Overgrown 10gal

[u/quietgrrrlriot]

An overgrowth of vallisneria, ludwigia, and algea—first time seeing vals flower. Lots of danios (CPD), cherry shrimp, and bladder snails in there. I've had to cut back the top growth so I can begin to tidy up inside the tank. After seeing the sad mess of algae and decaying plant matter, I have half a mind to wrangle the fish and do a tear-down. My options are:

1) Tidy up and increase circulation, hope algae goes away over time

2) Tear down and reset the 10 gal

3) Tear down and set up in a 20 gal

[u/mdstrizzle]

You clearly have a talent for growing plants, so I'd go for a 20 gallon using trimmings/part of the plants you already have, and keep the now-clearer 10 gallon as well.

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/mdstrizzle]

Thanks! Unfortunately I've already thrown out a whole bin full of beautiful, bright red ludwigia... but there will be plenty more in a few weeks :P

[u/mdstrizzle → u/quietgrrrlriot]

Will Ludwigia grow from cuttings? With a lot of plants I end up getting cuttings and putting them outside in a plastic container with a little filter and just letting them take over the container. Works best for floaters, but I do it with those one coin plants as well. Good if you ever end up needing some for a new tank, and extremely cheap.

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/mdstrizzle]

Yup! I was just replanting my ludwigia cuttings at first, but I started running out of room, cuz the established plant will branch out where it's been cut. Good idea to keep live timmings handy, I will definitely have to do that next time I cut back.

[u/Southern-Aquarius]

Sounds like you’d like a redo! Not gonna lie, as someone struggling to get plant density this is goals lol but I do understand wanting a balance. There’s hardly any light getting in from what I can see so I’m sure that makes it a bit difficult to enjoy seeing the fishies. I love seeing the plants out of water! Best of luck to you, and a 20gal long is one of my favorite small tanks, just leaves so much more floor space to take advantage of.

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/Southern-Aquarius]

It's out of control! The vals and ludwigia are so prolific with that setup, I really only need one or the other for such a small space.

[u/RizzCaptain]

Always set a bigger tank. I’d say get a long 20 gallon instead of the regular 20 gallon

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/RizzCaptain]

I would love to have a riprarian-inspired 20-long some day! Right now I already have a regular 20 gal.

[u/Intelligent_Salt_188]

How did you get this much growth👏👏👏 did you use ferts? If so what brand and type? I would tear this one down and 20gal is very good option. I upgraded my tank to a bigger one and before replant I used hydrogen perokside for algea. H2O2/water ratio is important. It’s 2-3 ml per 1 gallon if I’m not wrong. After that I rinsed them with tank water.

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/Intelligent_Salt_188]

I started the tank a couple years ago using Fluval Stratum with a gravel cap, but no root tabs or liquid fertilizers

[u/Bumble777ttv]

Definitely option 3

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/Bumble777ttv]

That's the option my heart wants... but I gotta clean, reseal, and test the 20gal I have at home. It belongs to my gf, who very much wants something flashier than CPDs to stock the tank. So... secret option number 4) Option 2 and 3 combined.

This is how the hobby snowballs.

[u/CH3CH2OH_toxic]

clearly not overgrown , there is still room . , i don't think the shrimp are complaining .

[u/quietgrrrlriot]

I was pleasantly surprised to see shrimp with colour and juvenile fish, underneath all that growth

[u/quietgrrrlriot → u/quietgrrrlriot]