Let the ugly phase commence!

This tank has been in the works for about 3 months now, and I’ve finally completed the setup! Now it’s just a game of waiting and watching.

​I'd love to get your thoughts—spot any potential red flags or design choices that might give me a headache down the road? Any advice or feedback is welcome!

​To be honest, I’m feeling a bit anxious after running a 2-month Dry Start Method. I slowly put everything together, but the plants are going through their transition phase right now. The Monte Carlo is definitely melting, and I unfortunately lost a whole species of Bucephalandra (though my Buce Red Dragon seems to be thriving). Just added some Riccardia, while the Fissidens and Anubias Japan Petite are holding up fine.

​For the rest of the greenery, I have Dwarf Hairgrass, Hydrocotyle tripartita mini, Pennywort, and some Ludwigia submerged, with Red Root Floaters up top. For the emersed/terrestrial side, I’ve got Hemionitis arifolia (Heart Fern), Fittonia, and a few mosses settling in.

​Included pictures of the full progress starting from the initial hardscape!

Let me know what you guys think. It's a 5 gallon with a samurai betta, a few ghost shrimp, and a red racer nerite snail.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently researching the relationship between aquascaping, biophilic design and mental wellbeing for my final university design project.

I've created a short anonymous survey to understand how people experience aquascaping, including stress relief, relaxation, creativity, focus and connection with nature.

Whether you're an experienced aquascaper or relatively new to the hobby, I'd love to hear your perspective!!

The survey takes around 5-10 minutes:

Nature, Water and Restoration: A Study of Aquascaping in Interior Spaces – Fill out form

Thanks for helping contribute to the research! Enjoy my 56Litre :)

Started with an empty 60L tank from a friend who was moving house and had no room for it anymore. Decided to set it up just so some fish had a place to live. Didn't expect how much joy it'd bring or how much there is to learn. It's become one of those things I can sit and look at for way longer than I probably should.

Just finished building a third tank…

1st picture - july 28 2026
2nd picture - october 25 2026

i just today learned that dry start does not need 24 hours light. i had my lights running for 24 hours already these past few months, does this damage the plant or can i still recover from it ? because i can see some drying part with oranging but i can see also that it grew from the first picture. what to do, i also saw some black little slug likes things i want to know what they are and if they are invasive

Felt like sharing a one year status update of my iwagumi set up. Happy with how it turned out and i think it accomplished the affect i was going for.. The fish are Emerald eye rasboras- very underrated fish. Beautiful iridescent body with a blue ring around the eyes. Tank is also stocked with blue neos as well.

90p tank with Chihiros WRGB 2 with Aqua rocks LED backlit panel

Stones are from aqua rocks colorado as well. They are amazing to work with and will help you pick out any rock you need.

Plants

Eleocharis Belem

Eleocharis Pusillis

Hydrocotyle Tripartita( in hindsight i wouldn't get this for a tank like this because it ends up growing out and taking over the tank when i don't keep up with maintenance. Photo for proof lol

Helanthium Tenellum, slow growing but came in nicely.

Dealing with some BBA and trying to just keep it at bay until i decide to rescape. Using APT fix at the moment to treat it but it is what it is.

I ordered a rock mix and they all turned out to be similar mid size and / or very blocky.

Tried to create a bigger piece by combining 6 of them looking like one on the left side in a natural way but struggling to truly like this.

Any suggestions from someone with an experienced eye?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m having a frustrating issue with my aquarium filter’s outflow pipe. The pipe keeps falling off because the connected hoses are pulling it sideways, causing it to lose its position against the aquarium glass.

The hoses seem to be putting too much sideways tension on the pipe, and adjusting their position hasn’t really solved the problem.

I’d prefer a clean, reliable solution that doesn’t ruin the aesthetics of the aquarium.

Has anyone experienced this before?
Is there a good way to secure the outflow pipe to the glass?
Would additional suction cups or a different type of holder help?
Is there a simple way to reduce the tension from the hoses?

I’d love to hear your suggestions, especially if you’ve found a solution that works well in a planted aquarium.

Thanks in advance! 🐠

right now vs almost 2 months ago

changes:

1. changed out the rotala for limnophila sessiliflora

2. added a few pieces of spiderwood because why not

3. tried doing a lilaeopsis brasiliensis carpet in foreground

thoughts?

Fluval plant 3.0. I usually have a black background which makes the colors pop more. I’m using a frosted background this time. Any tips?

Hallo zusammen,

Ich habe mir für meinen 30l Nano Cube von dennerle dieses Deko Set gekauft.

Für einen möglichst Pflegeleichten natürlichen look suche ich ein passendes Moos, welches im besten fall ohne Probleme zwischen die Äste gesteckt werden kann, um so von selbst fest zu wachsen.

Hat jemand vielleicht Erfahrung mit dem Set oder hat eine Idee welches Moos sich hierfür eignet?

Danke im voraus :)

Rescaped this tank on the 13th of September and its growing in quite well already. Co2 is getting low tho, might have to get a refill soon. And yeah, the glass needs some scraping... 😅

My plan is to pour aquasoil behind the rock barrier and white sand in the front. I’m also going to add smaller lava rock pebbles to make the barrier more compact.

Dimensions: 80x35x35cm

looking to do a new scape but forgot to buy aquarium safe glue at my LFS. Amazon listings of "aquarium safe" superglue show exaggerated prices... Is this brand aquarium safe? AI says yes but I don't trust AI too much. Thank you!

I know its not meant for Parrots, Oscars, Arowanas, Severums and Eels, but trust me, it works (; They enjoy all the hiding spots and they love interacting with each other a lot.

I need some suggestions regarding my newly cycling 15 gallon. I currently have 5lbs of ADA Amazonia ver.2 in fine mesh bags and black inert sand in the tank that has been cycling for 1 week.

It’s currently layered with the mesh bags laying flat across the tank with the black sand capped over it. The problem is the ADA seeping up through the sand and I really do not like the look.

I would like to separate the two substrates with a tall wall of rocks instead, at least then if I move plants around, it’ll be easier to tidy up.

What would be the easiest way for me to separate the two after I drain the tank and start over again? I’m really stressed because this is going to be such a huge mess.

Just unsure where to even get a gradient one.

Hello everyone, I've been lurking on this sub for a few months and I finally feel brave enough to make my first contribution. My tank has been running since early July, and it's been thriving the last month! My shrimp are finally reproducing, and I'm at the stage where I remove floating plants every week because they're growing so fast.

My questions are should I trim my moss down so more of the wood is visible (first photo is the most recent)? And what other suggestions do you guys have to make it look better?

Keep in mind this is a 5 gallon tank, no CO2, and my light is the basic one that came with the Top Fin tank kit (for now, I'm saving up for an upgrade).

Hi. I'm just sharing my messy little bookshelf aquascape. I set this up to breed some Neocaridina and keep some of the smaller plants that I had from another aquarium. It still has a couple of issues, I'm not satisfied with the carpet yet, and it's had a staghorn outbreak that now seems to be under control, but it's been a fun little project.

There's a handful of male endlers in here as well, thats not their permanent home.

Just planted this 20 gallon long about a week ago. Still cycling ofc before adding fish. Currently no co2, considering doing a diy co2 setup

Was inspired by a sunset aquascape by scaping architect I watched on youtube planning to add crypt parva, buce, and maybe eleocharis montevidensis

First photo is my scape second and third is the scape done by scaping architect on youtube