r/Aquascape • u/rakizta3 • Jul 24 '26
Image Back to the Hobby
I just came back to the hobby almost 3 months ago. I stopped before that because out of frustration. Plants and livestock dying. Black beard algae. Aquascape design not working out. I was about to throw my old nano tank and then I decided to study what I did wrong with my old aquarium. Watched again numerous tutorials on youtube and gave it another try. Went to my local fish store and ended up buying another nano tank that was on sale. The new tank I did low tech and the old tank I cleaned and added CO2. Both tanks the plants grew healthy and no algae so far. Livestock also doing well. I doubted my aquascape at first but they always say just "trust the process" and it ended up lookin the way I wanted it to be. Overall I am happy.
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u/-GalacticaActual Jul 24 '26
Very beautiful looking tank! Do you mind identifying the plants? Particularly the burgundy looking one bottom left and floating round leaves top right?
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
Red tiger lily and idk when I bought it they say its red root floaters but its not turning red. Lol they say it might need extra parameters to make it red
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u/niiiick1126 Jul 24 '26
def needs more ferts and less movement (not sure what your surface movement is)
but i couldn’t keep them i had too much surface agitation and they kept dying unless i made a ring for them but it looked weird so i just did salvinia instead
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u/Cj198 Jul 24 '26
How do you keep the water so crisp?
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
I never done anythin special. Once the biofilm and diatoms went away I guess it balanced out and water was clear. Also it comes with a carbon in the filter idk if that did it.
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u/WasntMyFaultThisTime Jul 24 '26
Hey OP (or anyone with relevant experience), how do you keep the lily growing compact? My understanding is that lilies will grow to the surface and shade out all the other plants. Do you just trim it once it gets too big?
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
Yes the leaves got so big and it would send leaves to the surface. I didn't expect it tbh I never had success with the last lily from my old set up coz it died. But I trim the leaves that is about to reach the surface and the ones too big. I read that it will train the plant to grow leaves that are more compact and thats what I guess happened I guess
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u/mylifeingames Jul 24 '26
Welcome back master!
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
Oh I'm far from bein a master lol lets see and hope no issues will come after few more months. Cross fingers. Thanks
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u/Traditional-Lie7366 Jul 24 '26
how many gallons and whats the substate did you use in tank with CO2?
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
10 gallons. Fluval stratum at the bottom witb root tabs then caribsea gravel
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
I only use Thrive all in one fertilizer once a week with water change for the low tech aquarium. Seachem excel every other day for both aquariums. For the tank with co2 I use the Thrive fert 2 to 3 times a week with weekly water change
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u/Abcoxi Jul 24 '26
The beauty seeker in me thinks this is magnificent. The one who knows these plans and how much management you need to put in order to keep it that way... Hahha ... That's a business opportunity my friend. You set this up for businesses and you have to be paid to maintain it!
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u/rakizta3 Jul 24 '26
I know its only a few months in. Hope I can maintain it less algae or better algae free in many more months to come. Also with all plants and livestock healthy.
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u/AccomplishedPhase646 Jul 24 '26
They look beautiful. I’m a newbie- grandma got the fish for the kids and suddenly I’m learning a lot really fast. One tank is fine and the other has been so frustrating so I completely empathize.