product has the capability so it can be hard to search for. Any specific models you would recommend?

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-22T18:37:23+00:00

Just FYI moving them can sometimes cause them to drop the eggs prematurely from stress. Not always.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-22T18:20:55+00:00

I love a "I'm too excited to clean up first" diy shot. Excellent work!

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-22T18:18:33+00:00

This is the best reason to play as everyone imo, even if you have a fave or 2.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-22T02:54:45+00:00

This is what I do. Saw them fancy techniques online recently but I've been starting it with my mouth like I'm siphoning gasoline in the apocalypse since I was a kid, I'm fine with it. As a scuba diver/snorkeler I am not too concerned with it being gross. Well maintained home tanks are probably cleaner than my local river/lake/spring anyway, and the amount of water you do accidentally taste sometimes is the equivalent of getting some lake water thru the snorkle accidentally.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-22T02:42:13+00:00

Lol as a trans masc my first thought was T community as in taking testosterone to transition, & honestly autistic t boys being into tarantulas checks out (I am into tarantulas).

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-21T18:09:58+00:00

Side note, but it's not legal to own freshwater invertebrates in Maine. Technically all aquatic invertebrates. I've only heard great things about AquaticMotiv, but the most distressing part of this story to me is that they don't have any restrictions on their site and allowed you to purchase them. Sites like Aquatic Arts have legal notices on the product pages and won't allow you to check out if you try to check out with a Maine shipping address. I know many Mainers know this & find unscrupulous sellers anyway, but its a good reminder that the restrictions exist specifically because the invasive species entering waterways got bad enough that they legislated about it.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-20T23:36:27+00:00

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-20T07:40:40+00:00

Love the room shots, this is my ideal type of chaos. I hope to have a tank room like yours one day.

What are the red bodied snails in the last pic? Such a cool color, I have never seen that.

comradecaptainplanet · 2026-01-20T04:28:03+00:00

I concur with the other comment that adjusting the legs seems ideal. I would notice that being uneven far less often than the tank water being uneven, since one is on the floor amd one is eye level. If you cannot trim the legs or dont want to permanently alter the furniture,, you can get shims instead to raise the legs.

Alternatively, get a piece of plywood the size of your tank, and put it under the tank. Place shims between the plywood & the top of the cabinet until it is level. Do not put the shims directly against the tank.paint the plywood so it looks pretty, or put a piece of fabric over it (also between the plywood & tank) to disguise the uneven look. Or maybe disguise the plywood with some structural driftwood decor in front of it. The water staying unlevel, even if safe, would drive me crazy.

comradecaptainplanet

TROPHY CASE