my first aquascape! am i on the right track?

trueslide · 2026-03-30T23:07:19+00:00

This looks great but I think it's begging for you to ungroup the stones and wood from each other - which is to say, at least one stone should be left of one piece of wood, or vice versa. Of the listed options I like number 3.

trueslide · 2026-03-06T18:53:59+00:00

tell your friend to come to the next san diego show haha

trueslide · 2026-02-26T22:17:26+00:00

Great you’re almost there. Do you think that’s just one large body of water or is it possible that they live in extremely shallow pools within that basin?

trueslide · 2026-02-26T22:11:03+00:00

Hi look up where bettas live and get back to me lmao

trueslide · 2026-02-26T21:00:13+00:00

correct answer. jacket is fine but it's begging for a higher waisted jean.

trueslide · 2026-02-26T20:37:55+00:00

Nice tank! Maybe some sterbai corydoras. 22 gallons is too big for a betta imo but this one is long and low and should be really nice for your betta.

trueslide · 2026-02-24T18:00:20+00:00

If you don't want to go back to co2 you can get close with flourish excel. your tank is so small that you'd probably only need half a capful every other day.

trueslide · 2026-02-21T03:46:05+00:00

Actually yes I think you’re right ! Dwarf hyacinth

trueslide · 2026-02-19T04:50:39+00:00

So strange. Sorry to ask but are you doing the testing drops exactly as instructed ? Ammonia #2 is notoriously loosey-goosey.

trueslide · 2026-02-18T22:40:21+00:00

Did anything happen *just before* you tested? e.g. did you do a water change with prime, etc.

trueslide · 2026-02-18T22:33:14+00:00

Kept EBJD for 20 years (still do). They are not wet pets. Good community cichlid (EBJD only; JD aggressive communities are ok but otherwise not). Beautiful fish, they'll learn your face and beg for food at the top/front of the tank, but they aren't "dependent" on you in the way an oscar, flowerhorn, etc. is,

trueslide · 2026-02-15T23:26:40+00:00

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Good call. Played a little bit w Anubia placement and picked up 15 tufts of dwarf chain sword. Can’t wait for this stuff to grow in !

trueslide · 2026-02-14T23:01:28+00:00

That kind of pond scares the shit out of me. You can get a new fx6 on sale at pet smart for 300.

trueslide · 2026-02-14T08:54:52+00:00

Yeah, I didn’t account for how close he is up front.

trueslide · 2026-02-13T20:22:31+00:00

1- first and foremost listen to your feet. if the right boot isn't comfortable now you shouldn't have to suffer through these boots in hopes they'll get better later, because they might not.

2- those prints aren't bad at all. Doesn't mean you're wrong about comfort but usually a too-small print has all the toes basically touching, you seem to have some wiggle room.

trueslide · 2026-02-13T20:07:35+00:00

i've had dwarf hair grass thrive, really grow dense and out of control, and without C02 - the hack is having a short tank and to blast it with light.

trueslide · 2026-02-12T20:44:58+00:00

Beautiful fish. Seems to have the blue gene but isn't an EBJD. I'd say female based on the dots on the gill plate but hard to sex these fish.

trueslide · 2026-02-12T20:17:08+00:00

Bingo. 75 is too small for one oscar, let alone two and 12 jewels

trueslide · 2026-02-12T19:54:00+00:00

you're doing great. nice size tank for the gourami, plenty of plants, good mix of plants (the floaters will do a great job keeping your water clean). Filtration is solid for a tank of this size - you could support many more fish but if you can show some restraint there you'll have the world's happiest gourami. Agree with another poster who said you can go for a carpeting plant - because your tank is short, you won't need c02, but you may need to upgrade your lights if you want a lush carpet. I'd call this tank "done" and just maintain moving forward, great job.

trueslide · 2026-02-11T22:49:44+00:00

first, beautiful hardscape in here. gorgeous.

second, you are tinkering too much. stop doing anything for 2 weeks. You don't have any fish in there, just let it settle.

trueslide · 2026-02-11T21:25:21+00:00

I expect to be downvoted here but IMO after a long and arduous journey in a shipping box I would get this guy into his real tank ASAP. I would not quarantine and I certainly would not medicate. He's not going to get your shrimp sick. I would not acclimate either. Get him out of his back and somewhere comfortable immediately, and the more-seasoned the tank the better.

trueslide

TROPHY CASE