[New to the hobby]

Steve welcome to forum and the fish hobby community. 

[New Member and Return Hobbyist]

Welcome back to the Hobby and this amazing forum.

Would love to see a picture of the tank.

[Hello, newbie here!]

Welcome to the forum. Everyone here is very helpful and there is a lot of information to read. Also, many aqaurium co-op videos and blogs to learn from as well.

[Hello from NC!]

Here is my thoughts and experience as kinda a science nerd. 

In soft/acid water fish tanks, the ammonia load not to high. The nitrifying bacteria can do an adequate job even at pH below 6 more so when the tank has stayed in that range for a long time. Bacteria are adaptable and have many genetic strains. If you maintain low pH long term you will be selecting and growing a mix of strains that are adapted to the low pH.

So to answer your question I personally think on a scale 1 to 10 it is 1 not that crucial as the bacteria will adapt. 

[Long time viewer, new to forum]

Welcome. Really like those blue shrimp.

[Garren's Aquariums]

36 minutes ago, James Black said:

that looks really good. Once the monte carlo and the dwarf chain sword carpet on the black substrate its going to look AWESOME! I have to agree with @Streetwise on the placement of the filters, looks great. I think Mollys would look great in that tank along with a apistogramma cacatuoides double red.

Thanks for the comment and cannot wait to see it fill in. No more mollies for me. I have them in other tanks but the Apistogramma is definitely a idea. I still deciding on stocking but right now the plan is slow grow. My first thoughts are nano fish so I am able to stock more and have some cherry shrimp as well. 

[Tidal vs Aquaclear]

Thank you for the post. I have been reading multiple reviews on both and have seen multiple people say the same thing with Tidal HOB. I personally like Aquaclear because of all the room to customize the media. The only down fall I have had with Aquaclear is the priming. They would capture the market if they made a filter with a in tank pump. 

 

[Garren's Aquariums]

I wanted to personally thank @Streetwise for the tip on sponge filter setup. Turned out way better than I imagined. 

[Anubia]

8 hours ago, Mori55 said:

I have flu all statum and it so loose and light nothing stays planted. 

I have heard of people capping stratum with small rock substrate to help hold down plants. I did a small cap on my Eco-complete and it helps.  

[Garren's Aquariums]

Starting a Journal on my new 20gal high aquascaped planted tank. 

Equipment:

- 20gallon High

- Finnex 24"

- Timer plug

- Thermometer 

- Fluval 100w Heater

- Background vinyl cling 100% blackout

- Aquarium Co-op black airline

- Aquarium Co-op USB nano air pump

- Aquarium Co-op nano sponge filters

- Seiryu rock

- Drift wood

- Ecocomplete Black

- Black gravel

- Sand

Plants:

- Red Melon Sword

- Moneywort

- Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green 

- Dwarf Chain Sword 

- Montecarlo 

- Anubias Nana Petite 

- Bucephalandra Buce Godzilla Kedagang Red

First Day Setup:

- Layed out rock and driftwood before putting in substrate. 

- Put substrate in, rock, and driftwood

- Planted and filled with water

- Added Beneficially Bacteria and now the cycle begins 🤗

[water testing]

12 minutes ago, Dawn T said:

I love the Tetra test strips. They work great. I just wish they also tested for ammonia. I use the API Freshwater Master Kit to test for that. Also, I have the API tests for GH and KH that I use to monitor mainly the KH.

Not sure if you are aware that tetra does make a ammonia only test strip. 

[Help!!! My tank is ugly!!!]

19 minutes ago, Lori said:

What kind of static cling vinyl did you get. I checked for it, but there are so many! Any suggestions?  Thx. Lori

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TVRQ5D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_kmVcGb3APG6K2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[Accidental Experiments]

What is that plant that is coming out of the second bucket?

[Post your dream fish, that one that you're not ready to keep yet!]

I have a few fish that are my dream fish but just not ready for. 

First is Blue Rams

Second would be Apistogramma. For sure the one I the picture.

[Baby Snail Identification]

I am no expert but it looks to me like a baby channeled apple snail. Scientific name is Pomacea canaliculata

[Help!!! My tank is ugly!!!]

As far as a background goes you can paint it as someone else stated. However, there is the option of using static cling 100% blackout vinyl film as well. Just used it on my new setup that I started. Really like that if I ever want or need to remove it all I have to do is peel it off. It is reusable as well. Not expensive at all. 

I really think that making the background black will take your tank to the next level as far as looks go. 

Good luck in whatever you decide. 

[Is this normal Amano Shrimp Behavior?]

My Amanos when I first got them hid all the time. They still do from time to time and move slow until I feed then they all come out of hiding. Nothing seems out of the ordinary for me with the behavior your seeing. 

[Newbie 20 gallon walstad journal]

I got to admit...I had to take a second look at the first picture. I thought aqaurium co-op came out with a clear sponge filter..🤣🤣🤣

Really nice tank!!

[My first planted tank... what do you think?]

@Karen B. Wow looks amazing. 

Had a few questions. 

What size tank? 

What plants did you put on the spider wood in the center? 

What substrate do you have? 

Thanks in advance. 

[Feeding before QT trio?]

I agree with James as well. I normally get my fish into the qt, then feed. Wait 24hours and start the med treatment. I don't feed them again for 7 days when I do the water change. It has worked for me twice now.  

[what plants would you recomend]

1 hour ago, loach keeper said:

I just ordered a pogo what do I need to do to make it grow fast

My grew really fast even in just gravel. Root tabs are a must in my opinion. I do dose easy green as well.. Just remember where ever you trim it will produce several more branches out from it. 

[Who has mollies? Needing advice.]

I have had dalmatian mollies for about 10 months. Never had a issue with aggression. All my other fish are much small as them as well and they always left them alone.

If you do have a male and female they breed like crazy. The male is very dominant only towards the females. Never seen him chase any other fish. 

[Greetings from Virginia]

Welcome to the fish fam.

[What did you get done today?]

Got some triming done, water change, and added some red root floaters. Also, added a sponge to the outflow of my HOB to slow down the water flow. Hope it helps with growing my floating plants. 

[Fluval 3.0 Light Riser]

6 minutes ago, Coronal Mass Ejection Carl said:

There are probably a bunch of 3D printed risers out there.

I tried looking for some on a few sites but did not have any luck. Even looked for other manufacturer light riser to see if they will work. 

If you find some please let me know.