darkG

I manage my two aquariums simlilarly. But a lot of circumstances are different. So plants develop differently. One striking difference is how my newest members, the aquarium dwarf lilies, develop. In the small tank it is pretty small, maybe 3 inches side to side, while in the 55 gallon a single leaf is like 4 inches. Though that bulb was actually much larger. I can't seem to manage good photos. Another thing that differ is the hornwort. Lately, I notice that one is a bit sparse, but long-leafed, while the other is much more compact:

Homecooked filtration/circulation in the 55 gallon is failing. Unfortunately, fixing it means a lot of mess, kind of rebuilding the tank. I'm not ready 😞 I made a pretty good* external filter thing like this. The bottle is filled with light AquaClay-style medium. Water pushed up through. Small Eheim pump hangs near the bottom in the tank (I mean not in the hidden volume). (I haven't had issues with shrimps or smell or unusual algea growth or anything like that, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.) * I'd imagine

I cut four lily pad attempts in a row, but the one living in the 55 gallon didn't seem to bother with that kind of thing. But suddenly: I am happy that they made it through the extended shipping ordeal.

(Following.)

I tried a slightly stone-like adhesive vinyl film on the inside in the kitchen tank, I think it works.

Excellent, I haven't tried it myself, experimentation is needed. If it is indeed a good idea, it should be better known. If it's rubbish, I should quit suggesting it 😛 maybe it only works well under certain lights setups. Maybe some growth on the glass helps, I don't know.

I think that the occasional CO₂ boost isn't super helpful. Even if it is safe, I am not saying it is, my impression is that most fast acting interventions complicate things. Maybe CT_ suggestion is a way. Or maybe you can device some dripping or slowly circulating thing that you charge with CO₂ that is then gradually released to the rank water. But then you'd probably be better of getting a proper set-up anyway! (I don't add CO₂ myself)

I have seen a black plastic bag looking surprisingly good as an outside of the tank background, wrinkles, creases and all. I have interior backgrounds, but I would probably try a rigid board of some sort that I could try things on (paint, adhesives, sheets of stuff?) on and put behind the back and evaluate.

I don't know. The SDS is a bit alarming: "Suspected of causing cancer. Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. Harmful to aquatic life. Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects." It is often the case that hardened pruduct is less of a problem. But yeah. (Ordinary Plasti Dip also have the "Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects" label.) Also the glossifier might not adhere well to your decor. Edit: And welcome!

I only have Bucephalandra "Lamandau mini red", they seem at least as chill as my Anubias. In what way are they supposed to be difficult?

One of the two surviving aquarium dwarf lilies really going for it!

I agree, bleach (chlorine) is too nasty. Hydrogen peroxide is an option, still probably overkill but safe - potential residue breaks down gracefully in opposite to the above. Salt! Common salt is cheap, harmless in residue concentrations and lethal to many (almost all, I'd say) organisms in higher concentrations. I'd probably just clean and let dry though. Maybe sponge with brine.

Does activated carbon absorb ammonia?

An idea I rarely see implemented is a "pre-sump" or a scrap plant tank that you fill from the tap then use it's water in your fish tanks. To strip the tap water ammonia. Potentially outgas the chlorine too.

I see, and agree. However this package didn't come from, thru or to the US ☺️. I think it wasn't properly labeled as containing living plants. It's just shipping generally.

So I received the long awaited Nymphaea stallata bulbs. Quite smelly, but two out of five actually alive. After a few days under observation, they're now in the tanks. Two bulbs I just threw away. One is still being evaluated... The light ramp up/down apparatus is installed and functional in the small tank. Next one will have its own timer (if I persevere). The last "Hercules" snails may be dead. The guy supposed to provide some more went under the radar.

And the small kitchen tank: Light is different left to right, but not as pronounced as in the picture. I added a twig that I stumbled upon, seen mid; shrimps as usual got very excited for some time. They'll always scramble to investigate new items. Taiwan moss clump is looking fine!

Plants rarely prefer to stay short. It usually makes no sense. Obviously people manage to make it work; besides light I think it involves effort. Dwarf hairgrass is supposed to make runners, I don't know how fast it is. (I have a Eriocaulon sp. 'Feather Duster' that "forms dense tufts", but it never got the memo and have like 10 leaves, maximum.)

Cool! I believe decomposing matter consumes oxygen rather than the opposite though?

When glass is uncleaned, I notice that after a water change, the part that was exposed is kind of quite clean. I'd want to leverage that phenomenon! 🤔

I haven't found aquarium dwarf lily locally. Finally, in october, I ordered from the UK. Now the bulbs are handled by customs, two dang months later. For sure they won't be rotten or dried up. International shipping is broken.

One solution is to coat the finished piece in food grade (or known fish safe) resin. (Potentially wax could suffice?). But one factor in food safety is smoothness, to limit bacterial build-up. That doesn't apply to aquarium safety. Food stuff may also be expected to withstand hot water. So food-safe is a high bar. Your neighbor probably won't be able to print most materials anyway. The common base plastics are probably not too bad though. Some pigments and other additives, plasticisers, could potentially be a problem. Unfortunately, it will be hard to find out for certain. I would probably risk using most materials myself for my own use, increasingly less so with fancier stuff such as metal-filled, sparkling, flexible, carbon fiber, glow in the dark, bright red or orange, flame retardant. Good luck!

I prefer rather abstract user names for myself. But it strikes me as a waste not to think of something. Once I came up with Dark Gardener, which is a bit fun / strange, but also a bit silly or tweensy. Gardening is such a down-to-earth, harmless and mildly positive concept that a dark gardener could be a little intriguing. I don't garden, however and I don't goth. (I found out that I could name my bank accounts. One is now called "20 scotsmen with or without kilts".)

I read they don't climb a lot. Mine do. Maybe when they get proper large they have a hard time, that might make sense. What's your experience?