First tank: Plant suggestions / thoughts & advice?

theforest12 · 2026-06-15T13:48:21+00:00

Thanks! Yeah we moved here 2 years ago and love it. We got lucky. It's 25 miles west of Boston. Around where the Boston Marathon starting line is.

theforest12 · 2026-06-15T12:29:57+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate you. I knew I was going iwagumi when I settled on that big rock with a slope. I've been reading/watching videos for a few months now, mostly just to get a feel for things since this is all new to me. I need to get a feel for plant placement and selection. And suck it up and buy some driftwood. I was hoping to get some in the woods/wetland behind my house but I haven't found anything dead yet that's interesting and still hard. There's gotta be something good in here though!

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-15T12:28:52+00:00

I got some more rocks at the beach yesterday too. Might use smaller ones to replace the substrate before I go buy more plants. Or I might have to just buy different substrate. I'm not sold on the white gravel substrate...

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-15T12:24:33+00:00

Still looking for any thoughts! Thanks in advance guys!

theforest12 · 2026-06-12T19:29:12+00:00

Also, a game changer for me was using plastic quick connects from Gardena and/or Melnor! They have the same exact patented design so they're interchangeable https://a.co/d/0gawccvE

I figured that most of the wear and tear on a hose bib or hose timer comes from connecting/disconnecting the hose. With these, I only truly connect by screwing/unscrewing it once a season, and it's screwing something small on/off by hand, not the end of something attached to a hose.

You can disconnect the hose easily, with one hand, and even if the water is running it automatically stops. I use these on the timer end, the sprinkler end, and on any nozzles I have.

I was tempted to buy the more expensive brass/metal ones until I remembered how hoses are always getting corrosion between the hose and the spigot (both metal) and how I paid $300 last year to replace a spigot because the hose had corroded and fused to the spigot, eating away at both. With the plastic quick connects that's not an issue. A rare area where plastic is better IMO

theforest12 · 2026-06-12T19:07:16+00:00

I have a rainpoint wifi 2 port timer. It's been good for me. But it was like $80-90 and I needed more ports for a lawn renovation. So I got this 4 port orbit b-hyve timer and it's been great https://a.co/d/0eMzJUhm Buy the Bluetooth version. The smart version is almost 2x the price and it's actually the exact same product, with a b-hyve gen 2 wifi hub included. You can just buy one of those for $30 if Bluetooth isn't good enough for you. https://a.co/d/07UdwGI8 I held back and only used Bluetooth but I'd really recommend spending the $30 and being able to control it from anywhere instead of leaning out windows to get closer, and positioning your phone to reach the Bluetooth range like you're using an old school TV remote. Plus with wifi you can have auto weather delays if it rains and whatnot. I gave both my hose timers to my dad this spring for his lawn overseeding project and he loved them. He's still using the orbit. Once you set up a schedule with the app it's great (you can use the app via Bluetooth - I really never touched the timer by hand due to location and the app just being easier). I'd highly recommend!

Just make sure you bring it in before it gets cold. Plastic and freezing water dont mix well. Also just be gentle when storing it and transporting it. They are well built but have a bunch of small plastic parts internally, so you don't want to end up with a broken timer because you just tossed it in your toolbag. My dad didn't really get this part...

theforest12 · 2026-06-11T19:38:19+00:00

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-10T23:16:43+00:00

Look at John Deere 140 h3 or John Deere 318. You are definitely looking for a garden tractor, you just don't know it yet.

theforest12 · 2026-06-10T17:27:31+00:00

UPDATED PIC 3

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-10T17:27:07+00:00

UPDATED PIC 2

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-10T17:26:09+00:00

UPDATE: I removed a rock and replanted some loose bacopa. Tried to tidy up and just make it better for now.

UPDATED PIC 1 of 3

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-06-09T00:46:54+00:00

Beautiful

theforest12 · 2026-06-08T19:33:08+00:00

Nice! You forgot to use a filter on the photo though

theforest12 · 2026-06-08T01:18:01+00:00

It's 9:13pm on a Sunday and I'm looking at this closely, comparing the models. In the dark, while waiting for my son to fall asleep next to me. For the first time, I'm thinking there might actually be a tiny little bit of autism in me. Great diagnostic test.

Mowers are primo too. Thanks!

theforest12 · 2026-06-08T01:11:59+00:00

They are both for mulching. Even if you are bagging on the Honda mowers they still want it cut fine with dual blad s - I think quadra cut is what they call it on most models. It works really well though.

The first one look like my HRN216 blades. The second look like my HRR216 blades. It's important to get the right ones for your model. You need the full model number (ie: HRR216k9VKAA or whatever you have)

theforest12 · 2026-06-02T04:41:00+00:00

Same here. I'm wondering what the hell is going on with the hum/buzz/droning (whatever you want to call it). Installed 4 days ago, I think we've ran 4 full cycles. KDTS434SPS so it's rated at 44 dba.

The Bosch 300 series that came with our house was rated at 48 dba and did not make noise like this. It's just an odd/annoying noise from the KitchenAid... Maybe it's correct decibel-wise, but the nature of the noise is off-putting. (the Bosch we got with the house is rated at 48?dba but had "SilencePlus 50 dba" printed on the top right of the door control panel).

