Ruud

Planted the plants I got last night into the 100L tank (see the journal in the photo section), did a water change in the Cube tank, got some peroxide for a spare piece of wood and some stones that I had laying around to get the algae of it

Cheers Nakobovfan87! It has a tiny bit of red on top, they told me it wasn't the easiest plant but since its pretty I am giving it a try. I googled and you are right, its a Pogostemon stellatus. I will post an update picture of the current state tomorrow. Upped the lighting with 15 minutes for now, let's see. I have decided to move my 8 lemon tetra's and pair of baby Angels to this tank for sure, and potentially the 6 Sterbai cory's .

I can't offer an opinion on what it is, but as a catfish lover.... I am envious, lovely looking trio!

Wow.... they are listed here for 183 euro (equal to $191). Think I am going to do a bit more research for Hyggers and Nicer alternatives for under 100 euro

Went to another LFS and added these two plants One is a Crypto, not sure which maybe Lucens? The other plant I am not quite sure of it's name, so happy to hear if anyone knows.

A Finnex will set you back around 250 euro, in the price range of a Fluval light and a bit too rich for my blood right now. Really looking for more budget solutions that would be an upgrade for my current WB light

I have had them breeding in community tanks, about as easy as guppy's and molly's I would say. Swords are one of my favorite fish, just wish they wouldn't breed non stop. There are some fabulous ones like the Gunteri variant I would love to have. Just not too fond of them continuously breeding as its hard to get rid of fry for me where I live.

Hello, Not sure this is the right spot for this topic, but its plant related. I currently have a Nicrew classic led on top of my planted tank and in the past been struggling with not so great plant growth and brown algae. This is a 100L, 80cm tank with substrate. The light I have is not an RGB light so it doesn't have the red leds which I know are better for plants. I am casually looking at a new light, thinking I can repurpose this light for my new to be setup L numbers tank (they don't want much light anyway) .... I am not ready to splurge on a Fluval 3.0 or a Chihiros unless the benefits massively outweigh a budget solution. I am in Europe, so limited to that a bit (can't order the Coop lights) ... is there any advice? I have been casually looking at the Hygger 26w HG-999 which costs around 65 euro here in Spain, though the programming with the display seems a bit complex. I would love to hear suggestions! Thank you Ruud

Update after around 5 days of plants in the tank - I don't see much or any growth to be honest. Temperature is at 26 degrees, lights are on approx 30% and on continuous for 7 hours a day. I am adding Seachem Flourish advance every other day. The wood has a little film of biofilm and the 207 has some bio media from my 107. Thoughts/Advice appreciated to get these growing. As you can see on one of the pics, the Sword has some leaves that are melting. Edit : Later today or tomorrow I will visit another LFS that I never been to, and see what they have in plants. Ideally I would like to add 1 or 2 fast growers still to this tank.

That 3d printed cave is really cool actually! Never seen it before. I have been playing with a similar idea.. having a little shrimp tank for my desk as like you I am working from home. Curious to see how this one goes, I am always a bit hesitant with these tiny nano tanks and worry there isn't enough water to keep a steady environment. WIll be following! Enjoy and good luck!

Thanks Nabokov, my light is a Nicer G2 classic led currently set at 6 hours and around 30% intensity. I will up the hours a bit and keep it at the same level of intensity and see how it goes!

Yeah I know and am following the MD channel. Partially it makes me sad as I never had such clear water tanks and such nicely scaled tanks, but also know that all tanks look good when you start them. I forgot to say, I used media from my other tank into this Fluval, so there is some headstart on cycling but with the new substrate and all will still have to be very careful. Yup will read on more and see how it goes and adjust accordingly.

