(Part 3) Top products from r/Aquascape

Hey all

Thanks to this sub and after a ton of research here and elsewhere, I finally got my first planted/aquascaped tank set up. This is an update to my hardscape post HERE

You’ll notice that I got a different rimless tank. I wasn’t happy with the number of stocking options a 5g tank was going to limit me to, so I found a slightly larger (and $$$) option. Also, now I’ve got an extra tank laying >:) I’m super stoked with how it turned out but I might setup CO2 in the future to get it to really pop. I’ll put specs for the tank below since I always find that helpful from other posters. Almost everything was bought through Amazon (since North America sucks for aquascaping materials):

Tank: Landen 10.7 Gallon Rimless

Light: Fluval Planted 3.0 Nano LED (Petsmart purchase)

Filter: Penn Plax Cascade 500

Lily Pipes: JARDLI Glass Lily Pipe

Heater: Tetra Submersible Heater 50W

Substrate: Fluval Stratum (Petco purchase)

Inert Substrate: Carib Sea ACS05839 Super Natural

Some kind of rock from my LFS, spider wood

Ferts:
Seachem Excel: .75ml every morning before the lights come on / Seachem Flourish: .75 ml twice a week

8 hours of light/day

Plants (sorry, I don’t know Latin names, and I’m lazy):
Java Fern, Anubias (of varying kinds), Java Moss, Christmas Moss, Dwarf Hair Grass, Micro Chain Sword, Crypts, Subulata (?) (the tall grassy one in the back right)

Livestock:
1 Dwarf Gourami, 5 Ember Tetras, 1 Otocinclus, 2 Ghost Shrimp (if they haven’t gotten eaten yet)

Try checking this out: Plant Deficiency Chart

Looks like some minor nutrient deficiency. Likely magnesium for old growth, but if it is still newer growth. Could be iron if considered new growth. You would have to research proper ferts for the tech level of your aquarium.

I would probably recommend root tables to keep the fertilization localized to the roots. Substrate fertilization helps keep nutrients out of the water column to minimize the risk of an algae outbreak in low-tech tanks. I use Osmocote packed in 00 gelatin capsules. Just use tweezers/forceps to plant roughly 1" below the substrate at the base of plant roots. I have a heavily planted tank with many root feeders, so I plant one every 4"-6" every 3-4 months, but you can put one straight under plants that need it too.

ITS A TRAP - or at least it seems like a gamble with a sketchy newly built website (registered 2 weeks ago), a decent company would've put a little more effort into a business name than "4aquarium" the site is nothing but generic ebay/no-name products...their facebook is like 2 days old...

As someone mentioned below it was "free" but had $5.50 shipping...

Here is the same product for $3.92 plus free shipping on Amazon.

It has this high quality about us section..."The 4aquarium.com shop was created to help people to get a aquarium stuff easiest way."

Plus this website is getting posted by some sketchy reddit user that uses multiple accounts to spam his youtube channel all day.
https://www.reddit.com/user/BestBeating
https://www.reddit.com/user/LunacyChillout
https://www.reddit.com/user/FalseLunacy

Currently sold out though, but I love it. Really nice quality: https://www.amazon.com/Landen-Gallon-Rimless-Aquarium-thickness/dp/B00DC2PLRU

these are my specs. I got an acrylic tank, it’s super light. I can move by myself without much problems even with all the hard scape in it. My stand is metal. Petco Brooklyn 29 Gallon Metal Tank Stand, 30" L X 12.5" W X 29.5" H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VRXEK2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QmjKDbQS51AJY . Should I still be super concerned? I’ll start looking into a bigger support in the mean time

I am quite happy with the following (I use on a 10 gallon and a 3 gallon at the same time using a T-fitting and two diffusers and two indicators):

Diffuser @$16.99 ea https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXFUGE5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This diffuser is good for hanging on the side of your tank. There are many others to choose from.

7 day timer @$14.65 (Three prong plug for regulator solenoid): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LYHEHG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You DO NOT want to let it run overnight because they say it will suffocate your fish.

CO2 indicator @#17.89 (need one for each tank) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Z9KWTHS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CO2 proof tubing @#9.99 (regular tubing may leak CO2!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UCOFJW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Regulator with bubble counter and solenoid @$69.99 (Yes, this one works great at that price) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N42JPDV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Adaptor fitting to get regulator attached to a paintball tank @$9.90 (I had to modify this part, so pay attention): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I2UMZ2Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Paintball tank @$21.49 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dicks Sporting Goods will refill for $5 using your tank.