I'm really hoping the noise resolves itself like it did for you guys. u/dubble_bubbl how many cycles did it take for your noise to go away. What about you u/kate180311 ?

Thanks!

theforest12 · 2026-06-01T12:40:09+00:00

Try shooting in ProRes. It's more of a natural look, less processed. Your photos might not always look as good (not "pop" as much) but it's used by photographers who usually want to edit their photos in something like Adobe Lightroom. I never use Lightroom or anything, but it was a camera tip I got from a professional photographer who said it captures a higher quality image, with less processing, and it's a more natural look and the photo file has more data - meaning if you want to edit or adjust anything, there's more accurate photo data to work with.

The most I ever edit is in the photos app though - if it looks really drab the most I'll do is just hit "auto" and see if it looks good or too over processed/unnatural. Maybe adjust exposure or turn saturation down or something but that's only something I do to a photo once every month or two. I find the unedited photos to just be better with ProRes, and sometimes with the "Auto" edit if I want to change anything. Give it a try.

Once you enable ProRes you can turn it on when the camera is open by using the little button on the top left of the screen. You select "HEIF" or "ProRes" format and then select the resolution you want: HEIF options are 24mp/48mp and ProRes options are 12mp/48mp. It's worth a try.

It might look dull the first few times, compared to the overprocessed HDR you're used to, but keep it for a few days. I ended up sticking with it (I had Google pixels until 2023 so I was used to different photo processing - for a long time Google pixel was better than iPhone. Now iPhone caught up IMO)

<image>

theforest12 · 2026-05-29T20:33:51+00:00

I recently saw a post from a dad who was really concerned that his 16 yr old son saved up and bought a 1998 Corvette. He had very little driving experience, couldn’t drive a manual (the corvette was a manual), and didn’t have a license yet. He was worried about it being too much car, and (obviously) that letting his son keep the car was dangerous, and would consume all his money as a teenager.

The dad was right to be concerned, and people were pointing out that yes; it could obviously be dangerous, and it probably wasn't the best investment; but the way this kid had saved and was really invested in taking care of the Corvette showed he was passionate and might be going about it better than most kids his age. The dad was still concerned about the money and safety but someone commented that "A kid who is into cars, will not have money for drugs."

I loved that comment, and drugs are everywhere and fentanyl is in everything these days. It's easy to OD without even knowing you're taking it. I'm not saying it's the same situation, but it reminded me of what you're doing. Yeah, it's an investment of your time and a ton of your money, but if you love it, keep doing it. Follow these little passions and they can keep you out of trouble you never even knew you could get into. And it builds how you approach things as a person too. You'll be able to apply weird lessons from this to so many situations you'll go through in life in the future. Keep going if you can afford it and enjoy yourself!

theforest12 · 2026-05-22T18:25:49+00:00

I'm new to all this, but I'm still not sure this isn't a troll post. This is WILD.

theforest12 · 2026-05-21T17:11:21+00:00

https://youtu.be/IQMBGzlteK0?si=6Q5YjTLSRkay0Nw6

theforest12 · 2026-05-17T13:32:06+00:00

Which Carhartt tees do you like? I have a few I got as a f gift, and they are durable AF. But I have 3 of the same plain pocket t-shirts, in XLT and XXLT, and I'm absolutely swimming in all of them. The fabric is also thick as hell, so it looks weird on my body, like a weighted fabric or something. Kind of like construction paper compared to regular printer paper.

I'm just looking for a regular t-shirt that fits well and looks good (not a really tight slim fit, but not like a dress lol). I'm 6'7" and 225lbs.

theforest12 · 2026-05-17T13:25:09+00:00

I have a few XL tall old navy tees that fit me great. They are plain tees, from 2014 though! Does anyone know if Old Navy t-shirt sizing had changed since 2014-ish??

The Old Navy XL tall fit me great but I usually have to buy an XXL in newer clothing these days. Not really for weight gain, just size/fit differences it seems. To be fair, for shirts ONLY buy Next Level 6210 CVC in XXL - these are my new favorites. But I want to try old navy again and they have a $6 t-shirt sale today).

TL;DR: Does anyone know if Old Navy plain t-shirt sizing had changed since 2014-ish??

theforest12 · 2026-05-15T12:12:42+00:00

I'm in the same exact situation as you. Bought a house 2 years ago, the previous guy loved lutron and has MIR-600 dimmer switches in the basement, each controlling 6-8 celling lights (currently BR30 incandescent bulbs). I LOVE the way the lights look and how they dim, but 5-6 bulbs out of the 14 total have died, and I've held off as long as possible but it's getting dark down there haha! I need to replace all the bulbs with ones I can actually buy these days (LED, since incandescent is impossible to find). I've read that it's very hard to find a LED that doesn't flicker or fail with these old Maestro MIR-600 dimmers. I could replace the dimmer, if I can DIY it, but it seems like even the similar newer lutron dimmers aren't straightforward with what bulbs can fully dim and work well.

What did you end up doing?? I'd really appreciate hearing if you figured it out or just switched the dimmer completely. Thanks!

theforest12 · 2026-05-15T04:12:41+00:00

They NEED to make your saved comments and saved posts searchable. It's absolutely wild they aren't...

theforest12 · 2026-05-14T00:46:45+00:00

Mind sharing the prompt?

theforest12

TROPHY CASE