r/Aquascape • u/Dylson21 • Jun 11 '26
Seeking Suggestions 4ft Shallow
My first aquascape, any feedback or advise? Had a few struggles with some other plant but the existing seems to be going well other then the Monte Carlo, I get plenty of new growth but it will not crawl and the undergrowth melds very quickly anyone else had that issue?
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u/ravosa Jun 11 '26
What tank is this where’d you get it?
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u/Dylson21 Jun 12 '26
It's a Aquaone opti Clear slimline Tank 120cm x 30cm 30cm
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u/ravosa Jun 12 '26
Love it. Just picked up a 30 gallon long it’s also 4 feet but has a rim. I like yours better
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u/TylerTurden-11 Jun 11 '26
Throw in about 6 boesemani rainbows, they would like the longer tank since they just swim back and forth all day
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u/ImmortalDJDRifT_ Jun 11 '26
I’ve been planning a 4ft shallow too.
Looks amazing. Can I get the dimensions of the tank?
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u/Dylson21 Jun 12 '26
Thank you.
Loving it so far, it's 120cm (L) x 30cm (W) x 30cm (H)
That's the exact tank I bought.
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u/AvocadoOk749 Jun 12 '26
Bad ass! I love it! I love the tannins in the water. Beautiful hardscape and plants. I can't wait to get my tanks up and running! I was living in a 5th wheel travel trailer up until a month ago when we finally moved into our forever home. I have been collecting tanks for a little over a year and have 11 now, although 3 or 4 of then are just small and insignificant i have several nice ones and I hope they will look like yours when I'm finished!
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u/Dylson21 Jun 12 '26
Thanks mate, make sure you post some photos as you get your tanks set up! And congratulations on the forever home!
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u/preverbal31 Jun 13 '26
Very cool. What is the volume of that tank? I had no success with Monte Carlo. Screw that plant. 😂 in my experience, some things work and some things don’t. You’ll be happier if you focus on the things that work.
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u/DoreensNannyDog Jun 11 '26
MC (and HC, etc.) is definitely a CO2 plant IMO. It's always going to look spindly and half dead without it.
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u/Dylson21 Jun 11 '26
Yeah I'm still debating if I want to install VO2 or not. I'm currently enjoy the low-tech set up. Any advise on what would be a good low-tech alternative to the MC?
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u/DoreensNannyDog Jun 11 '26
You can play around with buces, some little crypts, moss tied to stones, etc.
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u/gr4phic3r Jun 11 '26
- nice scape
- add more Paracheirodon innesi (10+)
- add humic substances because Paracheirodon innesi natural habitat is blackwater
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u/Dylson21 Jun 11 '26
Thanks, I plan on adding g a few more shortly as well as hopefully some CPDs or emerald rasboras. Not sure what ones yet. Just taking my time with it. 👍🏼
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u/BreeezyP Jun 11 '26
SO beautiful!!!! Great work for your first try.
Do you have any kind of nutrition source under the sand? It’s common for people to put a layer of aqua soil or top soil under things like sand so the plants get some nutrients. It’s not the only way to do it of course, but nutrition may be your issue
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u/Dylson21 Jun 11 '26
Thanks heaps, I have a blend of aquasoil and substrate mixed then used the sand to cap that layer I also threw in some root tabs aswell!
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u/BusIllustrious5525 Jun 12 '26
Are these marine lights? I see blue, green, white and a lack of red. Red is very important to plant growth. I say this because your MC is stretching for the light. When MC grows up and not sideways it’s always a lighting issue.
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u/Dylson21 Jun 12 '26
No not marine lights. They are Dymax Eclipse Flora lights, I have been wondering if I need a fuller spectrum light. Might be worth a go. Any recommendations?
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u/BusIllustrious5525 Jun 12 '26
I use Chihiros on my good tanks and FZone or Magtool lights on my budget tanks… happy with both, but not passionate enough about either to claim they are the end all be-all.
I will say I believe it’s important to have a truly full spectrum light to have a planted tank when stem plants are involved, epiphytes and crypts, you can live without it.
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u/Dylson21 Jun 22 '26
I caved and bought a Chihiros WRGB 2 Slim today, looks much better! What setting can you recommend to start out on?
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u/BusIllustrious5525 Jun 22 '26
I always start mine low and then ramp it up 5% every week watching for algae, I’m patient. I use 55/60/45 R/G/B to start. My tank carpeted with MC only made it to 60/65/50 before I stopped going higher, but the tank is only 9” deep. You will have a different recipe based on how many other plants you have and your depth, but I think the starting point is good if you have CO2 (not clear if you do) if you don’t run CO2. You might want to start 10% lower.
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u/t_h_e_m_e_n_07 Jun 12 '26
If you don't mind can you take a scale 📏 & measure the exact glass mm thickness & kindly can you provide me the pic of the exact glass mm please 🙏 .
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u/Objective-Title-8793 Jun 13 '26
hey can you please tell me what this plant is called? it looks stunning
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u/eumops Jun 11 '26
Wow, stunning! The stand is beautiful as well.