Cheers Beastie, I don't mind waiting and have 0 urgency to add fish. Hell I don't even know what to put in there yet, choosing fish is always the hardest for me. I will read up on moss balls and put them in my Cube for now which already has had plenty of algae (fighting the battle). So if I understand you correctly you would add more plants still? What about hours of light and light intensity initially, to ensure growth and keep away from algae whilst the tank is cycling? Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

Current state, still need to find a spot for the carpet plant that's now up front in the plastic pot. Still have a big Java fern and a big Anubia I could plant, not sure. Question: what is my next step ? What amount of hours of light do I put and at what point in time should I start adding fertilizer. There should be plenty of food in the substrate as is. As said I am not too worried about adding fish, just want to ensure that I have a nice and healthy planted balanced tank with good plant growth and little algae

Bought some plants at the LFS for my new 100L (see the journal), planted a few, glued Anubia to wood and been thinking about what to do with the empty 10G (Apisto breeding tank? Try shrimp for the first time)

Thanks Beastie! Another question... what is the popular opinion for a planted tank: cannister filter or sponge. I am reading more and more people saying use a sponge and avoid too much current which plants don't like and will increase algae. Currently have a Fluval 207 which is quite over capacity.... but pulling it out and putting a sponge in is a cheap solution if it helps me avoiding algae and have plants that are blossoming. Or maybe add a spray bar to the 207 to increase oxygen flow? Thanks as always!

Just realizing I forgot to get glue for the Java Fern and Anubis.... is it dangerous to use regular cva glue?

Ok got some plants, off course not what I was looking for but here's the score: - Moss balls - Amazon sword - Java fern and a few others I forgot the name and forgot to take a pic of what it is . Most of these will go in this tank, if I have overflow there is still lots of room in the 10G and the Cube (which I need to re-do too - pull out the fine sand and put real substrate in it) Btw in the end I went to 2 different shops ... both didn't have any easy carpet plants except for Monte Carlo but haven't had the best of luck with that. Both also told me they can't get any quality Vallisneria (a plant I wanted) which seems odd to me.

I am going to one LFS this afternoon, let's see what I can find. Usually I don't find what I want or they have weird names and I don't know what it is. There is not much here in terms of LFS unfortunately.

Thanks, that's good info.... I never thought about that with Apisto's and Cories, so will take that into account. And look into the recommended plants

Thanks Sora, not sure I can find these here easily but will check. Thanks Nabokov, I definitely don't want challenging plans. I am not sure what I am doing wrong but am always killing plants and tanks turning brown with algae... Yes to Valisneria and perhaps a Sword (though it seems swords to attract brown algae). I would love some carpeting but definitely the most easy possible. I want to start looking into getting some shrimp which would help too. I am able to get my water to PH 7-7.2 so that should still be doable for shrimp I feel. Thanks for the suggestions!

Hello all, I have been having tanks off and on over the past years, been a while without them when I moved to Spain but started again about 3 years ago. This tank I started a while back, then broke it down as the brown algae and lack of plant growth drew me nuts... its a recurring theme in my tanks - bb algae - so happy to hear any guidance on doing things better this time. Not sure what I am doing wrong as I have strong filtration and little nitrate. Perhaps I need to do a better job of cleaning bottom etc, not sure Any way, the tank is a 100 Liter tank, 80cm wide . Its got around 20 liters of "Ocean Free Aqua gro plants & shrimp soil" in it and I just put in some pieces of finger wood (still need to submerge) and an Anubia I picked up last week. Not sure if it will stay as I am lacking a planting plan still. Filtration is run through a 207 Fluval external cannister filter and its been cycling for a few days now with a bit of Seachem stability. Lighting is done by Nicrew G2 classic led with 1910lm turned down to its maximum to get started (I think I have powered it on too much in the past) Happy to hear peoples thoughts on EASY and LOW TECH plants that I can't kill. Would love a bit of carpeting on the soil. Defo will put in some moss balls when I can find them. What else?? Love to hear people's thoughts to set this up in a good way. Fish? I am thinking Apisto Borelli's or supered agasizi's, some shrimps perhaps (never had them) and a group of tbc Cory's (I have Sterbai's in my cube tank) . Maybe move the lemon tetra's from my cube to this one, not sure Love to hear people's thoughts and inputs! Besides this tank I also have a 70L Cube tank that is stocked and a 35L currently empty

interesting... I have been wanting to try Pygmaeus but haven't seen them much here in Spain

I got a group of 6 Sterbai's in my Cube and in the past have held Trilineatus (or whatever there name is) and green laser. They are all great in my opinion. I am currently in the progress of setting up a 100L tank and thinking of getting some Panda's in that one.

Thanks, I think you are right!