The issue with the adaptor is that the one I got had a bleed-off relief hole too far down in the threads such that the hole was exposed even when the tank was fully screwed in because the thread depth on the tank was shallow (fewer turns total) compared to the adaptor, Had to plug and re-drill the hole.

You should at least look at these components as part of your evaluation.

If you want to see if your betta will accept a more natural-looking sleeping place, you could try this Zoo Med floating log. Mine love them! I would just add it in, give it a month or so, and see if he switches over or still prefers the basket.

It’s the tiny little cheap Fluval system that uses disposable CO2 canisters. The refills they sell are a huge ripoff but you can use cycling pump refill cartridges and the threads are perfect. If bought in bulk, only 1 - 2.50$ per refill, lasts ~2 weeks.

https://www.amazon.ca/Fluval-Mini-Pressurized-20g-CO2-Kit/dp/B0049RL3H4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540362864&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fluval+co2&dpPl=1&dpID=41GHMk-SUuL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/RedRock-Unthreaded-Gram-CO2-Cartridges/dp/B01IC4B34M/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540363079&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=threaded+co2+cartridges+16g&psc=1

We looked at a few in real life and online before ordering the one we did lol I would say thanks but I didn't do it haha link here though.

Pen Plax RR1065 Crocodile Skull... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00993J690?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Straight from the internet river lol

I just went to a tank system, its only been set up for about a week. I'm using a paintball tank. This seemed easiest for refills, only $5 at Dick's. This is all the equipment I got for it:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M49QDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009WTXYN0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XKFQCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The regulator came with a bubble counter/check valve which was a nice little surprise. I then bought 10 or 20 feet of tubing from The Home Depot for $5.00. Make sure you get thread tape to seal things up, I initially did not use it and it leaked a lot.

I've been running for a week and so far so good, I have the solenoid plugged in to the same timer as my light.

I would say CO2 is more of a lifestyle than a cure. Its a big commitment in my mind but then I haven't tried it.

UV is easy to set up and you should see results in a week. if not just return it for a full refund within 30 days.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KP9B2W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01

Ah yes. I chose a reactor. https://www.amazon.com/Sera-Flore-Active-CO2-Reactor/dp/B007A0PI0U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=sera+co2+reactor&qid=1557889382&s=gateway&sprefix=sera+co2&sr=8-2

That works so well. Its a game changer. The other way is a line to a diffuser. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=co2+diffuser&sprefix=co2+diff&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8

Ultra life slime stain remover on amazon for 15 bucks. Didn’t have as much as you but I treated it once and haven’t had any problems since. It say remove as much as you can physically. Remove invertebrates. And treat.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultralife-Products-Slime-Stain-Remover/dp/B0002DKB6S/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?adgrpid=59689509727&gclid=CjwKCAjw36DpBRAYEiwAmVVDMLnn7njBU1mX7Cg5_3xIUA059RuJMtWADACZmb9cZQGmayGF7Yx9_BoCUAsQAvD_BwE&hvadid=274740365185&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9028790&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7734739605173178729&hvtargid=aud-649564993678%3Akwd-301165085459&hydadcr=14344_9785824&keywords=ultralife+red+slime+remover&qid=1562997402&s=gateway&sr=8-2

It might be this https://www.amazon.com/Sera-nip-265-tabs/dp/B00J4UH2O4

1/2 CUP LIVE DUCKWEED (LEMNA MINOR) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOW5680/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fa3UDbAJST6K1

https://www.amazon.ca/Fluval-Mopani-Driftwood-Large-11-8/dp/B001US4AAM/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1540224522&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=mopani+driftwood

So here is roughly what I was thinking with the java moss foreground planting and the accent stones and here is the link for the plastic mesh and these are the lead strips that I was talking about.

This is a tutorial I found that show how to make the mats that I was talking about.

We have three cats and none of them have messed with the tank yet. They do sell snap on lids as well for reptiles that I have on my other tank.

Exo Terra Screen Cover for Hinged... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LH1D544?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
And
Zilla Reptile Terrarium Covers... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLBO4IK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share